City Comparison
Newport News vs Petersburg
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Newport News scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Newport News
Petersburg
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Newport News is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
10% lower than in Petersburg.
Housing costs are a major driver: Newport News's average rent is
33% higher than Petersburg's.
| Metric | Newport News | Petersburg | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,557 | $1,174 | +33% |
| Groceries | $400 | $320 | +25% |
| Utilities | $180 | $336 | -46% |
| Transport | $120 | $640 | -81% |
| Healthcare | $230 | $290 | -21% |
| Monthly Total | $2,487 | $2,760 | -10% |
| Cost Index | 95 | 80 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Newport News offers 14% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Petersburg delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Newport News is estimated at
$55,000 vs $33,300 in Petersburg.
| Metric | Newport News | Petersburg |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $74,000 | $65,000 |
| Salary Needed | $55,000 | $33,300 |
| Purchasing Power | 77,895 idx | 81,250 idx |
| Household Income | $69,634 | $50,698 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 1.4°F of each other.
For sunshine, Petersburg comes out ahead with 11 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Petersburg sees 0.9 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Newport News | Petersburg |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 61.30°F | 59.90°F |
| Summer High | 85.80°F | 86.30°F |
| Winter Low | 33.60°F | 30.40°F |
| Rainfall | 44.80 in | 46.40 in |
| Snowfall | 14.60 in | 15.50 in |
| Sunny Days | 239 | 250 |
| Humidity | 65.00% | 65.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 0 minutes of each other.
Newport News scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Newport News leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Newport News | Petersburg |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 26 min | 26 min |
| Transit Score | 45.0/100 | 35.0/100 |
| Walkability | 52.0/100 | 30.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 48.00 | |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Newport News is the larger city
— approximately 5.4x the population of Petersburg.
From a growth perspective, Newport News is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Newport News has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Newport News | Petersburg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 183,230 | 33,892 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.50% | 0.47% |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 35.8 |
| Unemployment | 4.30% | 5.00% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Newport News
Advantages
Median home prices in Newport News are approximately 29% below the national median per Zillow market data.
Home to Newport News Park, one of the largest municipal parks on the East Coast, offering extensive outdoor recreation.
Robust local economy driven by major defense and manufacturing employers like Newport News Shipbuilding.
Average monthly rent remains roughly 10% below typical national averages, enhancing rental affordability.
Proximity to coastal Virginia beaches, historical landmarks, and rich cultural assets like the Mariners' Museum.
Drawbacks
Certain urban pockets experience higher-than-average crime rates that require careful neighborhood selection.
Traffic congestion along major regional arteries like Interstate 64 during peak commuting hours.
Public transit options are relatively limited, leading to high reliance on personal vehicles for daily commutes.
Property tax rates and local cost burdens can fluctuate based on specific municipal district adjustments.
Summer humidity can be intense, paired with coastal weather vulnerabilities during hurricane season.
Petersburg
Advantages
Petersburg offers a significantly affordable cost of living, with a cost of living index of 80.2 in 2025, making it more affordable than the national average.
Housing expenses in Petersburg are approximately 45% lower than the national average, presenting a strong advantage for residents.
The city benefits from a strategic location at the intersection of major interstates I-85 and I-95, providing excellent regional connectivity.
Petersburg is developing an Advanced Manufacturing Pharmaceutical cluster, indicating growth in specific business sectors.
Petersburg Area Transit (PAT) currently offers fare-free bus service, enhancing accessibility for residents.
Drawbacks
Petersburg has high crime rates, ranking as the 8th most dangerous city in Virginia with violent crime rates 120.1% higher than the national average in 2025.
The city faces persistent financial instability, with a Medium article in March 2025 highlighting renewed challenges and a risk of municipal bankruptcy.
The median household income of $50,698 in 2024 is considerably lower than both the state and national averages.
Limited job opportunities outside specific sectors and a high poverty rate (21.7% in 2024) pose economic challenges for residents.
Schools in Petersburg are noted to be in need of improvement, impacting educational quality.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Newport News
#403Virginia, USA
58.3 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,557
Avg Salary
$74,000
Cost Index
95
Commute
26 min
Transit Score
45.0/100
Walkability
52.0/100
Sunny Days
239/yr
Avg Temp
61.30°F
Pop. Growth
0.50%
Unemployment
4.30%
Livability
74
Business
68
Petersburg
#486Virginia, USA
53.8 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,174
Avg Salary
$65,000
Cost Index
80
Commute
26 min
Transit Score
35.0/100
Walkability
30.0/100
Sunny Days
250/yr
Avg Temp
59.90°F
Pop. Growth
0.47%
Unemployment
5.00%
Livability
50
Business
60
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