Head-to-Head · City Comparison
McAllen, TX
VS
Newport News, VA
🏆 McAllen leads 16 of 23 categories
McAllen
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,326
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
142,722
Newport News
Virginia
7
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.
McAllen, TX
Pros
80% less violent crime than Newport News
Homes cost $75k less ($158,700 vs $233,400)
Rent averages $254/mo less ($955 vs $1,209)
Violent crime is well below the national average (150.0 vs 380/100k)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Newport News
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 49°F
Cons
Median income trails Newport News by $7,029/yr
Newport News, VA
Pros
Households earn $7,029 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 98°F
Cons
Violent crime (736.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 12% higher than McAllen
Key Differences at a Glance
McAllen
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
McAllen
Violent Crime
80% lower
150.0 vs 736.0 per 100k
McAllen
Median Home Value
$75k less
$158,700 vs $233,400
McAllen
Summer Heat
9.3°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 88.2°F
Newport News
Median Income
$7,029
$63,355 vs $56,326/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | McAllen, TX | Newport News, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $158,700 ✓ Lower | $233,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $955 ✓ Lower | $1,209 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,326 | $63,355 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.5% ✓ Higher | 7.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 ✓ Safer | 162⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 194⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 87 ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% ✓ Higher | 28.7% |
| High School or Higher | 78.7% | 91.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MCALLEN ISD | Newport News City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.4°F ✓ Warmer | 49.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer | 88.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 27.4" ✓ Drier | 51.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 2.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,722 | 185,118 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 34.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.4% ✓ Higher | 47.6% |
| Under 18 | 28.3% ✓ More | 23.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.1% | 13.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
McAllen's cost of living index is 85.6 vs Newport News's 97.4 (US average = 100).
McAllen is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McAllen leads 16 of 23 categories. McAllen wins 16 and Newport News wins 7. 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 McAllen to Newport News or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,700 vs $233,400 median home), income ($56,326 vs $63,355), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
McAllen, TX and Newport News, VA are about 1,476 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.