Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Newport News, VA
VS
Providence, RI
🏆 Newport News leads 16 of 23 categories
Newport News
Virginia
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,355 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
185,118
Providence
Rhode Island
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,365
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
189,715 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Newport News, VA
Pros
Homes cost $60k less ($233,400 vs $293,000)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (5.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 38°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.5:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Providence
Cons
Violent crime (736.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Providence, RI
Pros
62% less violent crime than Newport News
More college-educated — 34.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 5.6%)
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Newport News
Key Differences at a Glance
Newport News
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Newport News
Median Income
$1,990
$63,355 vs $61,365/yr
Newport News
Median Home Value
$60k less
$233,400 vs $293,000
Newport News
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
5.6% vs 7.2% unemployment
Newport News
Summer Heat
4.6°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 83.6°F
Providence
Violent Crime
62% lower
276.7 vs 736.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Newport News, VA | Providence, RI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $233,400 ✓ Lower | $293,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,209 ✓ Lower | $1,214 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,355 ✓ Higher | $61,365 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 24.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.5% | 11.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 162⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 73 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 34.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.7% ✓ Higher | 82.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newport News City Public Schools | Providence |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.0°F ✓ Warmer | 38.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer | 83.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 47.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" ✓ Less | 36.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 185,118 | 189,715 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.1 ✓ Older | 32.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.6% ✓ Higher | 39.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% ✓ More | 20.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 11.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Newport News's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Providence's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Newport News is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Newport News leads 16 of 23 categories. Newport News wins 16 and Providence wins 7. 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 Providence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($233,400 vs $293,000 median home), income ($63,355 vs $61,365), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Newport News, VA and Providence, RI are about 426 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.