RANK #439 / 1001 NAT · #13 / 37 VA · POP 184,216
1YR FORECAST: +1.0%
5YR OUTLOOK: +29%
Newport News, Virginia, holds the distinction of being one of the oldest English place names in the New World, with "Newportes Newes" appearing in records as early as 1619. Located on the Virginia Peninsula where the James River meets the Chesapeake Bay, it is approximately an hour from Richmond and Virginia Beach, and less than 30 minutes from Norfolk and Williamsburg. Commuting is primarily car-dependent, though Hampton Roads Transit offers bus services and an on-demand microtransit option. The city boasts extensive outdoor recreation, including Newport News Park, one of the largest municipal parks east of the Mississippi River, offering hiking, biking, fishing, and camping.
Life in Newport News offers a blend of urban amenities and a quieter pace, appealing to families and those seeking affordability. The local economy is significantly shaped by its historical ties to shipbuilding and maritime industries, including a major shipbuilding company and a U.S. Navy presence. Recent economic development efforts focus on broadening the economy through attracting investment in various sectors, including advanced manufacturing and industrial renovations. Newport News Public Schools serves approximately 25,500 students across 40 schools, with a focus on preparing students for college and careers.
Newport News city's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +1.7% YoY, population -0.3%, wages +4.5%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Below national median (11.3x)
Above national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Below national median (15x)
Housing is fairly valued at 6.7x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Multi-Class Submarine Production Facility and other capital investments
HII (Newport News Shipbuilding)
|
$1,900M | Under Construction |
|
City Capital Improvement Plan (FY2027–2031)
City of Newport News
|
$983M | Planned |
|
Youth T.H.R.I.V.E Program
City of Newport News
|
$500M | Operating |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
Newport News city scores 56/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 1001 U.S. counties (#439). Median household income is $69,634 and job growth is running at -0.7%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.
Housing in Newport News city is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $260,600 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.27, with rents averaging $1,339/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Population and employment in Newport News city are both close to flat — population -0.3% YoY and jobs -0.7%. Home values shifted +1.7% over the past 12 months. A steady-state county, neither expanding quickly nor shrinking.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 4.67% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Newport News city has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.