Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elk Grove, CA
VS
Newport News, VA
🏆 Elk Grove leads 13 of 23 categories
Elk Grove
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$115,864 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
50 ✓ Safer
Population
176,105
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.
Elk Grove, CA
Pros
Households earn $52,509 more per year on average
74% less violent crime than Newport News
Violent crime is well below the national average (189.9 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 49°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $560,500
Higher rents — median is $2,076/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Newport News
Higher unemployment (6.4% vs 5.6%)
Newport News, VA
Pros
Homes cost $327k less ($233,400 vs $560,500)
Rent averages $867/mo less ($1,209 vs $2,076)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.6%)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Elk Grove
Smaller class sizes — 12.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Elk Grove by $52,509/yr
Violent crime (736.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Elk Grove
Median Income
$52,509
$115,864 vs $63,355/yr
Elk Grove
Violent Crime
74% lower
189.9 vs 736.0 per 100k
Elk Grove
Summer Heat
4.4°F warmer
July avg high 92.6°F vs 88.2°F
Newport News
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Newport News
Median Home Value
$327k less
$233,400 vs $560,500
Newport News
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elk Grove, CA | Newport News, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $560,500⚠ High | $233,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,076⚠ High | $1,209 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,864 ✓ Higher | $63,355 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ 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 | 50 ✓ Safer | 194⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% ✓ Higher | 28.7% |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% | 91.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elk Grove Unified | Newport News City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.0°F ✓ Warmer | 49.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer | 88.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.1" ✓ Drier | 51.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,105 | 185,118 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.7 ✓ Older | 34.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 47.6% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% ✓ More | 23.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.3% | 13.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elk Grove's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Newport News's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Newport News is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Elk Grove leads 13 of 23 categories. Elk Grove 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 Elk Grove to Newport News or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($560,500 vs $233,400 median home), income ($115,864 vs $63,355), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elk Grove, CA and Newport News, VA are about 2,428 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.