Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baton Rouge, LA
VS
Newport News, VA
🏆 Newport News leads 12 of 23 categories
Baton Rouge
Louisiana
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,155
Violent Crime Index
270⚠ High
Population
225,500 ✓ Larger
Newport News
Virginia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$63,355 ✓ Higher
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.
Baton Rouge, LA
Pros
Rent averages $199/mo less ($1,010 vs $1,209)
More college-educated — 36.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Milder winters — January highs near 61°F vs 49°F
Homes cost $16k less ($217,700 vs $233,400)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Newport News
Cons
Violent crime (1027.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Newport News by $13,200/yr
Property crime (5852.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 5.6%)
Newport News, VA
Pros
28% less violent crime than Baton Rouge
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (5.6%)
Households earn $13,200 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (736.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Baton Rouge
Key Differences at a Glance
Baton Rouge
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Baton Rouge
Median Home Value
$16k less
$217,700 vs $233,400
Newport News
Median Income
$13,200
$63,355 vs $50,155/yr
Newport News
Violent Crime
28% lower
736.0 vs 1027.7 per 100k
Newport News
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
5.6% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baton Rouge, LA | Newport News, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $217,700 ✓ Lower | $233,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,010 ✓ Lower | $1,209 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,155 | $63,355 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 7.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 162⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 270⚠ High | 194⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 279⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.4% ✓ Higher | 28.7% |
| High School or Higher | 87.5% | 91.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | East Baton Rouge Parish | Newport News City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.7°F ✓ Warmer | 49.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer | 88.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 67.5" | 51.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 2.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 225,500 ✓ Larger | 185,118 |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 34.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.9% ✓ Higher | 47.6% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 13.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baton Rouge's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Newport News's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Baton Rouge is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Newport News leads 12 of 23 categories. Baton Rouge 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 Baton Rouge to Newport News or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($217,700 vs $233,400 median home), income ($50,155 vs $63,355), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baton Rouge, LA and Newport News, VA are about 955 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.