Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Newport News, VA
VS
Riverside, CA
🏆 Newport News leads 12 of 23 categories
Newport News
Virginia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,355
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
185,118
Riverside
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$83,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
316,076 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Newport News, VA
Pros
Homes cost $252k less ($233,400 vs $485,500)
Rent averages $502/mo less ($1,209 vs $1,711)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.6%)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Riverside
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 Riverside by $20,093/yr
Riverside, CA
Pros
20% less violent crime than Newport News
Households earn $20,093 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 49°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $485,500
Higher rents — median is $1,711/mo
Violent crime (589.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2832.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Newport News
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Newport News
Median Home Value
$252k less
$233,400 vs $485,500
Newport News
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.1% unemployment
Riverside
Median Income
$20,093
$83,448 vs $63,355/yr
Riverside
Violent Crime
20% lower
589.7 vs 736.0 per 100k
Riverside
Summer Heat
7.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 88.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Newport News, VA | Riverside, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $233,400 ✓ Lower | $485,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,209 ✓ Lower | $1,711⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,355 | $83,448 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.5% | 8.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 162⚠ High | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 155⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 91.7% ✓ Higher | 82.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newport News City Public Schools | Riverside Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.0°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 10.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 185,118 | 316,076 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.1 ✓ Older | 32.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.6% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Newport News's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Riverside's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Newport News is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Newport News leads 12 of 23 categories. Newport News wins 12 and Riverside wins 11. 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 Riverside or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($233,400 vs $485,500 median home), income ($63,355 vs $83,448), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Newport News, VA and Riverside, CA are about 2,291 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.