RANK #471 / 1001 NAT · #15 / 37 VA · POP 98,796
1YR FORECAST: +2.6%
5YR OUTLOOK: +18%
Suffolk, Virginia, stands out as the "Peanut Capital of the World," a nod to its deep agricultural roots and the historic presence of Planters Peanuts. Located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area, Suffolk is Virginia's largest city by land area, encompassing 430 square miles of diverse landscapes from urban centers to farmlands and forests. Commuting to nearby cities like Norfolk or Virginia Beach is common, though traffic can add to travel times. The community offers a blend of small-town warmth and growing development, with abundant outdoor recreation opportunities at places like the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge and various city parks.
Life in Suffolk offers a sparse suburban feel, attracting families and professionals with its relatively affordable cost of living compared to other Hampton Roads cities. The economy is diverse, driven by sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, logistics, and healthcare. Major employers include Amazon and Target distribution centers, benefiting from Suffolk's proximity to the Port of Virginia. The city has seen recent economic growth, with investments in technology, logistics, and healthcare, including expansions by Sentara Healthcare. Suffolk Public Schools serve nearly 14,000 students, and there are also private school options like Nansemond-Suffolk Academy and Suffolk Christian Academy.
Suffolk city's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +2.7% YoY, population +2.2%, wages -5.0%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Above national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Below national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 12.7x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Homicide rates from CDC/NCHS vital-statistics mortality data — a multi-year average that stabilizes counts in smaller counties — compiled in the County Health Rankings 2025 release. Rates per 100,000 population; U.S. average ≈ 6.5. Grade reflects homicide rate relative to the national average. Learn more →
See where Suffolk city stands nationally: safest large counties in America · highest homicide-rate counties.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
Suffolk city scores 53/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 1001 U.S. counties (#471). Median household income is $92,666 and job growth is running at +22.0%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.
Housing in Suffolk city is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $347,400 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.27, with rents averaging $1,563/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Suffolk city is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +2.2% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +22.0% clip. Home values shifted +2.7% in the past year.
In significant numbers — 5.9% of Suffolk city's current population relocated from another state, well above the national norm. That level of in-migration usually signals a county where jobs, affordability, or quality of life are pulling people in from elsewhere.