Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Newport News, VA
VS
Vallejo, CA
🏆 Newport News leads 15 of 23 categories
Newport News
Virginia
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,355
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
185,118 ✓ Larger
Vallejo
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,112 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
125,132
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Newport News, VA
Pros
Homes cost $282k less ($233,400 vs $515,500)
Rent averages $685/mo less ($1,209 vs $1,894)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.6%)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Vallejo
Smaller class sizes — 12.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Vallejo by $22,757/yr
Violent crime (736.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Vallejo, CA
Pros
Households earn $22,757 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 49°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $515,500
Higher rents — median is $1,894/mo
Violent crime (739.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3990.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
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
$282k less
$233,400 vs $515,500
Newport News
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.6% vs 7.0% unemployment
Vallejo
Median Income
$22,757
$86,112 vs $63,355/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Newport News, VA | Vallejo, 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 | $515,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,209 ✓ Lower | $1,894⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,355 | $86,112 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 36.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.5% | 8.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 162⚠ High ✓ Safer | 193⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% ✓ Higher | 27.5% |
| High School or Higher | 91.7% ✓ Higher | 87.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newport News City Public Schools | Vallejo City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.0°F | 57.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer | 85.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 21.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 185,118 ✓ Larger | 125,132 |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.6% | 58.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.2% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 17.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Newport News's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Vallejo's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Newport News is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Newport News leads 15 of 23 categories. Newport News wins 15 and Vallejo wins 8. 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 Vallejo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($233,400 vs $515,500 median home), income ($63,355 vs $86,112), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Newport News, VA and Vallejo, CA are about 2,479 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.