Newport News, Virginia
Cost of living, housing, income, commute, climate, and safety — compiled for relocators researching Newport News.
MapsToIt planning snapshot
How much does it cost to live in Newport News?
Newport News, VA has a MapsToIt housing cost index of 88 (below the U.S. housing-cost baseline; 100 = U.S. avg). Median home value is about $243,300 and median rent about $1,285, against national ACS medians of $303,400 and $1,348. Median household income is roughly $66,718. Typical commute is 24 minutes; summer highs average 87°F. Violent-offense rates run about 595.5 per 100k (catalog avg 586.6).
Crime figures may use an older source vintage than housing and income on this page.
- Housing cost index
- 88U.S. avg 100
- Median home value
- $243,300U.S. $303,400
- Median rent
- $1,285U.S. $1,348
- Median income
- $66,718U.S. $78,538
- Unemployment
- 4.3%U.S. 4.2%
- Avg commute
- 24 minCatalog avg 25 min
- Violent crime
- 595.5per 100k · avg 586.6
- Summer high
- 87°FCatalog avg 87°F
Key figures
Each metric shows how Newport News compares with the U.S. baseline (ACS/BLS nationals where available; catalog-city averages for crime, climate, and commute). Income, housing, population, and crime are for the incorporated city (city limits), not the broader metro/MSA — unemployment is county-level (BLS LAUS).
- Population
- 183,056City limits · Census PEP 2024 estimate
As of 2026-09-10 · Census PEP 2024 - Median household income
- $66,718Incorporated place (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year15% below U.S. avgU.S. $78,538 - Housing cost index
- 88ACS home+rent vs U.S. (100 = avg)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year12% below U.S. avgU.S. 100 - Median home value
- $243,300City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year20% below U.S. avgU.S. $303,400 - Median rent
- $1,285City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-yearNear U.S. avg ($1,348)U.S. $1,348 - Unemployment
- 4.3%County LAUS · not city-only
As of 2026-09-10 · July 2026Near U.S. avg (4.2 pts)U.S. 4.2 pts - Avg commute
- 24 minNear U.S. avg (25 min)U.S. 25 min
- Walk Score
- 3229% below U.S. avgU.S. 45
- Violent crime rate
- 595.5annualized per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)Near U.S. avg (586.6)U.S. 586.6 - Property crime rate
- 2528.8annualized per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)18% below U.S. avgU.S. 3087.9 - Summer high
- 87°FAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normalsNear U.S. avg (87°F)U.S. 87°F
- Winter low
- 32°FAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals2.0°F below U.S. avgU.S. 34°F
- Annual rainfall
- 45.1 inAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals37% above U.S. avgU.S. 33 in
- Sunny days
- 236As of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals12% below U.S. avgU.S. 268
Population trend
Newport News grew 1.2% from 180,888 in 2010 to 183,056 in 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024). Playback steps monthly between annual Census PEP estimates.
Is Newport News expensive compared to the U.S. average?
Newport News's housing cost index is 88 versus 100 nationally — below the U.S. housing-cost baseline. That gap is driven mainly by ACS median home values ($243,300 vs $303,400) and rents ($1,285 vs $1,348).
- Housing cost index 88 (U.S. 100)
- Median home $243,300 vs U.S. $303,400
- Median rent $1,285 vs U.S. $1,348
How much does housing cost in Newport News?
Typical ownership costs center near $243,300, while median gross rent is about $1,285 a month. Against a median household income of $66,718, rent alone is roughly 23% of income on an annualized basis.
- Median home value $243,300
- Median rent $1,285/month
- Median household income $66,718
What is the job market like in Newport News?
County unemployment recently ran 4.3% versus a U.S. rate of 4.2%. Median household income in Newport News is about $66,718 (U.S. $78,538).
- Unemployment 4.3% (U.S. 4.2%)
- Median income $66,718
How long is the typical commute in Newport News?
Average one-way commute time is about 24 minutes, with Walk Score near 32/100. The catalog-city average commute is 25 minutes.
- 24 minutes average one-way
- Walk Score 32/100
Is Newport News safer than similar U.S. cities?
Published violent-offense rates are about 595.5 per 100k and property about 2528.8 per 100k, versus catalog averages of 586.6 and 3087.9. Citywide rates hide large neighborhood differences.
- Violent 595.5 per 100k
- Property 2528.8 per 100k
What is the climate like year-round in Newport News?
Normals show summer highs near 87°F, winter lows near 32°F, about 45.1 inches of rain, and roughly 236 sunny days a year.
- Summer high 87°F
- Winter low 32°F
- 45.1 in rain · 236 sunny days
Newport News (pop. 183,056) sits in Virginia. Median household income is roughly $66,718, while the ACS housing-cost index sits near 88 — below the national housing-cost baseline (100 ≈ U.S. average). Ownership is a high bar — typical values near $243,300 push many newcomers toward renting first.
Newport News is compact enough that a single wrong neighborhood choice is easy to feel day to day — visit at commute hour before signing. Figures on this page are merged from Census ACS, BLS LAUS, FBI Crime Data Explorer, and NOAA Climate Normals — use them to compare Newport News with nearby alternatives before you relocate.
Federal-contractor suburbs and Atlantic coastal towns pull different budgets. The normals show about 45.1 inches of rain and 236 sunny days across a typical year. Plan on roughly 24 minutes each way for a typical commute; Walk Score is about 32. Unemployment recently ran near 4.3%, broadly in line with many large U.S. counties. Violent-offense rates near 595.5 per 100k sit in a mid-to-elevated band versus many peer cities in this catalog.
Nearby & similar cities
Continue researching with these internal links — each page is a full data profile.
Sources
- Census / ACS: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year (Newport News city, 1600000US5156000) — As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year
- BLS: BLS LAUS · Newport News city, July 2026 — As of 2026-09-10 · July 2026
- Crime: FBI CIUS Table 8 (2019) city offenses known to law enforcement — rates per 100k; CDE API unavailable at enrich time — As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)
- Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 Monthly Normals (USW00093741 NEWPORT NEWS INTL AP) — As of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals
- Population trend: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024) — As of 2026-09-10 · Census PEP 2024
Catalog refreshed 2026-09-10