Newport News city, Virginia Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Newport News city is located in Virginia with a total population of 184,774. It is the 11th most populous county out of 133 in Virginia. The county encompasses 1 Census-designated place.

Age Demographics

The median age in Newport News city is 34.2 years. This is 12% lower than the state median of 38.8 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Newport News city is $66,718. This is 27% lower than the state median of $90,974. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 15% lower. The poverty rate stands at 15.1%. This is 53% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.9%. The unemployment rate is 5.9%. This is 37% higher than the state rate of 4.3%. The median home value is $243,300. Housing costs are 33% lower than the state median of $360,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.6x. 48.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 28% lower than the state average of 67.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Newport News city is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 39.8%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (40.4% vs 18.4%). The Asian population (3.3%) is well below the state average of 6.8%.

Education

29.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 30% lower than the state rate of 41.5%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 91.8%.