Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hartford, CT
VS
Newport News, VA
🏆 Newport News leads 16 of 23 categories
Hartford
Connecticut
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$41,841
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
121,057
Newport News
Virginia
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$63,355 ✓ Higher
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.
Hartford, CT
Pros
30% less violent crime than Newport News
Homes cost $35k less ($198,900 vs $233,400)
Cons
Median income trails Newport News by $21,514/yr
Violent crime (515.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2845.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (10.6% vs 5.6%)
Newport News, VA
Pros
Households earn $21,514 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.0 pts lower (5.6%)
More college-educated — 28.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 37°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (736.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Hartford
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 96.1 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Hartford
Violent Crime
30% lower
515.8 vs 736.0 per 100k
Hartford
Median Home Value
$35k less
$198,900 vs $233,400
Newport News
Median Income
$21,514
$63,355 vs $41,841/yr
Newport News
Unemployment
5.0 pp lower
5.6% vs 10.6% unemployment
Newport News
Summer Heat
3.6°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 84.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hartford, CT | Newport News, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $198,900 ✓ Lower | $233,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,154 ✓ Lower | $1,209 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,841 | $63,355 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.6%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.3% | 7.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 162⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 194⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (80) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.3:1 | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.5% | 28.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.7% | 91.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hartford School District | Newport News City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F | 49.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.6°F | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.8" ✓ Drier | 51.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 51.7" | 2.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,057 | 185,118 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 34.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.6% | 47.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 13.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hartford's cost of living index is 96.1 vs Newport News's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Hartford is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Newport News leads 16 of 23 categories. Hartford wins 7 and Newport News wins 16. 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 Hartford to Newport News or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($198,900 vs $233,400 median home), income ($41,841 vs $63,355), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hartford, CT and Newport News, VA are about 383 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.