Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Downey, CA
VS
Newport News, VA
🏆 Newport News leads 14 of 22 categories
Downey
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,236 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
113,052
Newport News
Virginia
14
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.
Downey, CA
Pros
37% less violent crime than Newport News
Households earn $20,881 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 49°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 88°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $679,000
Higher rents — median is $1,814/mo
Violent crime (460.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Newport News
Newport News, VA
Pros
Homes cost $446k less ($233,400 vs $679,000)
Rent averages $605/mo less ($1,209 vs $1,814)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Downey
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 28.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
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 Downey by $20,881/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Downey
Median Income
$20,881
$84,236 vs $63,355/yr
Downey
Violent Crime
37% lower
460.5 vs 736.0 per 100k
Newport News
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Newport News
Median Home Value
$446k less
$233,400 vs $679,000
Newport News
Summer Heat
6.8°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 81.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Downey, CA | Newport News, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $679,000⚠ High | $233,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,814⚠ High | $1,209 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,236 ✓ Higher | $63,355 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.2% | 7.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer | 162⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ 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 | C+ (88) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 28.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% | 91.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Downey Unified | Newport News City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer | 49.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.2" ✓ Drier | 51.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,052 | 185,118 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 34.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% ✓ Higher | 47.6% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 13.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Downey's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Newport News's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Newport News is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Newport News leads 14 of 22 categories. Downey wins 8 and Newport News wins 14. 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 Downey to Newport News or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($679,000 vs $233,400 median home), income ($84,236 vs $63,355), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Downey, CA and Newport News, VA are about 2,332 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.