Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, TX
VS
Newport News, VA
🏆 Arlington leads 13 of 21 categories
Arlington
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,736 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
393,469 ✓ Larger
Newport News
Virginia
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,355
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
185,118
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, TX
Pros
34% less violent crime than Newport News
Households earn $8,381 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 49°F
More college-educated — 32.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (482.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Newport News
Newport News, VA
Pros
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Homes cost $18k less ($233,400 vs $251,300)
Rent averages $88/mo less ($1,209 vs $1,297)
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 96°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Arlington
Cons
Violent crime (736.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Arlington by $8,381/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Median Income
$8,381
$71,736 vs $63,355/yr
Arlington
Violent Crime
34% lower
482.9 vs 736.0 per 100k
Arlington
Summer Heat
7.7°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 88.2°F
Newport News
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Newport News
Median Home Value
$18k less
$233,400 vs $251,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, TX | Newport News, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $251,300 | $233,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,297 | $1,209 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,736 ✓ Higher | $63,355 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 7.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer | 162⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 194⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 115⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | B+ (105) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.4% ✓ Higher | 28.7% |
| High School or Higher | 85.9% | 91.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ARLINGTON ISD | Newport News City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.9°F ✓ Warmer | 49.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 88.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" ✓ Drier | 51.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" ✓ Less | 2.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 393,469 ✓ Larger | 185,118 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 34.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% ✓ Higher | 47.6% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 23.2% |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 13.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Newport News's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Newport News is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Arlington leads 13 of 21 categories. Arlington wins 13 and Newport News wins 8. 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 Arlington to Newport News or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($251,300 vs $233,400 median home), income ($71,736 vs $63,355), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, TX and Newport News, VA are about 1,203 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.