Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Newport News, VA
VS
Westminster, CO
🏆 Westminster 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
Westminster
Colorado
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$90,651 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
80 ✓ Safer
Population
115,502
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Newport News, VA
Pros
Homes cost $234k less ($233,400 vs $467,200)
Rent averages $523/mo less ($1,209 vs $1,732)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Westminster
Smaller class sizes — 12.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Westminster by $27,296/yr
Violent crime (736.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 4.1%)
Westminster, CO
Pros
59% less violent crime than Newport News
Households earn $27,296 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.1%)
More college-educated — 42.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $467,200
Higher rents — median is $1,732/mo
Property crime (3540.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Newport News
Key Differences at a Glance
Newport News
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Newport News
Median Home Value
$234k less
$233,400 vs $467,200
Westminster
Median Income
$27,296
$90,651 vs $63,355/yr
Westminster
Violent Crime
59% lower
303.6 vs 736.0 per 100k
Westminster
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.1% vs 5.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Newport News, VA | Westminster, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $233,400 ✓ Lower | $467,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,209 ✓ Lower | $1,732⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,355 | $90,651 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.5% | 15.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 162⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 80 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 42.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.7% | 92.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newport News City Public Schools | Westminster Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.0°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 17.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" ✓ Less | 54.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 185,118 ✓ Larger | 115,502 |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.6% | 63.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.2% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 14.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Newport News's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Westminster's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Newport News is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Westminster leads 12 of 23 categories. Newport News wins 11 and Westminster 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 Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($233,400 vs $467,200 median home), income ($63,355 vs $90,651), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Newport News, VA and Westminster, CO are about 1,549 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.