Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Newport News, VA
VS
Toms River, NJ
🏆 Newport News leads 12 of 23 categories
Newport News
Virginia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,355
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
185,118 ✓ Larger
Toms River
New Jersey
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,012 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
92,827
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Newport News, VA
Pros
Homes cost $123k less ($233,400 vs $356,100)
Rent averages $383/mo less ($1,209 vs $1,592)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Toms River
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 42°F
Cons
Median income trails Toms River by $28,657/yr
Violent crime (736.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Toms River, NJ
Pros
82% less violent crime than Newport News
Households earn $28,657 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (134.3 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 34.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $356,100
Higher rents — median is $1,592/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Newport News
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Newport News
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Newport News
Median Home Value
$123k less
$233,400 vs $356,100
Toms River
Median Income
$28,657
$92,012 vs $63,355/yr
Toms River
Violent Crime
82% lower
134.3 vs 736.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Newport News, VA | Toms River, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $233,400 ✓ Lower | $356,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,209 ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,355 | $92,012 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.5% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 162⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 34.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.7% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newport News City Public Schools | Toms River Regional School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.0°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" ✓ Less | 23.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 185,118 ✓ Larger | 92,827 |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.6% | 80.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.2% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Newport News's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Toms River's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Newport News is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Newport News leads 12 of 23 categories. Newport News wins 12 and Toms River 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 Toms River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($233,400 vs $356,100 median home), income ($63,355 vs $92,012), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Newport News, VA and Toms River, NJ are about 238 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.