Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Newport News, VA
VS
Springfield, IL
🏆 Springfield 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
Springfield
Illinois
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,419
Violent Crime Index
237⚠ High
Population
114,214
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Newport News, VA
Pros
18% less violent crime than Springfield
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 36°F
Cons
Violent crime (736.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Springfield
Springfield, IL
Pros
Homes cost $86k less ($147,700 vs $233,400)
Rent averages $296/mo less ($913 vs $1,209)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 34.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.5)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Newport News
Cons
Violent crime (901.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4911.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Newport News
Median Income
$936
$63,355 vs $62,419/yr
Newport News
Violent Crime
18% lower
736.0 vs 901.2 per 100k
Newport News
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.6% unemployment
Springfield
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 90.5 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$86k less
$147,700 vs $233,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Newport News, VA | Springfield, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 | 90.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $233,400 | $147,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,209 | $913 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,355 ✓ Higher | $62,419 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.5% | 10.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 162⚠ High ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High ✓ Safer | 237⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 234⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | A- (111) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 34.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.7% | 92.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newport News City Public Schools | Springfield SD 186 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.0°F ✓ Warmer | 35.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 40.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" ✓ Less | 21.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 185,118 ✓ Larger | 114,214 |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 40.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.6% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.2% ✓ More | 21.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Newport News's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Springfield's 90.5 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Springfield leads 12 of 23 categories. Newport News wins 11 and Springfield 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 Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($233,400 vs $147,700 median home), income ($63,355 vs $62,419), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Newport News, VA and Springfield, IL are about 734 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.