Newport News, VA Relocation Guide (2026)
Cost of living, housing, and income data for Newport News, sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Salary needed to live in Newport News →
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Last updated July 2026.
Newport News is a city of roughly 185,118 in Virginia. The median household there earns $63,355 annually, which runs below the multi-city median income (-12%).
The typical home in Newport News is worth $233,400, below the multi-city median (-29%), while the typical renter pays $1,209 a month. Either path — buying or renting — deserves a look at today's rates before deciding.
The home-value-to-income ratio in Newport News — around 3.7× — falls into a middle tier, neither notably affordable nor notably stretched. Home prices near Newport News have risen a steady 3.55% over the past year — measured growth, not a spike. FEMA's National Risk Index puts Newport News at Relatively Low for overall natural-hazard risk — a relatively favorable factor for insurance costs.
Personal Affordability Check
Renting at $1,209/mo in Newport News would take 22.9% of your income.
$375/mo under the 30% guideline.
Buying the median home ($233,400) would take 23.6% of your income toward principal & interest.
$232/mo under the 28% guideline.
Cost of housing in Newport News
Median home value is $233,400 and median gross rent is $1,209/month. For buyers, monthly costs depend heavily on current mortgage rates — worth checking before you commit.
FHFA's county-level home price index for Newport News City rose 3.55% over the past year (as of 2025).
HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom unit in the surrounding county is $1,713/month.
Climate & home insurance
FEMA rates Newport News's overall natural-hazard risk as Relatively Low. Risk level is a major driver of home insurance premiums.
Safety
Newport News reported a violent crime rate of 794.3 per 100,000 residents in 2025, per FBI data.
Moving to Newport News
Planning a move to Newport News? Compare licensed movers and get quotes based on your origin and move date.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Newport News, VA?
- The US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022) puts Newport News's median home value at $233,400, median rent at $1,209/month, and median household income at $63,355.
- How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Newport News?
- A common guideline is that rent should stay under 30% of gross income. With median rent at $1,209/month in Newport News, that implies an income of about $48,360 to keep housing affordable. See the full salary breakdown (renting and buying) for Newport News.
- Is it better to rent or buy in Newport News?
- Buying at Newport News's median home value of $233,400 takes about $53,401 a year in principal-and-interest income (20% down, 30-year fixed, current mortgage rates), compared with roughly $48,360 a year to comfortably rent at the median $1,209/month. Down payment and expected length of stay usually settle the question.
- Is Newport News safe?
- The most recent FBI figures (2025) show a violent crime rate of 794.3 per 100,000 residents in Newport News.
See the full salary breakdown for Newport News →
Cities with a similar cost of living
Matched on median rent and household income within 15% of Newport News's.