City Comparison
Suffolk vs Petersburg
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Suffolk scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Suffolk
Petersburg
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Suffolk is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
8% lower than in Petersburg.
Housing costs are a major driver: Suffolk's average rent is
45% higher than Petersburg's.
| Metric | Suffolk | Petersburg | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,697 | $1,174 | +45% |
| Groceries | $360 | $320 | +13% |
| Utilities | $325 | $336 | -3% |
| Transport | $150 | $640 | -77% |
| Healthcare | $0 | $290 | -100% |
| Monthly Total | $2,532 | $2,760 | -8% |
| Cost Index | 98 | 80 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Petersburg offers 25% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Petersburg delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Suffolk is estimated at
$67,872 vs $33,300 in Petersburg.
| Metric | Suffolk | Petersburg |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $48,468 | $65,000 |
| Salary Needed | $67,872 | $33,300 |
| Purchasing Power | 49,457 idx | 81,250 idx |
| Household Income | $92,666 | $50,698 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0.6°F of each other.
Winter severity differs too — Petersburg sees 3.3 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Suffolk | Petersburg |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 60.50°F | 59.90°F |
| Summer High | 85.50°F | 86.30°F |
| Winter Low | 31.10°F | 30.40°F |
| Rainfall | 47.70 in | 46.40 in |
| Snowfall | 12.20 in | 15.50 in |
| Sunny Days | 246 | 250 |
| Humidity | 68.00% | 65.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Petersburg has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
2,000 minutes (33 hours) per year compared to Suffolk.
Petersburg scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Petersburg leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Suffolk | Petersburg |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 30 min | 26 min |
| Transit Score | 20.0/100 | 35.0/100 |
| Walkability | 15.0/100 | 30.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 70.00 | |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Suffolk is the larger city
— approximately 3.1x the population of Petersburg.
From a growth perspective, Suffolk is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Suffolk has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Suffolk | Petersburg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 104,699 | 33,892 |
| Pop. Growth | 1.64% | 0.47% |
| Median Age | 38.7 | 35.8 |
| Unemployment | 4.00% | 5.00% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Suffolk
Advantages
Suffolk's overall cost of living is 2.1% below the national average, making it relatively affordable.
The city boasts a high livability score of 77/100, indicating a good quality of life.
Employment in Suffolk grew by 1.3% over the past year, with a projected future job growth of 35.2% over ten years.
Suffolk offers abundant natural beauty and outdoor recreational opportunities, including the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.
Healthcare facilities like Sentara Obici Hospital have received 'Patient Safety Excellence Awards' (2026, 2025, 2024), indicating high-quality care.
Drawbacks
Suffolk is a car-dependent city with a low Walk Score of 15, meaning most errands require a vehicle.
The average commute time of 30.2 minutes is longer than the national average, and traffic can be an issue.
Property crime rates are 9% higher than the national average, despite an overall crime rate that is slightly lower.
Utilities in Suffolk are about 50% higher than the Virginia city average, primarily driven by sewer costs.
Public transportation options are limited, contributing to car dependency and potentially longer commutes.
Petersburg
Advantages
Petersburg offers a significantly affordable cost of living, with a cost of living index of 80.2 in 2025, making it more affordable than the national average.
Housing expenses in Petersburg are approximately 45% lower than the national average, presenting a strong advantage for residents.
The city benefits from a strategic location at the intersection of major interstates I-85 and I-95, providing excellent regional connectivity.
Petersburg is developing an Advanced Manufacturing Pharmaceutical cluster, indicating growth in specific business sectors.
Petersburg Area Transit (PAT) currently offers fare-free bus service, enhancing accessibility for residents.
Drawbacks
Petersburg has high crime rates, ranking as the 8th most dangerous city in Virginia with violent crime rates 120.1% higher than the national average in 2025.
The city faces persistent financial instability, with a Medium article in March 2025 highlighting renewed challenges and a risk of municipal bankruptcy.
The median household income of $50,698 in 2024 is considerably lower than both the state and national averages.
Limited job opportunities outside specific sectors and a high poverty rate (21.7% in 2024) pose economic challenges for residents.
Schools in Petersburg are noted to be in need of improvement, impacting educational quality.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Suffolk
#268Virginia, USA
61.9 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,697
Avg Salary
$48,468
Cost Index
98
Commute
30 min
Transit Score
20.0/100
Walkability
15.0/100
Sunny Days
246/yr
Avg Temp
60.50°F
Pop. Growth
1.64%
Unemployment
4.00%
Livability
77
Business
70
Petersburg
#486Virginia, USA
53.8 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,174
Avg Salary
$65,000
Cost Index
80
Commute
26 min
Transit Score
35.0/100
Walkability
30.0/100
Sunny Days
250/yr
Avg Temp
59.90°F
Pop. Growth
0.47%
Unemployment
5.00%
Livability
50
Business
60
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