Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Newport News, VA
VS
Sterling Heights, MI
🏆 Newport News leads 13 of 23 categories
Newport News
Virginia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,355
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
185,118 ✓ Larger
Sterling Heights
Michigan
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$75,381 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60 ✓ Safer
Population
133,744
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Newport News, VA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 32°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (736.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Sterling Heights by $12,026/yr
Sterling Heights, MI
Pros
69% less violent crime than Newport News
Violent crime is well below the national average (229.2 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $12,026 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 88°F
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Newport News
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Newport News
Summer Heat
6.0°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 82.2°F
Sterling Heights
Median Income
$12,026
$75,381 vs $63,355/yr
Sterling Heights
Violent Crime
69% lower
229.2 vs 736.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Newport News, VA | Sterling Heights, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 98.0 |
| Median Home Value | $233,400 ✓ Lower | $243,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,209 ✓ Lower | $1,215 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,355 | $75,381 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 26.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.5% | 11.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 162⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 50 ✓ 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 | 17.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 30.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.7% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newport News City Public Schools | Utica Community Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.0°F ✓ Warmer | 31.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 34.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" ✓ Less | 32.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 185,118 ✓ Larger | 133,744 |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 41.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.6% | 76.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.2% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Newport News's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Sterling Heights's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Newport News is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Newport News leads 13 of 23 categories. Newport News wins 13 and Sterling Heights wins 10. 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 Sterling Heights or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($233,400 vs $243,400 median home), income ($63,355 vs $75,381), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Newport News, VA and Sterling Heights, MI are about 513 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.