Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Meridian, ID
VS
Newport News, VA
🏆 Meridian leads 15 of 22 categories
Meridian
Idaho
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$93,296 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
119,872
Newport News
Virginia
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
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.
Meridian, ID
Pros
80% less violent crime than Newport News
Households earn $29,941 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (2.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.8 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 43.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $425,800
Higher rents — median is $1,548/mo
Newport News, VA
Pros
Homes cost $192k less ($233,400 vs $425,800)
Rent averages $339/mo less ($1,209 vs $1,548)
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 39°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Meridian by $29,941/yr
Violent crime (736.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 2.7%)
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Meridian
Key Differences at a Glance
Meridian
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Meridian
Median Income
$29,941
$93,296 vs $63,355/yr
Meridian
Violent Crime
80% lower
146.8 vs 736.0 per 100k
Meridian
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
2.7% vs 5.6% unemployment
Meridian
Summer Heat
4.5°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 88.2°F
Newport News
Median Home Value
$192k less
$233,400 vs $425,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Meridian, ID | Newport News, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $425,800⚠ High | $233,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,548⚠ High | $1,209 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,296 ✓ Higher | $63,355 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.7% ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 14.8% ✓ Higher | 7.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 162⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 194⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 27 ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.4:1 | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.5% ✓ Higher | 28.7% |
| High School or Higher | 96.1% ✓ Higher | 91.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | JOINT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 2 | Newport News City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.8°F | 49.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer | 88.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.4" ✓ Drier | 51.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 18.3" | 2.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,872 | 185,118 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.1 ✓ Older | 34.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 76.3% ✓ Higher | 47.6% |
| Under 18 | 27.1% ✓ More | 23.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 13.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Meridian's cost of living index is 93.4 vs Newport News's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Meridian is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Meridian leads 15 of 22 categories. Meridian wins 15 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 Meridian to Newport News or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($425,800 vs $233,400 median home), income ($93,296 vs $63,355), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Meridian, ID and Newport News, VA are about 2,127 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.