Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Newport News, VA
VS
Olathe, KS
🏆 Olathe leads 16 of 22 categories
Newport News
Virginia
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$63,355
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
185,118 ✓ Larger
Olathe
Kansas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$108,077 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52 ✓ Safer
Population
142,114
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Newport News, VA
Pros
Homes cost $85k less ($233,400 vs $317,900)
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 39°F
Cons
Median income trails Olathe by $44,722/yr
Violent crime (736.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 3.2%)
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Olathe
Olathe, KS
Pros
Households earn $44,722 more per year on average
73% less violent crime than Newport News
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (3.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (196.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 50.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $317,900
Key Differences at a Glance
Newport News
Median Home Value
$85k less
$233,400 vs $317,900
Olathe
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Olathe
Median Income
$44,722
$108,077 vs $63,355/yr
Olathe
Violent Crime
73% lower
196.0 vs 736.0 per 100k
Olathe
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Newport News, VA | Olathe, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $233,400 ✓ Lower | $317,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,209 ✓ Lower | $1,229 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,355 | $108,077 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.5% | 16.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 162⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 45 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.5:1 | 4.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 50.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.7% | 94.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newport News City Public Schools | School for Deaf |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.0°F ✓ Warmer | 38.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F | 88.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 40.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" ✓ Less | 13.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 185,118 ✓ Larger | 142,114 |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.6% | 73.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | 26.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Newport News's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Olathe's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Olathe is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Olathe leads 16 of 22 categories. Newport News wins 6 and Olathe wins 16. 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 Olathe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($233,400 vs $317,900 median home), income ($63,355 vs $108,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Newport News, VA and Olathe, KS are about 1,003 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.