Living in Suffolk, VA offers a unique blend of historic charm and modern amenities. Known for its friendly community and beautiful landscapes, Suffolk is an ideal place for families and individuals alike. The city's numerous parks and recreational facilities, such as Bennett's Creek Park and Lake Meade Park, provide ample opportunities for outdoor activities and family fun.
Suffolk’s vibrant community life is highlighted by annual events such as the Suffolk Peanut Festival and the Taste of Suffolk Downtown Street Festival. The city boasts a variety of shopping and dining options, from local boutiques and eateries to major retail centers. Suffolk’s extensive park system offers plenty of opportunities for hiking, biking, and enjoying the great outdoors.
The dining options in Suffolk are diverse and delicious, offering everything from Southern comfort food to international cuisine. The city’s farmers markets and local events emphasize fresh, locally sourced ingredients. With a welcoming atmosphere and community-focused amenities, living in Suffolk is a great choice for families and young professionals.
Suffolk’s location offers convenient access to both Norfolk and Virginia Beach, making it ideal for commuters. The city is well-connected by major highways and public transportation options, ensuring easy travel.
For those considering a move to Virginia, Suffolk stands out as a top choice. Its blend of historic charm, excellent amenities, and strong community spirit make living in Suffolk, VA a truly rewarding experience. Whether you’re drawn by its family-friendly vibe, recreational opportunities, or convenient location, Suffolk offers a fantastic place to call home.
Employment
With higher than average median household income, income per capita and lower unemployment rates, this area scores extremely well in the employment category.
Housing
Impressive scores in the housing category characterize this area, potentially attributed to the availability of affordable housing, strong appreciation rates and high home values.
Health & Safety
Accessible health facilities like hospitals, doctors offices, clinics and nursing homes as well as good air quality are all factors that have led to a high score in this category.
Schools
The high score in the schools category can be attributed to outstanding test scores, elevated graduation rates and the convenient placement of elementary and high schools in this area.
Ratings
According to recent surveys and polls, locals had excellent ratings for walkability to nearby amenities, safety, access to public transit and the overall sense of community in the area.
Commute
Low commute scores could be due to limited access to public transit in this area, as well as longer-than-average work commute times for residents.
Suffolk is a moderately-sized city located in the state of Virginia. The city has a population of 93,841 people. Individuals of White (51%) and Black or African American (41%) backgrounds make up a significant portion of the population of the city. The average American spends about 26 minutes on their one way commute to work each day. Lower travel times can increase overall happiness and allow for more time to be spent with family and friends. While living in Suffolk, your commute times will be about average, with a one way commute time of 29 minutes.
Without the right tools, moving to any new city can be very stressful and challenging. Living in Suffolk, Virginia could be a fulfilling experience for anyone who puts in the effort to do the research required. When searching for a new neighborhood, several key items should be considered. Safety is paramount, ensuring a secure environment for you and your family. Proximity to workplaces or schools reduces commuting time and enhances convenience. Access to amenities like parks, grocery stores and healthcare facilities contributes to a comfortable lifestyle. Reliable public transportation options promote easy mobility. A strong sense of community fosters social connections and a welcoming atmosphere. To help you find the best places to live in and around Suffolk, AreaVibes has created a livability score using key metrics like amenities, crime, commute, employment, housing and more.
Suffolk has a livability score of 77/100 and is ranked #88 in Virginia and #2,754 in the USA. This is a phenomenal score, as Suffolk ranks well in multiple categories! Another exciting tidbit, is that Suffolk ranks better than 90% of all US cities! There are nine total categories that generate the livability score. Suffolk ranks well for education (A), employment (A-) and housing (A+) There is at least one category that does not have great scores in Suffolk. The following was graded with a disappointing score: crime (D).
Parents and families often rely on school test scores when making decisions about local public schools. Test score data serves as a crucial metric for comparing and assessing various educational institutions. In Suffolk, the average school test scores reached an impressive 79%, significantly higher than the national average. This remarkable performance underscores the commitment of the educational system to equip students with the knowledge and resources necessary for success. It allows your children to receive the support and skills that are essential for thriving academically, making Suffolk an excellent choice for families seeking a high-quality education.
A healthy real estate market serves as a key economic indicator. It could signify overall local economic strength, stability and reflects consumer confidence in the area. Based on multiple factors including: median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability, Suffolk has received high marks in the housing category. Based on these calculations, the apartment rental and real estate market appears to be very healthy.
Being close to public transit, grocery stores, parks and other conveniences are all important when weighing your options for a new home in Suffolk. Before you determine if any of these amenities are available in the area, you will also want to know if the real estate prices in Suffolk are affordable. Median real estate prices in Suffolk come in at $489,679, which is 12.6% higher than the Virginia average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Suffolk, the home price to income ratio is 4.2, which is 6.7% lower than the Virginia average.
Why stop at city-to-city? With Local Insights, you can compare neighborhoods, zip codes, or even exact addresses. Access 300+ hyperlocal data points—from schools and crime to housing and amenities—to see which area is the better fit.
| Statistic | Suffolk | Virginia | National |
| Average one way commute | 29min | 28min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 85.7% | 77.4% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 6.8% | 9.5% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 0.3% | 4.5% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.1% | 0.4% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 0.9% | 2.4% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 5.4% | 4.7% | 4.6% |
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