Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Newport News, VA
VS
Suffolk, VA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Newport News
Virginia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$63,355
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
185,118 ✓ Larger
Suffolk
Virginia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$87,758 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
98 ✓ Safer
Population
94,856
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Newport News, VA
Pros
Homes cost $81k less ($233,400 vs $314,400)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.6%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Rent averages $167/mo less ($1,209 vs $1,376)
Smaller class sizes — 12.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Suffolk by $24,403/yr
Violent crime (736.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Suffolk, VA
Pros
50% less violent crime than Newport News
Households earn $24,403 more per year on average
More college-educated — 32.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $314,400
Higher rents — median is $1,376/mo
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 5.6%)
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Newport News
Median Home Value
$81k less
$233,400 vs $314,400
Newport News
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.3% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 97.4 on the COL index
Suffolk
Median Income
$24,403
$87,758 vs $63,355/yr
Suffolk
Violent Crime
50% lower
371.0 vs 736.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Newport News, VA | Suffolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $233,400 ✓ Lower | $314,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,209 ✓ Lower | $1,376⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,355 | $87,758 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.5% | 7.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 162⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 75 ✓ 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 | 14.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 32.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.7% ✓ Higher | 91.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newport News City Public Schools | Suffolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.0°F | 49.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer | 86.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" ✓ Drier | 51.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" ✓ Less | 5.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 185,118 ✓ Larger | 94,856 |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.6% | 70.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Newport News's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Suffolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Newport News wins 11 and Suffolk wins 11. 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 Suffolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($233,400 vs $314,400 median home), income ($63,355 vs $87,758), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Newport News, VA and Suffolk, VA are about 27 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.