Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Newport News, VA
VS
San Francisco, CA
🏆 San Francisco leads 12 of 23 categories
Newport News
Virginia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,355
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
185,118
San Francisco
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
117.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,689 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
851,036 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Newport News, VA
Pros
Homes cost $1115k less ($233,400 vs $1,348,700)
Rent averages $1107/mo less ($1,209 vs $2,316)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than San Francisco
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 12.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Francisco by $73,334/yr
Violent crime (736.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
San Francisco, CA
Pros
Households earn $73,334 more per year on average
19% less violent crime than Newport News
More college-educated — 59.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 62°F vs 88°F
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 49°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,348,700
Higher rents — median is $2,316/mo
Violent crime (596.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Newport News
Key Differences at a Glance
Newport News
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 117.1 (100 = US avg)
Newport News
Median Home Value
$1115k less
$233,400 vs $1,348,700
Newport News
Summer Heat
26.4°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 61.8°F
San Francisco
Median Income
$73,334
$136,689 vs $63,355/yr
San Francisco
Violent Crime
19% lower
596.5 vs 736.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Newport News, VA | San Francisco, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 117.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $233,400 ✓ Lower | $1,348,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,209 ✓ Lower | $2,316⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,355 | $136,689 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 31.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.5% | 23.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 162⚠ High ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 187⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 59.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.7% ✓ Higher | 88.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newport News City Public Schools | San Francisco Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.0°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer | 61.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 30.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 185,118 | 851,036 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 39.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.6% ✓ Higher | 38.6% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% ✓ More | 13.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Newport News's cost of living index is 97.4 vs San Francisco's 117.1 (US average = 100).
Newport News is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Francisco leads 12 of 23 categories. Newport News wins 11 and San Francisco 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 San Francisco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($233,400 vs $1,348,700 median home), income ($63,355 vs $136,689), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Newport News, VA and San Francisco, CA are about 2,526 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.