Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbus, OH
VS
Newport News, VA
🏆 Newport News leads 12 of 23 categories
Columbus
Ohio
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,994
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
902,449 ✓ Larger
Newport News
Virginia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$63,355 ✓ Higher
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.
Columbus, OH
Pros
41% less violent crime than Newport News
More college-educated — 38.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $21k less ($212,500 vs $233,400)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.5)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Newport News
Cons
Property crime (2653.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Newport News, VA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 37°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (736.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Columbus
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbus
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 94.5 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Columbus
Violent Crime
41% lower
434.9 vs 736.0 per 100k
Columbus
Median Home Value
$21k less
$212,500 vs $233,400
Newport News
Summer Heat
3.2°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 85.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbus, OH | Newport News, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.5 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $212,500 ✓ Lower | $233,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,161 ✓ Lower | $1,209 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,994 | $63,355 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 7.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 162⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer | 194⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.5:1 | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.3% ✓ Higher | 28.7% |
| High School or Higher | 90.3% | 91.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Columbus City Schools District | Newport News City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.5°F | 49.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.0°F | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.2" ✓ Drier | 51.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 2.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 902,449 ✓ Larger | 185,118 |
| Median Age | 32.7 | 34.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.7% | 47.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.9% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 13.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbus's cost of living index is 94.5 vs Newport News's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Columbus is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Newport News leads 12 of 23 categories. Columbus 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 Columbus to Newport News or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($212,500 vs $233,400 median home), income ($62,994 vs $63,355), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbus, OH and Newport News, VA are about 403 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.