Suffolk city
VA · Pop. 96,638 · Mixed County
Suffolk city sits in Virginia across 399 square miles, home to 96,638 people at 242.2 per square mile, a more developed setting where truly rural parcels are scarcer. The agricultural economy is rated moderate, built on cotton, soybeans, corn. The median home price is $330,000, with an effective property tax rate of 0.93%. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 8a with a 235-day growing season, average summer highs of 85.7°F and average winter lows of 32.9°F. Annual rainfall averages 49.5 inches, and with drought risk rated very high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Lakeview Medical Center is 4.9 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 95.3% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is high, tornado risk is high, wildfire risk is high, drought risk is very high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- A long 235-day growing season in USDA zone 8a supports a wide range of crops and multiple plantings.
- A low effective property tax rate of 0.93% holds annual carrying costs down.
- Broadband reaches 95.3% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- Lakeview Medical Center, with an emergency room, is just 4.9 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
- A low unemployment rate of 3.6% reflects a stable local job base.
Cons
- Drought risk is very high, making water storage and irrigation infrastructure essential rather than optional.
- At 242.2 people per square mile, this is a developed area where finding truly rural acreage is harder and pricier.
- Wildfire risk is high, so defensible space and fire preparedness should be part of any build plan.
At a glance
Suffolk city, VA is a mixed homesteading prospect — weigh the tradeoffs.
- Homestead score
- 43/100
- Median home price
- $330k
- Property tax
- 0.93%
- Growing season
- 235 days (zone 8a)
- Annual rainfall
- 49.5"
- Broadband
- 95.3%
- Nearest hospital
- Lakeview Medical Center, 4.9 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Suffolk city: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Suffolk city?
- Suffolk city is in USDA hardiness zone 8a with a 235-day growing season, average summer highs of 85.7°F, and average winter lows of 32.9°F. The established crops are cotton, soybeans, corn.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $330,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.93%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 95.3% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- Lakeview Medical Center is 4.9 miles away and includes an emergency room; there are 3 hospitals in the county.
Explore Virginia Resources
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LandWatch
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Lands of America
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AcreTrader
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More counties in Virginia
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The closest counties to Suffolk city by distance, including across state lines.
Data sources
Verified
Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.
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