The Town FilesNewport News, Virginia
City in Newport News city · population 186,247 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $260,600
- Household income
- $69,634
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 34.4
Newport News is a city of 186,247 people in Newport News city, Virginia. The median home is worth $260,600, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks more seaside character than 94% of Virginia towns, better for cycling than 87% of Virginia towns, more vibrant than 84% of Virginia towns.
How Newport News ranks
Percentile among Virginia towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Virginia towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Newport News is worth $260,600, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 3.7 times the median household income of $69,634, which is more affordable than 57% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $1,339 a month. 48.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Newport News | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $260,600 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $1,339 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $69,634 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.7× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 48.2% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Newport News
| People | Newport News | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.4 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.1% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30.6% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.5% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 13.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.7% | — |
| Work from home | 10.2% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 23.1 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.6% | 91.8% |
Weather in Newport News
July highs average 88.2°F and January lows 30.6°F. About 45.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.4 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 43 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 64 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Newport News since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on September 5, 1979 about 8.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 16, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 41 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 9, 1980.
Severe weather in Newport News city since 1996
Newport News city has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, freezing, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3631: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 2, 2020 | Biological | DR-4512: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3448: Covid-19 |
| October 15, 2018 | Hurricane | DR-4401: Hurricane Florence |
| September 11, 2018 | Hurricane | EM-3403: Hurricane Florence |
Jobs and pay in Newport News city
Newport News city had 102,308 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $67,936 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Newport News itself the ACS puts it at 5.8%.
Public schools in Newport News
47 public schools with 25,715 students, about 15.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woodside High | 9-12 | 1,810 | 16.5 |
| Menchville High | 9-12 | 1,759 | 16.8 |
| Warwick High | 9-12 | 1,605 | 16.1 |
| Denbigh High | 9-12 | 1,257 | 13.8 |
| Ethel M. Gildersleeve Middle | 6-8 | 1,097 | 15.2 |
| Heritage High | 9-12 | 1,076 | 14.7 |
| Mary Passage Middle | 6-8 | 976 | 15.5 |
| Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle | 6-8 | 969 | 15.1 |
| Crittenden Middle | 6-8 | 849 | 12.5 |
| Homer L. Hines Middle | 6-8 | 844 | 15.6 |
| Joseph H. Saunders Elementary | PK-5 | 671 | 17.7 |
| Achievable Dream Academy | PK-5 | 621 | 17.7 |
Towns near Newport News
- Bethel Manor, VA5.6 mi · 4,540 people · home —
- Smithfield, VA8.8 mi · 8,533 people · home $374,900
- Carrollton, VA9.4 mi · 7,498 people · home $423,900
- Hampton, VA12.5 mi · 137,148 people · home $245,700
- Poquoson, VA12.6 mi · 12,460 people · home $400,300
- Gloucester Point, VA13.5 mi · 10,587 people · home $320,700
- Williamsburg, VA16.8 mi · 15,425 people · home $428,100
- Portsmouth, VA17.5 mi · 97,915 people · home $246,900
Newport News questions
Is Newport News, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Newport News scores better for retirees than 7% of Virginia towns and quieter than 12%. 14.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.4).
How much does a house cost in Newport News?
The median owner-occupied home in Newport News is valued at $260,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $69,634, so homes cost about 3.7 times income. Median rent is $1,339 a month.
What is the weather like in Newport News?
July highs average 88.2°F and January lows 30.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.1 inches of precipitation a year and 3.4 inches of snow.
Does Newport News get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Newport News since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on September 5, 1979. The typical Virginia town has had 11.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)