Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carmel, IN
VS
Newport News, VA
🏆 Carmel leads 15 of 23 categories
Carmel
Indiana
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$132,859 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
17 ✓ Safer
Population
99,453
Newport News
Virginia
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
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.
Carmel, IN
Pros
Households earn $69,504 more per year on average
91% less violent crime than Newport News
More college-educated — 73.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (2.6%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (66.0 vs 380/100k)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.6)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $425,900
Higher rents — median is $1,499/mo
Newport News, VA
Pros
Homes cost $193k less ($233,400 vs $425,900)
Rent averages $290/mo less ($1,209 vs $1,499)
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 35°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Carmel by $69,504/yr
Violent crime (736.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 2.6%)
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Carmel
Key Differences at a Glance
Carmel
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 94.6 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Carmel
Median Income
$69,504
$132,859 vs $63,355/yr
Carmel
Violent Crime
91% lower
66.0 vs 736.0 per 100k
Carmel
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
2.6% vs 5.6% unemployment
Newport News
Median Home Value
$193k less
$233,400 vs $425,900
Newport News
Summer Heat
3.8°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 84.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carmel, IN | Newport News, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.6 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $425,900⚠ High | $233,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,499⚠ High | $1,209 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $132,859 ✓ Higher | $63,355 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% ✓ Higher | 7.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 26 ✓ Safer | 162⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 17 ✓ Safer | 194⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | B+ (105) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.7% ✓ Higher | 28.7% |
| High School or Higher | 98.1% ✓ Higher | 91.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carmel Clay Schools | Newport News City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.5°F | 49.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.2" ✓ Drier | 51.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 20.3" | 2.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,453 | 185,118 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.6 ✓ Older | 34.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.6% ✓ Higher | 47.6% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 23.2% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 13.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carmel's cost of living index is 94.6 vs Newport News's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Carmel is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carmel leads 15 of 23 categories. Carmel wins 15 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 Carmel to Newport News or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($425,900 vs $233,400 median home), income ($132,859 vs $63,355), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carmel, IN and Newport News, VA are about 557 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.