The Town FilesSuffolk, Virginia
City in Suffolk city · population 94,324 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $347,400
- Household income
- $92,666
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 6 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 38.7
Suffolk is a city of 94,324 people in Suffolk city, Virginia. The median home is worth $347,400, above the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks more seaside character than 95% of Virginia towns, better for cycling than 81% of Virginia towns, easier by car than 76% of Virginia towns.
How Suffolk ranks
Percentile among Virginia towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Virginia towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Suffolk is worth $347,400, above the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 3.7 times the median household income of $92,666, which is more affordable than 57% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $1,563 a month. 70.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Suffolk | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $347,400 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $1,563 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $92,666 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.7× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 70.7% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1996 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Suffolk
| People | Suffolk | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.7 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.3% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 23.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.3% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.4% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 15.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.4% | — |
| Work from home | 10.7% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 30.2 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.2% | 91.8% |
Weather in Suffolk
July highs average 86.8°F and January lows 31.1°F. About 51.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 5.8 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 27 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 56 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Suffolk since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 28, 2008 about 2.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 8, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 25 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 27, 2000.
Severe weather in Suffolk city since 1996
Suffolk city has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, freezing, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3631: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 2, 2020 | Biological | DR-4512: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3448: Covid-19 |
| September 11, 2018 | Hurricane | EM-3403: Hurricane Florence |
| November 2, 2016 | Hurricane | DR-4291: Hurricane Matthew |
Jobs and pay in Suffolk city
Suffolk city had 36,408 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $64,230 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Suffolk itself the ACS puts it at 5%.
Public schools in Suffolk
20 public schools with 12,955 students, about 15.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nansemond River High | 9-12 | 1,681 | 15.4 |
| King's Fork High | 9-12 | 1,666 | 16.2 |
| Lakeland High | 9-12 | 1,067 | 13.3 |
| King's Fork Middle | 6-8 | 984 | 14.5 |
| Florence Bowser Elementary | PK-5 | 874 | 19.9 |
| Creekside Elementary | PK-5 | 747 | 17.0 |
| Hillpoint Elementary | PK-5 | 739 | 17.6 |
| Mack Benn Jr. Elementary | PK-5 | 704 | 16.0 |
| Elephant's Fork Elementary | PK-5 | 644 | 16.1 |
| Southwestern Elementary | PK-5 | 609 | 17.9 |
| John F. Kennedy Middle | 6-8 | 546 | 12.7 |
| John Yeates Middle | 6-8 | 517 | 12.6 |
Towns near Suffolk
- Windsor, VA9.7 mi · 2,746 people · home $280,800
- Franklin, VA17.0 mi · 8,180 people · home $256,600
- Carrollton, VA18.0 mi · 7,498 people · home $423,900
- Chesapeake, VA18.5 mi · 249,422 people · home $378,400
- Portsmouth, VA19.0 mi · 97,915 people · home $246,900
- Smithfield, VA19.1 mi · 8,533 people · home $374,900
- Norfolk, VA26.6 mi · 238,005 people · home $289,900
- Newport News, VA26.9 mi · 186,247 people · home $260,600
Suffolk questions
Is Suffolk, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Suffolk scores better for retirees than 26% of Virginia towns and quieter than 39%. 15.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.7).
How much does a house cost in Suffolk?
The median owner-occupied home in Suffolk is valued at $347,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $92,666, so homes cost about 3.7 times income. Median rent is $1,563 a month.
What is the weather like in Suffolk?
July highs average 86.8°F and January lows 31.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.8 inches of precipitation a year and 5.8 inches of snow.
Does Suffolk get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Suffolk since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on April 28, 2008. The typical Virginia town has had 11.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)