Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Newport News, VA
VS
Redding, CA
🏆 Redding leads 13 of 23 categories
Newport News
Virginia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,355
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
185,118 ✓ Larger
Redding
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,323 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
170⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
93,327
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Newport News, VA
Pros
Homes cost $110k less ($233,400 vs $343,000)
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 100°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Redding
Smaller class sizes — 12.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (736.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Redding by $3,968/yr
Redding, CA
Pros
12% less violent crime than Newport News
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 49°F
Households earn $3,968 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $343,000
Violent crime (647.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Newport News
Key Differences at a Glance
Newport News
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 102.8 (100 = US avg)
Newport News
Median Home Value
$110k less
$233,400 vs $343,000
Redding
Median Income
$3,968
$67,323 vs $63,355/yr
Redding
Violent Crime
12% lower
647.8 vs 736.0 per 100k
Redding
Summer Heat
11.7°F warmer
July avg high 99.9°F vs 88.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Newport News, VA | Redding, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 102.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $233,400 ✓ Lower | $343,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,209 ✓ Lower | $1,278 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,355 | $67,323 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min | 16.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.5% ✓ Higher | 6.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 162⚠ High | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 170⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C (77) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% ✓ Higher | 26.4% |
| High School or Higher | 91.7% | 92.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newport News City Public Schools | Redding Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.0°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F | 99.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 41.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" | 0.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 185,118 ✓ Larger | 93,327 |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 38.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.6% | 54.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.2% ✓ More | 22.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 19.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Newport News's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Redding's 102.8 (US average = 100).
Newport News is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Redding leads 13 of 23 categories. Newport News wins 10 and Redding wins 13. 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 Redding or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($233,400 vs $343,000 median home), income ($63,355 vs $67,323), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Newport News, VA and Redding, CA are about 2,452 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.