Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Federal Way, WA
VS
Newport News, VA
🏆 Newport News leads 14 of 23 categories
Federal Way
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,360 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
99,614
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.
Federal Way, WA
Pros
26% less violent crime than Newport News
Households earn $17,005 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 88°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $454,300
Higher rents — median is $1,660/mo
Violent crime (545.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Newport News
Newport News, VA
Pros
Homes cost $221k less ($233,400 vs $454,300)
Rent averages $451/mo less ($1,209 vs $1,660)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Federal Way
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 Federal Way by $17,005/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Federal Way
Median Income
$17,005
$80,360 vs $63,355/yr
Federal Way
Violent Crime
26% lower
545.4 vs 736.0 per 100k
Newport News
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Newport News
Median Home Value
$221k less
$233,400 vs $454,300
Newport News
Summer Heat
11.4°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 76.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Federal Way, WA | Newport News, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High | $233,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,660⚠ High | $1,209 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,360 ✓ Higher | $63,355 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% ✓ Higher | 7.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High | 162⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 144⚠ High ✓ Safer | 194⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 208⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.6% ✓ Higher | 28.7% |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% | 91.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Federal Way School District | Newport News City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F | 49.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.8°F | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.6" ✓ Drier | 51.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" | 2.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,614 | 185,118 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 34.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.4% ✓ Higher | 47.6% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 13.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Federal Way's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Newport News's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Newport News is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Newport News leads 14 of 23 categories. Federal Way 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 Federal Way to Newport News or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $233,400 median home), income ($80,360 vs $63,355), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Federal Way, WA and Newport News, VA are about 2,411 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.