Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Newport News, VA
VS
Peoria, IL
🏆 Peoria leads 12 of 23 categories
Newport News
Virginia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$63,355 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
185,118 ✓ Larger
Peoria
Illinois
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,068
Violent Crime Index
354⚠ High
Population
113,054
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Newport News, VA
Pros
45% less violent crime than Peoria
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (5.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 34°F
Households earn $5,287 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 12.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (736.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Peoria
Peoria, IL
Pros
Homes cost $87k less ($146,700 vs $233,400)
Rent averages $292/mo less ($917 vs $1,209)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 37.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Newport News
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.6)
Cons
Violent crime (1344.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4284.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.0% vs 5.6%)
Median income trails Newport News by $5,287/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Newport News
Median Income
$5,287
$63,355 vs $58,068/yr
Newport News
Violent Crime
45% lower
736.0 vs 1344.9 per 100k
Newport News
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
5.6% vs 8.0% unemployment
Peoria
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 88.6 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Peoria
Median Home Value
$87k less
$146,700 vs $233,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Newport News, VA | Peoria, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 | 88.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $233,400 | $146,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,209 | $917 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,355 ✓ Higher | $58,068 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.5% | 9.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 162⚠ High ✓ Safer | 294⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High ✓ Safer | 354⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 37.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.7% ✓ Higher | 91.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newport News City Public Schools | Peoria SD 150 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.0°F ✓ Warmer | 33.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer | 86.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 39.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" ✓ Less | 26.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 185,118 ✓ Larger | 113,054 |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.6% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | 23.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 16.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Newport News's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Peoria's 88.6 (US average = 100).
Peoria is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Peoria leads 12 of 23 categories. Newport News wins 11 and Peoria wins 12. 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 Peoria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($233,400 vs $146,700 median home), income ($63,355 vs $58,068), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Newport News, VA and Peoria, IL are about 748 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.