Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Wayne, IN
VS
Newport News, VA
🏆 Fort Wayne leads 13 of 23 categories
Fort Wayne
Indiana
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,233
Violent Crime Index
81 ✓ Safer
Population
264,514 ✓ Larger
Newport News
Virginia
10
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.
Fort Wayne, IN
Pros
Homes cost $81k less ($152,500 vs $233,400)
58% less violent crime than Newport News
Rent averages $305/mo less ($904 vs $1,209)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Newport News
Cons
Median income trails Newport News by $5,122/yr
Newport News, VA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 33°F
Households earn $5,122 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (736.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Fort Wayne
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Wayne
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Fort Wayne
Violent Crime
58% lower
307.5 vs 736.0 per 100k
Fort Wayne
Median Home Value
$81k less
$152,500 vs $233,400
Newport News
Median Income
$5,122
$63,355 vs $58,233/yr
Newport News
Summer Heat
4.1°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 84.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Wayne, IN | Newport News, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $152,500 ✓ Lower | $233,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $904 ✓ Lower | $1,209 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,233 | $63,355 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.9% | 7.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 91 ✓ Safer | 162⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 ✓ Safer | 194⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% | 28.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 91.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fort Wayne Community Schools | Newport News City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.6°F | 49.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.7" ✓ Drier | 51.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" | 2.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 264,514 ✓ Larger | 185,118 |
| Median Age | 35.1 ✓ Older | 34.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.6% ✓ Higher | 47.6% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% ✓ More | 23.2% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 13.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Wayne's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Newport News's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Fort Wayne is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Wayne leads 13 of 23 categories. Fort Wayne 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 Fort Wayne to Newport News or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($152,500 vs $233,400 median home), income ($58,233 vs $63,355), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Wayne, IN and Newport News, VA are about 539 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.