Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Independence, MO
VS
Newport News, VA
🏆 Newport News leads 13 of 23 categories
Independence
Missouri
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,415
Violent Crime Index
150⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
122,218
Newport News
Virginia
13
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.
Independence, MO
Pros
Homes cost $83k less ($150,800 vs $233,400)
22% less violent crime than Newport News
Rent averages $189/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,209)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Newport News
Cons
Violent crime (571.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3523.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Newport News by $5,940/yr
Newport News, VA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.6%)
More college-educated — 28.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $5,940 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 38°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 4% higher than Independence
Key Differences at a Glance
Independence
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Independence
Violent Crime
22% lower
571.2 vs 736.0 per 100k
Independence
Median Home Value
$83k less
$150,800 vs $233,400
Newport News
Median Income
$5,940
$63,355 vs $57,415/yr
Newport News
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Independence, MO | Newport News, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $150,800 ✓ Lower | $233,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $1,209 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,415 | $63,355 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.9 min | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.2% ✓ Higher | 7.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer | 162⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 150⚠ High ✓ Safer | 194⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 168⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.5% | 28.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.0% | 91.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | INDEPENDENCE 30 | Newport News City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.6°F | 49.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" ✓ Drier | 51.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.2" | 2.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 122,218 | 185,118 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 34.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.5% ✓ Higher | 47.6% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.4% ✓ More | 13.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Independence's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Newport News's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Independence is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Newport News leads 13 of 23 categories. Independence wins 10 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 Independence to Newport News or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($150,800 vs $233,400 median home), income ($57,415 vs $63,355), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Independence, MO and Newport News, VA are about 978 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.