Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Gilbert, AZ
VS
Newport News, VA
🏆 Gilbert leads 17 of 23 categories
Gilbert
Arizona
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$115,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
267,267 ✓ Larger
Newport News
Virginia
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,355
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.
Gilbert, AZ
Pros
Households earn $51,824 more per year on average
82% less violent crime than Newport News
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (3.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (132.2 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 47.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 49°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $454,300
Higher rents — median is $1,839/mo
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Newport News
Newport News, VA
Pros
Homes cost $221k less ($233,400 vs $454,300)
Rent averages $630/mo less ($1,209 vs $1,839)
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 104°F
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Gilbert
Smaller class sizes — 12.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Gilbert by $51,824/yr
Violent crime (736.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 3.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Gilbert
Median Income
$51,824
$115,179 vs $63,355/yr
Gilbert
Violent Crime
82% lower
132.2 vs 736.0 per 100k
Gilbert
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
3.5% vs 5.6% unemployment
Gilbert
Summer Heat
16.0°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 88.2°F
Newport News
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 102.5 (100 = US avg)
Newport News
Median Home Value
$221k less
$233,400 vs $454,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Gilbert, AZ | Newport News, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.5⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High | $233,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,839⚠ High | $1,209 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,179 ✓ Higher | $63,355 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.5% ✓ Higher | 7.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 39 ✓ Safer | 162⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 194⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 46 ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B+ (105) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.1% ✓ Higher | 28.7% |
| High School or Higher | 96.3% ✓ Higher | 91.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Gilbert Unified District (4239) | Newport News City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer | 49.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer | 88.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.8" ✓ Drier | 51.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 267,267 ✓ Larger | 185,118 |
| Median Age | 35.4 ✓ Older | 34.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 47.6% |
| Under 18 | 29.4% ✓ More | 23.2% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 13.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Gilbert's cost of living index is 102.5 vs Newport News's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Newport News is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Gilbert leads 17 of 23 categories. Gilbert wins 17 and Newport News wins 6. 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 Gilbert to Newport News or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $233,400 median home), income ($115,179 vs $63,355), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Gilbert, AZ and Newport News, VA are about 1,994 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.