Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Evansville, IN
VS
Newport News, VA
🏆 Newport News leads 14 of 23 categories
Evansville
Indiana
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,853
Violent Crime Index
317⚠ High
Population
116,906
Newport News
Virginia
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$63,355 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
185,118 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Evansville, IN
Pros
Homes cost $112k less ($121,100 vs $233,400)
Rent averages $292/mo less ($917 vs $1,209)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Newport News
Cons
Violent crime (1206.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Newport News by $13,502/yr
Property crime (3678.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Newport News, VA
Pros
39% less violent crime than Evansville
Households earn $13,502 more per year on average
More college-educated — 28.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 42°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 8% higher than Evansville
Key Differences at a Glance
Evansville
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Evansville
Median Home Value
$112k less
$121,100 vs $233,400
Newport News
Median Income
$13,502
$63,355 vs $49,853/yr
Newport News
Violent Crime
39% lower
736.0 vs 1206.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Evansville, IN | Newport News, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $121,100 ✓ Lower | $233,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $917 ✓ Lower | $1,209 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,853 | $63,355 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.2% | 7.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 261⚠ High | 162⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 317⚠ High | 194⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.4% | 28.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.2% | 91.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp | Newport News City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.3°F | 49.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.0°F ✓ Warmer | 88.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.8" ✓ Drier | 51.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 10.8" | 2.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 116,906 | 185,118 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 34.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.2% ✓ Higher | 47.6% |
| Under 18 | 21.1% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 13.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Evansville's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Newport News's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Evansville is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Newport News leads 14 of 23 categories. Evansville wins 9 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 Evansville to Newport News or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($121,100 vs $233,400 median home), income ($49,853 vs $63,355), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Evansville, IN and Newport News, VA are about 606 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.