Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Grand Rapids, MI
VS
Newport News, VA
🏆 Newport News leads 13 of 22 categories
Grand Rapids
Michigan
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,634
Violent Crime Index
240⚠ High
Population
198,096 ✓ Larger
Newport News
Virginia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$63,355 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
185,118
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Grand Rapids, MI
Pros
Homes cost $30k less ($203,900 vs $233,400)
More college-educated — 39.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 88°F
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Newport News
Cons
Violent crime (910.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2480.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 75" of snow per year
Newport News, VA
Pros
19% less violent crime than Grand Rapids
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 31°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 2% higher than Grand Rapids
Key Differences at a Glance
Grand Rapids
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 95.2 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Grand Rapids
Median Home Value
$30k less
$203,900 vs $233,400
Newport News
Median Income
$1,721
$63,355 vs $61,634/yr
Newport News
Violent Crime
19% lower
736.0 vs 910.1 per 100k
Newport News
Summer Heat
5.8°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 82.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Grand Rapids, MI | Newport News, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.2 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $203,900 ✓ Lower | $233,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,138 ✓ Lower | $1,209 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,634 | $63,355 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.7% ✓ Higher | 7.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 191⚠ High | 162⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 240⚠ High | 194⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.3:1 | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.3% ✓ Higher | 28.7% |
| High School or Higher | 89.3% | 91.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Grand Rapids Public Schools | Newport News City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.5°F | 49.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.4°F | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.6" ✓ Drier | 51.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 74.9" | 2.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 198,096 ✓ Larger | 185,118 |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 34.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.5% ✓ Higher | 47.6% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 13.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Grand Rapids's cost of living index is 95.2 vs Newport News's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Grand Rapids is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Newport News leads 13 of 22 categories. Grand Rapids wins 9 and Newport News wins 13. 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 Grand Rapids to Newport News or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($203,900 vs $233,400 median home), income ($61,634 vs $63,355), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Grand Rapids, MI and Newport News, VA are about 631 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.