Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
Newport News, VA
🏆 Newport News leads 16 of 23 categories
Albany
New York
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6
Median Household Income
$54,736
Violent Crime Index
215⚠ High
Population
99,692
Newport News
Virginia
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,355 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
185,118 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
More college-educated — 43.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Homes cost $20k less ($213,400 vs $233,400)
Rent averages $79/mo less ($1,130 vs $1,209)
Cons
Violent crime (816.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Newport News by $8,619/yr
Property crime (2848.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.0% vs 5.6%)
Newport News, VA
Pros
10% less violent crime than Albany
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (5.6%)
Households earn $8,619 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 33°F
Cons
Violent crime (736.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Albany
Median Home Value
$20k less
$213,400 vs $233,400
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 97.6 on the COL index
Newport News
Median Income
$8,619
$63,355 vs $54,736/yr
Newport News
Violent Crime
10% lower
736.0 vs 816.9 per 100k
Newport News
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
5.6% vs 8.0% unemployment
Newport News
Summer Heat
4.3°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 83.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | Newport News, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 ✓ Lower | $233,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 ✓ Lower | $1,209 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 | $63,355 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% ✓ Higher | 7.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 162⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | 194⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% ✓ Higher | 28.7% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 91.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Newport News City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 49.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" ✓ Drier | 51.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" | 2.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 | 185,118 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.0 | 34.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 47.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% ✓ More | 13.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Newport News's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Newport News is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Newport News leads 16 of 23 categories. Albany wins 7 and Newport News wins 16. 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 Albany to Newport News or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $233,400 median home), income ($54,736 vs $63,355), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and Newport News, VA are about 412 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.