Below Average CostHigher than AverageNewport News City Public Schools
Victory Arch, Newport News-2 · Smash the Iron Cage / CC BY-SA 4.0Lee Hall · Lyricmac / CC BY-SA 4.0Washington Avenue in the 1940s · William A. Fox / Public domainLaunch of USS Birmingham (CL-62) at Newport News Shipbuilding on 20 March 1942 (NH 75592) · Unknown authorUnknown author / Public domain
Newport News is a mid-sized city of 185,118 in Virginia, with a median household income of $63,355
and a 5.6% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 97 (US average = 100), which is
3% below the national average.
Strengths:
Newport News stands out for below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B+), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Newport News is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Newport News city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 97.4
Newport News's overall cost of living index is 97.4,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Newport News costs roughly 3% less than the average American city.
Metric
Newport News, VA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$233,400
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,209
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
47.6%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$63,355
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Higher than Average
Newport News's violent crime rate is 736.0 per 100,000 residents
— 94% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
736.0 /100k
Property Crime
2416.1 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Newport News is served primarily by Newport News City Public Schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.5:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Newport News, VA
National Avg
School District
Newport News City Public Schools
—
Elementary Schools
25
—
Middle Schools
7
—
High Schools
6
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.5:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
28.7%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
91.7%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Newport News sees average highs of 49.0°F in January
and 88.2°F in July,
with 51.3 inches of annual precipitation
and 2.7 inches of snow per year.
Newport News's cost of living index is 97, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Newport News roughly 3% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $233,400 and median rent is $1,209/month.
Newport News's violent crime rate is 736.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2416.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Newport News are operated by Newport News City Public Schools.
The district has 25 elementary, 7 middle, and 6 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.5:1. 28.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Newport News, VA has a population of 185,118, a median household income of $63,355, and an unemployment rate of 5.6%.
Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Newport News averages 49.0°F in January and 88.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 51.3 inches
with about 2.7 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Newport News, VA is covered by 8 ZIP codes: 23602, 23604, 23608, 23606, 23601, 23603, 23607, 23605.
The population of Newport News, Virginia is 185,118 with a median age of 34.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Newport News: cost of living index 97 (100 = US average), median home $233,400, median household income $63,355, crime index 162 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Newport News side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
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