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Virginia city profile

What Is It Like to Live in Newport News?

What it costs to live in Newport News, and how it compares with other Virginia cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

35

73rd best value in Virginia

How much you get for what you pay, versus other Virginia cities.

Overall livability

26

80th overall in Virginia

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

Newport News is home to about 185,069 people. A typical home runs $204,900 and a household earns around $57,500, a price-to-income ratio of 3.6. Among Virginia's largest cities, it ranks 73rd for value and 80th overall.

Newport News at a glance

Median home price

$204,900

38th in VA of 90

Median rent

$1,118/mo

Median household income

$57,500

Home price to income

3.6x

Unemployment

5.7%

67th in VA of 90

School rating

4/10

77th in VA of 90

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in VA of 90

Walk score

22/100

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‹ See all top Virginia cities ranked  ยท  Virginia state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within Virginia only. Updated 2026.