Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Newport News, VA
VS
Pomona, 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
Population
185,118 ✓ Larger
Pomona
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,515 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
188⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
149,831
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Newport News, VA
Pros
Homes cost $291k less ($233,400 vs $524,700)
Rent averages $422/mo less ($1,209 vs $1,631)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Pomona
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.6%)
More college-educated — 28.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (736.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Pomona by $10,160/yr
Pomona, CA
Pros
Households earn $10,160 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 49°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $524,700
Higher rents — median is $1,631/mo
Violent crime (715.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Newport News
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
$291k less
$233,400 vs $524,700
Newport News
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.5% unemployment
Pomona
Median Income
$10,160
$73,515 vs $63,355/yr
Pomona
Violent Crime
3% lower
715.9 vs 736.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Newport News, VA | Pomona, 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 | $524,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,209 ✓ Lower | $1,631⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,355 | $73,515 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 32.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.5% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 162⚠ High ✓ Safer | 165⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 188⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 131⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% ✓ Higher | 18.2% |
| High School or Higher | 91.7% ✓ Higher | 72.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newport News City Public Schools | Pomona Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.0°F | 67.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 14.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 185,118 ✓ Larger | 149,831 |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 34.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.6% | 53.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | 24.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 12.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Newport News's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Pomona's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Newport News is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Newport News leads 14 of 23 categories. Newport News wins 14 and Pomona 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 Pomona or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($233,400 vs $524,700 median home), income ($63,355 vs $73,515), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Newport News, VA and Pomona, CA are about 2,309 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.