Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Newport News, VA
VS
South Bend, IN
🏆 South Bend leads 12 of 23 categories
Newport News
Virginia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$63,355 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
185,118 ✓ Larger
South Bend
Indiana
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,056
Violent Crime Index
254⚠ High
Population
103,084
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Newport News, VA
Pros
24% less violent crime than South Bend
Households earn $14,299 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 32°F
Cons
Violent crime (736.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 6% higher than South Bend
South Bend, IN
Pros
Homes cost $120k less ($113,800 vs $233,400)
Rent averages $274/mo less ($935 vs $1,209)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Newport News
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 88°F
Cons
Violent crime (965.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Newport News by $14,299/yr
Snowy winters — about 65" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Newport News
Median Income
$14,299
$63,355 vs $49,056/yr
Newport News
Violent Crime
24% lower
736.0 vs 965.0 per 100k
Newport News
Summer Heat
5.2°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 83.0°F
South Bend
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
South Bend
Median Home Value
$120k less
$113,800 vs $233,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Newport News, VA | South Bend, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $233,400 | $113,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,209 | $935 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,355 ✓ Higher | $49,056 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.5% | 8.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 162⚠ High ✓ Safer | 191⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High ✓ Safer | 254⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 12.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 28.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.7% ✓ Higher | 87.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newport News City Public Schools | South Bend Community School Corp |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.0°F ✓ Warmer | 31.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 40.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" ✓ Less | 64.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 185,118 ✓ Larger | 103,084 |
| Median Age | 34.1 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.6% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | 26.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Newport News's cost of living index is 97.4 vs South Bend's 91.4 (US average = 100).
South Bend is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, South Bend leads 12 of 23 categories. Newport News wins 11 and South Bend 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 South Bend or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($233,400 vs $113,800 median home), income ($63,355 vs $49,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Newport News, VA and South Bend, IN are about 609 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.