Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Newport News, VA
VS
Springfield, MA
🏆 Newport News leads 16 of 23 categories
Newport News
Virginia
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,355 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
185,118 ✓ Larger
Springfield
Massachusetts
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$47,677
Violent Crime Index
235⚠ High
Population
155,305
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Newport News, VA
Pros
Households earn $15,678 more per year on average
17% less violent crime than Springfield
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (5.6%)
More college-educated — 28.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 35°F
Cons
Violent crime (736.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Springfield, MA
Pros
Homes cost $35k less ($198,500 vs $233,400)
Rent averages $162/mo less ($1,047 vs $1,209)
Cons
Violent crime (891.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Newport News by $15,678/yr
Property crime (2835.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.7% vs 5.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Newport News
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Newport News
Median Income
$15,678
$63,355 vs $47,677/yr
Newport News
Violent Crime
17% lower
736.0 vs 891.4 per 100k
Newport News
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
5.6% vs 8.7% unemployment
Newport News
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 84.9°F
Springfield
Median Home Value
$35k less
$198,500 vs $233,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Newport News, VA | Springfield, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 98.4 |
| Median Home Value | $233,400 | $198,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,209 | $1,047 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,355 ✓ Higher | $47,677 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.5% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 162⚠ High ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High ✓ Safer | 235⚠ High |
| 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 | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.5:1 | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 91.7% ✓ Higher | 79.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newport News City Public Schools | Springfield |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.0°F ✓ Warmer | 34.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer | 84.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 50.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" ✓ Less | 51.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 185,118 ✓ Larger | 155,305 |
| Median Age | 34.1 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.6% | 47.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | 24.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Newport News's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Springfield's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Newport News is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Newport News leads 16 of 23 categories. Newport News wins 16 and Springfield wins 7. 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 $198,500 median home), income ($63,355 vs $47,677), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Newport News, VA and Springfield, MA are about 408 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.