Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Newport News, VA
VS
Norwalk, CA
🏆 Newport News leads 12 of 22 categories
Newport News
Virginia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,355
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
185,118 ✓ Larger
Norwalk
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,259 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
99 ✓ Safer
Population
101,893
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Newport News, VA
Pros
Homes cost $360k less ($233,400 vs $593,100)
Rent averages $651/mo less ($1,209 vs $1,860)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Norwalk
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 28.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 12.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Norwalk by $27,904/yr
Violent crime (736.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Norwalk, CA
Pros
49% less violent crime than Newport News
Households earn $27,904 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 49°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $593,100
Higher rents — median is $1,860/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Newport News
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Newport News
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Newport News
Median Home Value
$360k less
$233,400 vs $593,100
Newport News
Summer Heat
3.8°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 84.4°F
Norwalk
Median Income
$27,904
$91,259 vs $63,355/yr
Norwalk
Violent Crime
49% lower
374.4 vs 736.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Newport News, VA | Norwalk, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $233,400 ✓ Lower | $593,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,209 ✓ Lower | $1,860⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,355 | $91,259 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 29.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.5% ✓ Higher | 5.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 162⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 99 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 91.7% ✓ Higher | 76.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newport News City Public Schools | Norwalk-La Mirada Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.0°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer | 84.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 15.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 185,118 ✓ Larger | 101,893 |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.6% | 67.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.2% ✓ More | 22.9% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 13.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Newport News's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Norwalk's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Newport News is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Newport News leads 12 of 22 categories. Newport News wins 12 and Norwalk wins 10. 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 Newport News to Norwalk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($233,400 vs $593,100 median home), income ($63,355 vs $91,259), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Newport News, VA and Norwalk, CA are about 2,330 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.