Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Newport News, VA
VS
Reno, NV
🏆 Reno 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
Reno
Nevada
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,073 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
265,196 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Newport News, VA
Pros
Homes cost $229k less ($233,400 vs $462,100)
Rent averages $151/mo less ($1,209 vs $1,360)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Reno
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 Reno by $9,718/yr
Reno, NV
Pros
28% less violent crime than Newport News
Households earn $9,718 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 35.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $462,100
Violent crime (529.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,360/mo
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
$229k less
$233,400 vs $462,100
Reno
Median Income
$9,718
$73,073 vs $63,355/yr
Reno
Violent Crime
28% lower
529.6 vs 736.0 per 100k
Reno
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.6% unemployment
Reno
Summer Heat
4.5°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 88.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Newport News, VA | Reno, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 102.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $233,400 ✓ Lower | $462,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,209 ✓ Lower | $1,360⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,355 | $73,073 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.5% | 9.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 162⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| 🎓 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 | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 35.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.7% ✓ Higher | 89.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newport News City Public Schools | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.0°F ✓ Warmer | 45.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 9.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" ✓ Less | 33.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 185,118 | 265,196 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.6% | 48.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.2% ✓ More | 19.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Newport News's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Reno's 102.8 (US average = 100).
Newport News is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Reno leads 13 of 23 categories. Newport News wins 10 and Reno 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 Reno or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($233,400 vs $462,100 median home), income ($63,355 vs $73,073), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Newport News, VA and Reno, NV are about 2,332 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.