Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Newport News, VA
VS
Richmond, VA
🏆 Richmond leads 12 of 23 categories
Newport News
Virginia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,355 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
185,118
Richmond
Virginia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$59,606
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
227,171 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Newport News, VA
Pros
Homes cost $75k less ($233,400 vs $308,300)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.6%)
Households earn $3,749 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (736.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Richmond, VA
Pros
54% less violent crime than Newport News
More college-educated — 44.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $308,300
Property crime (3179.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Newport News by $3,749/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Newport News
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Newport News
Median Income
$3,749
$63,355 vs $59,606/yr
Newport News
Median Home Value
$75k less
$233,400 vs $308,300
Newport News
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.1% unemployment
Richmond
Violent Crime
54% lower
336.9 vs 736.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Newport News, VA | Richmond, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 98.0 |
| Median Home Value | $233,400 ✓ Lower | $308,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,209 ✓ Lower | $1,227 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,355 ✓ Higher | $59,606 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.5% | 14.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 162⚠ High | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 151⚠ 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 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 44.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.7% ✓ Higher | 88.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newport News City Public Schools | Richmond City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.0°F ✓ Warmer | 47.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F | 89.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 47.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" ✓ Less | 8.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 185,118 | 227,171 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.6% ✓ Higher | 43.2% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% ✓ More | 17.1% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Newport News's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Richmond's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Newport News is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Richmond leads 12 of 23 categories. Newport News wins 11 and Richmond 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 Richmond or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($233,400 vs $308,300 median home), income ($63,355 vs $59,606), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Newport News, VA and Richmond, VA are about 61 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.