Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbia, MD
VS
Newport News, VA
🏆 Columbia leads 11 of 20 categories
Columbia
Maryland
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$124,537 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
106,600
Newport News
Virginia
9
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.
Columbia, MD
Pros
Households earn $61,182 more per year on average
More college-educated — 63.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (4.0%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $458,700
Higher rents — median is $1,895/mo
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Newport News
Newport News, VA
Pros
Homes cost $225k less ($233,400 vs $458,700)
Rent averages $686/mo less ($1,209 vs $1,895)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 43°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Columbia
Cons
Median income trails Columbia by $61,182/yr
Violent crime (736.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 4.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbia
Median Income
$61,182
$124,537 vs $63,355/yr
Columbia
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
4.0% vs 5.6% unemployment
Newport News
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 102.7 (100 = US avg)
Newport News
Median Home Value
$225k less
$233,400 vs $458,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbia, MD | Newport News, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.7⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $458,700⚠ High | $233,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,895⚠ High | $1,209 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $124,537 ✓ Higher | $63,355 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.5% ✓ Higher | 7.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 162⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 194⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 115⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | B+ (105) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.5:1 | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 63.6% ✓ Higher | 28.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% ✓ Higher | 91.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Howard County Public Schools | Newport News City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.7°F | 49.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F ✓ Warmer | 88.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.7" ✓ Drier | 51.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.5" | 2.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,600 | 185,118 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.8 ✓ Older | 34.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.3% ✓ Higher | 47.6% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.3% ✓ More | 13.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbia's cost of living index is 102.7 vs Newport News's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Newport News is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Columbia leads 11 of 20 categories. Columbia wins 11 and Newport News wins 9. 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 Columbia to Newport News or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($458,700 vs $233,400 median home), income ($124,537 vs $63,355), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbia, MD and Newport News, VA are about 148 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.