Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Newport News, VA
VS
Vacaville, CA
🏆 Vacaville leads 13 of 23 categories
Newport News
Virginia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,355
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
185,118 ✓ Larger
Vacaville
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,764 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
101,631
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Newport News, VA
Pros
Homes cost $327k less ($233,400 vs $560,400)
Rent averages $932/mo less ($1,209 vs $2,141)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Vacaville
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Vacaville by $43,409/yr
Violent crime (736.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Vacaville, CA
Pros
Households earn $43,409 more per year on average
60% less violent crime than Newport News
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 49°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $560,400
Higher rents — median is $2,141/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Newport News
Longer commutes — 28.9 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Newport News
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Newport News
Median Home Value
$327k less
$233,400 vs $560,400
Vacaville
Median Income
$43,409
$106,764 vs $63,355/yr
Vacaville
Violent Crime
60% lower
293.2 vs 736.0 per 100k
Vacaville
Summer Heat
6.8°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 88.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Newport News, VA | Vacaville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $233,400 ✓ Lower | $560,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,209 ✓ Lower | $2,141⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,355 | $106,764 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 28.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.5% | 9.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 162⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| High School or Higher | 91.7% ✓ Higher | 91.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newport News City Public Schools | Vacaville Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.0°F | 57.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 24.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 185,118 ✓ Larger | 101,631 |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.6% | 66.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.2% ✓ More | 22.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Newport News's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Vacaville's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Newport News is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Vacaville leads 13 of 23 categories. Newport News wins 10 and Vacaville wins 13. 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 Vacaville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($233,400 vs $560,400 median home), income ($63,355 vs $106,764), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Newport News, VA and Vacaville, CA are about 2,460 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.