Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Newport News, VA
VS
Oakland, CA
🏆 Newport News leads 14 of 23 categories
Newport News
Virginia
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,355
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
185,118
Oakland
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,389 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
507⚠ High
Population
437,825 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Newport News, VA
Pros
Homes cost $650k less ($233,400 vs $883,800)
62% less violent crime than Oakland
Rent averages $640/mo less ($1,209 vs $1,849)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Oakland
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 12.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Oakland by $31,034/yr
Violent crime (736.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Oakland, CA
Pros
Households earn $31,034 more per year on average
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 72°F vs 88°F
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 49°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $883,800
Higher rents — median is $1,849/mo
Violent crime (1925.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Newport News
Key Differences at a Glance
Newport News
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Newport News
Violent Crime
62% lower
736.0 vs 1925.3 per 100k
Newport News
Median Home Value
$650k less
$233,400 vs $883,800
Newport News
Summer Heat
16.6°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 71.6°F
Oakland
Median Income
$31,034
$94,389 vs $63,355/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Newport News, VA | Oakland, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $233,400 ✓ Lower | $883,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,209 ✓ Lower | $1,849⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,355 | $94,389 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 31.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.5% | 20.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 162⚠ High ✓ Safer | 400⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High ✓ Safer | 507⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 344⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 48.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.7% ✓ Higher | 85.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newport News City Public Schools | Oakland Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.0°F | 59.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer | 71.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 22.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 185,118 | 437,825 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.6% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% ✓ More | 19.1% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 14.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Newport News's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Oakland's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Newport News is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Newport News leads 14 of 23 categories. Newport News wins 14 and Oakland 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 Newport News to Oakland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($233,400 vs $883,800 median home), income ($63,355 vs $94,389), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Newport News, VA and Oakland, CA are about 2,483 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.