Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Newport News, VA
VS
Tempe, AZ
🏆 Tempe leads 12 of 23 categories
Newport News
Virginia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,355
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
185,118 ✓ Larger
Tempe
Arizona
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.9
Median Household Income
$72,022 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
181,005
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Newport News, VA
Pros
Homes cost $149k less ($233,400 vs $382,100)
Rent averages $263/mo less ($1,209 vs $1,472)
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 106°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.5:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Tempe
Cons
Violent crime (736.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Tempe by $8,667/yr
Tempe, AZ
Pros
36% less violent crime than Newport News
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $8,667 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 49°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $382,100
Violent crime (470.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,472/mo
Property crime (2893.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Newport News
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 99.9 (100 = US avg)
Newport News
Median Home Value
$149k less
$233,400 vs $382,100
Tempe
Median Income
$8,667
$72,022 vs $63,355/yr
Tempe
Violent Crime
36% lower
470.3 vs 736.0 per 100k
Tempe
Summer Heat
17.7°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 88.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Newport News, VA | Tempe, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 99.9 |
| Median Home Value | $233,400 ✓ Lower | $382,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,209 ✓ Lower | $1,472⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,355 | $72,022 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.5% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 162⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.7% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newport News City Public Schools | Tempe School District (4258) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.0°F | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 185,118 ✓ Larger | 181,005 |
| Median Age | 34.1 ✓ Older | 29.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.6% ✓ Higher | 40.7% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% ✓ More | 14.4% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Newport News's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Tempe's 99.9 (US average = 100).
Newport News is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tempe leads 12 of 23 categories. Newport News wins 11 and Tempe 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 Tempe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($233,400 vs $382,100 median home), income ($63,355 vs $72,022), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Newport News, VA and Tempe, AZ are about 2,003 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.