Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kansas City, MO
VS
Newport News, VA
🏆 Kansas City leads 14 of 23 categories
Kansas City
Missouri
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$65,256 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
407⚠ High
Population
505,958 ✓ Larger
Newport News
Virginia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$63,355
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.
Kansas City, MO
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.8%)
Homes cost $25k less ($208,900 vs $233,400)
More college-educated — 37.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Rent averages $78/mo less ($1,131 vs $1,209)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Newport News
Cons
Violent crime (1547.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4676.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Newport News, VA
Pros
52% less violent crime than Kansas City
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 40°F
Cons
Violent crime (736.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 4.8%)
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Kansas City
Key Differences at a Glance
Kansas City
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Kansas City
Median Income
$1,901
$65,256 vs $63,355/yr
Kansas City
Median Home Value
$25k less
$208,900 vs $233,400
Kansas City
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.6% unemployment
Newport News
Violent Crime
52% lower
736.0 vs 1547.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kansas City, MO | Newport News, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $208,900 ✓ Lower | $233,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,131 ✓ Lower | $1,209 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $65,256 ✓ Higher | $63,355 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.2% ✓ Higher | 7.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 333⚠ High | 162⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 407⚠ High | 194⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 223⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.1% ✓ Higher | 28.7% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% | 91.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | KANSAS CITY 33 | Newport News City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.9°F | 49.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer | 88.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.1" ✓ Drier | 51.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.0" | 2.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 505,958 ✓ Larger | 185,118 |
| Median Age | 35.4 ✓ Older | 34.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% ✓ Higher | 47.6% |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.9% ✓ More | 13.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kansas City's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Newport News's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Kansas City is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Kansas City leads 14 of 23 categories. Kansas City wins 14 and Newport News wins 9. 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 Kansas City to Newport News or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($208,900 vs $233,400 median home), income ($65,256 vs $63,355), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kansas City, MO and Newport News, VA are about 989 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.