Tempe vs Newport News: Cost of Living (2026)

A side-by-side comparison of Tempe, AZ and Newport News, VA, using US Census Bureau data.

MetricTempe, AZNewport News, VA
Population181,005185,118
Median household income$72,022$63,355
Median home value$382,100$233,400
Median rent (/mo)$1,472$1,209

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.

Comparing Tempe, AZ and Newport News, VA comes down to what you value most. Newport News has the lower median home value, and Newport News has the lower median rent.

Tempe has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.

Frequently asked questions

Is it cheaper to live in Tempe or Newport News?
By median home value, Newport News is the cheaper of the two ($233,400 vs $382,100). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
Which has higher salaries, Tempe or Newport News?
Median household income is $72,022 in Tempe versus $63,355 in Newport News, per the US Census Bureau.

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