Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Newport News, VA
VS
Sandy Springs, GA
🏆 Sandy Springs leads 15 of 23 categories
Newport News
Virginia
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,355
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
185,118 ✓ Larger
Sandy Springs
Georgia
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$93,303 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
37 ✓ Safer
Population
107,221
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Newport News, VA
Pros
Homes cost $323k less ($233,400 vs $556,300)
Rent averages $461/mo less ($1,209 vs $1,670)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 12.5:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Sandy Springs
Cons
Median income trails Sandy Springs by $29,948/yr
Violent crime (736.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 3.7%)
Sandy Springs, GA
Pros
81% less violent crime than Newport News
Households earn $29,948 more per year on average
More college-educated — 68.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (139.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (3.7%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $556,300
Higher rents — median is $1,670/mo
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Newport News
Key Differences at a Glance
Newport News
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Newport News
Median Home Value
$323k less
$233,400 vs $556,300
Sandy Springs
Median Income
$29,948
$93,303 vs $63,355/yr
Sandy Springs
Violent Crime
81% lower
139.2 vs 736.0 per 100k
Sandy Springs
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Newport News, VA | Sandy Springs, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $233,400 ✓ Lower | $556,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,209 ✓ Lower | $1,670⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,355 | $93,303 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.5% | 24.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 162⚠ High | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 37 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 68.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.7% | 97.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newport News City Public Schools | Fulton County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.0°F | 51.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" ✓ Drier | 53.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" | 0.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 185,118 ✓ Larger | 107,221 |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.6% | 50.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.2% ✓ More | 18.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Newport News's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Sandy Springs's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Newport News is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sandy Springs leads 15 of 23 categories. Newport News wins 8 and Sandy Springs wins 15. 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 Sandy Springs or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($233,400 vs $556,300 median home), income ($63,355 vs $93,303), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Newport News, VA and Sandy Springs, GA are about 492 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.