Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kent, WA
VS
Newport News, VA
🏆 Newport News leads 15 of 23 categories
Kent
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,966 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,169
Newport News
Virginia
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,355
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.
Kent, WA
Pros
33% less violent crime than Newport News
Households earn $23,611 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 88°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $478,400
Higher rents — median is $1,742/mo
Violent crime (489.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Newport News
Newport News, VA
Pros
Homes cost $245k less ($233,400 vs $478,400)
Rent averages $533/mo less ($1,209 vs $1,742)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (5.6%)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Kent
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 12.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Kent by $23,611/yr
Violent crime (736.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Kent
Median Income
$23,611
$86,966 vs $63,355/yr
Kent
Violent Crime
33% lower
489.7 vs 736.0 per 100k
Newport News
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Newport News
Median Home Value
$245k less
$233,400 vs $478,400
Newport News
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
5.6% vs 7.6% unemployment
Newport News
Summer Heat
9.9°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 78.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kent, WA | Newport News, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $478,400⚠ High | $233,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,742⚠ High | $1,209 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,966 ✓ Higher | $63,355 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.5 min⚠ High | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.1% ✓ Higher | 7.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High ✓ Safer | 162⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 194⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 180⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% | 28.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 91.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kent School District | Newport News City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.4°F | 49.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 78.3°F | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" ✓ Drier | 51.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" | 2.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,169 | 185,118 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 ✓ Older | 34.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.8% ✓ Higher | 47.6% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 23.2% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 13.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kent's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Newport News's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Newport News is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Newport News leads 15 of 23 categories. Kent wins 8 and Newport News wins 15. 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 Kent to Newport News or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($478,400 vs $233,400 median home), income ($86,966 vs $63,355), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kent, WA and Newport News, VA are about 2,405 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.