Chattanooga vs Newport News: Cost of Living (2026)
A side-by-side comparison of Chattanooga, TN and Newport News, VA, using US Census Bureau data.
| Metric | Chattanooga, TN | Newport News, VA |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 181,288 | 185,118 |
| Median household income | $57,703 | $63,355 |
| Median home value | $230,500 | $233,400 |
| Median rent (/mo) | $1,066 | $1,209 |
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.
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compare-top (set NEXT_PUBLIC_ADSENSE_CLIENT to serve real ads)Comparing Chattanooga, TN and Newport News, VA comes down to what you value most. Chattanooga has the lower median home value, and Chattanooga has the lower median rent.
Newport News 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 Chattanooga or Newport News?
- By median home value, Chattanooga is the cheaper of the two ($230,500 vs $233,400). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
- Which has higher salaries, Chattanooga or Newport News?
- Median household income is $57,703 in Chattanooga versus $63,355 in Newport News, per the US Census Bureau.