Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Abilene, TX
VS
Newport News, VA
🏆 Abilene leads 13 of 23 categories
Abilene
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,254
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
126,356
Newport News
Virginia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$63,355 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
185,118 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Abilene, TX
Pros
Homes cost $72k less ($161,800 vs $233,400)
42% less violent crime than Newport News
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (2.8%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Rent averages $149/mo less ($1,060 vs $1,209)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
Cons
Median income trails Newport News by $4,101/yr
Newport News, VA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 96°F
Households earn $4,101 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 12.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (736.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 2.8%)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Abilene
Key Differences at a Glance
Abilene
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Abilene
Violent Crime
42% lower
424.5 vs 736.0 per 100k
Abilene
Median Home Value
$72k less
$161,800 vs $233,400
Abilene
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
2.8% vs 5.6% unemployment
Abilene
Summer Heat
8.2°F warmer
July avg high 96.4°F vs 88.2°F
Newport News
Median Income
$4,101
$63,355 vs $59,254/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Abilene, TX | Newport News, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $161,800 ✓ Lower | $233,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 ✓ Lower | $1,209 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,254 | $63,355 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.2 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% | 7.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer | 162⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 194⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% | 28.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 91.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ABILENE ISD | Newport News City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F ✓ Warmer | 49.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.4°F ✓ Warmer | 88.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" ✓ Drier | 51.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" | 2.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,356 | 185,118 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 34.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% ✓ Higher | 47.6% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 13.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Abilene's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Newport News's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Abilene is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Abilene leads 13 of 23 categories. Abilene wins 13 and Newport News wins 10. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Abilene to Newport News or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($161,800 vs $233,400 median home), income ($59,254 vs $63,355), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Abilene, TX and Newport News, VA are about 1,352 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.