Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Anchorage, AK
VS
Newport News, VA
🏆 Newport News leads 12 of 23 categories
Anchorage
Alaska
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,731 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
267⚠ High
Population
290,674 ✓ Larger
Newport News
Virginia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,355
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
185,118
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Anchorage, AK
Pros
Households earn $32,376 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 67°F vs 88°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $363,800
Violent crime (1014.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,405/mo
Property crime (2765.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Newport News, VA
Pros
Homes cost $130k less ($233,400 vs $363,800)
27% less violent crime than Anchorage
Rent averages $196/mo less ($1,209 vs $1,405)
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 21°F
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Anchorage
Smaller class sizes — 12.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Anchorage by $32,376/yr
Violent crime (736.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Anchorage
Median Income
$32,376
$95,731 vs $63,355/yr
Newport News
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Newport News
Violent Crime
27% lower
736.0 vs 1014.8 per 100k
Newport News
Median Home Value
$130k less
$233,400 vs $363,800
Newport News
Summer Heat
20.8°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 67.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Anchorage, AK | Newport News, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $363,800⚠ High | $233,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,405⚠ High | $1,209 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,731 ✓ Higher | $63,355 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.1 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% ✓ Higher | 7.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 213⚠ High | 162⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 267⚠ High | 194⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 132⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% ✓ Higher | 28.7% |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% ✓ Higher | 91.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Anchorage School District | Newport News City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 20.9°F | 49.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 67.4°F | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 22.6" ✓ Drier | 51.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.3" | 2.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,674 ✓ Larger | 185,118 |
| Median Age | 34.5 ✓ Older | 34.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.8% ✓ Higher | 47.6% |
| Under 18 | 23.9% ✓ More | 23.2% |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 13.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Anchorage's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Newport News's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Newport News is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Newport News leads 12 of 23 categories. Anchorage wins 11 and Newport News wins 12. 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 Anchorage to Newport News or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($363,800 vs $233,400 median home), income ($95,731 vs $63,355), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Anchorage, AK and Newport News, VA are about 3,458 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.