Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Newport News, VA
VS
Waukegan, IL
🏆 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
Waukegan
Illinois
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,077 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
117⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
89,435
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Newport News, VA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 30°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 28.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Waukegan
Cons
Violent crime (736.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Waukegan by $2,722/yr
Waukegan, IL
Pros
40% less violent crime than Newport News
Homes cost $69k less ($164,400 vs $233,400)
Rent averages $77/mo less ($1,132 vs $1,209)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 88°F
Households earn $2,722 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (445.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Snowy winters — about 43" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Newport News
Key Differences at a Glance
Newport News
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Newport News
Summer Heat
6.5°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 81.7°F
Waukegan
Median Income
$2,722
$66,077 vs $63,355/yr
Waukegan
Violent Crime
40% lower
445.2 vs 736.0 per 100k
Waukegan
Median Home Value
$69k less
$164,400 vs $233,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Newport News, VA | Waukegan, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $233,400 | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,209 | $1,132 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,355 | $66,077 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 26.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.5% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 162⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 12.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% ✓ Higher | 21.5% |
| High School or Higher | 91.7% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newport News City Public Schools | Waukegan CUSD 60 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.0°F ✓ Warmer | 29.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 35.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" ✓ Less | 43.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 185,118 ✓ Larger | 89,435 |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.6% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Newport News's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Waukegan's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Newport News is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Newport News leads 12 of 23 categories. Newport News wins 12 and Waukegan 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 Waukegan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($233,400 vs $164,400 median home), income ($63,355 vs $66,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Newport News, VA and Waukegan, IL are about 704 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.