Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bend, OR
VS
Newport News, VA
🏆 Bend leads 13 of 23 categories
Bend
Oregon
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,671 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
99,442
Newport News
Virginia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,355
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.
Bend, OR
Pros
77% less violent crime than Newport News
Households earn $19,316 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (168.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (3.8%)
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,900
Higher rents — median is $1,649/mo
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Newport News
Newport News, VA
Pros
Homes cost $344k less ($233,400 vs $576,900)
Rent averages $440/mo less ($1,209 vs $1,649)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Bend
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 43°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (736.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Bend by $19,316/yr
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 3.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bend
Median Income
$19,316
$82,671 vs $63,355/yr
Bend
Violent Crime
77% lower
168.5 vs 736.0 per 100k
Bend
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.6% unemployment
Newport News
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 105.8 (100 = US avg)
Newport News
Median Home Value
$344k less
$233,400 vs $576,900
Newport News
Summer Heat
4.4°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 83.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bend, OR | Newport News, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.8⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $576,900⚠ High | $233,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,649⚠ High | $1,209 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,671 ✓ Higher | $63,355 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 19.0% ✓ Higher | 7.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 162⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 194⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 28.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 91.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bend-LaPine Administrative SD 1 | Newport News City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.5°F | 49.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.6" ✓ Drier | 51.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 21.6" | 2.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,442 | 185,118 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 34.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.2% ✓ Higher | 47.6% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.0% ✓ More | 13.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bend's cost of living index is 105.8 vs Newport News's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Newport News is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bend leads 13 of 23 categories. Bend 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 Bend to Newport News or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,900 vs $233,400 median home), income ($82,671 vs $63,355), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bend, OR and Newport News, VA are about 2,369 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.