Population
183,230
2025
−1.5% since 2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. Resident population, July 1 estimate.
Newport News, VA (independent city): population growth, jobs and income
Newport News lost 171 residents between 2024 and 2025 (−0.1%).
Newport News had an estimated 183,230 residents in 2025, down 1.5% (2,800 fewer people) since 2020. That is slower than Virginia as a whole (+2.8%), and the 109th fastest growth of 133 counties in Virginia.
Data as of 2025 · updated
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In the Newport News city report
One-time $99 PDF: everything on this page for Newport News city, ranked against Virginia and the U.S., plus these figures that are not on the free page:
- Median gross rent$1,339/mo2020–24
- Vacant homes, incl. seasonal and second homes7.2%2020–24
- New homes permitted, last 12 months1332025-10/2026-09
- Rent growth, 5 yearsIn the report
- Permits in 5+ unit buildingsIn the report
- IRS income moving in (net AGI)In the report
- Neighbouring-county comparison tableIn the report
What's inside: 5 pages
- 1 Summary, headline numbers and ranks (free preview)
- 2 Ranks and the neighbouring-county table
- 3 Migration, with IRS mover and income flows
- 4 Rent, vacant homes, permits and employers
- 5 Every source and the methods
Headline numbers
Net domestic migration
−1,306
2025
−7.1 per 1,000 residents
−8,912 in total, 2021–2025
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. People moving in from other U.S. counties minus people moving out.
Unemployment rate
4.0%
2025
+0.6 pts since 2019
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2025. Annual average unemployment rate.
New homes permitted
125
2025
+17.9% since 2021
0.7 per 1,000 residents
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2025. Housing units authorized by building permits in the year.
Median household income
$69,634
2020–24
+27.7% since 2016–20
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–24. American Community Survey 5-year estimate.
Private-sector employment
94,131
2023
+3.9% since 2018
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023. Paid employees of private employers in mid-March (County Business Patterns).
What the numbers say
Net domestic migration was negative in 2025: 1,306 more people moved out to other U.S. counties than moved in.
Private employers had 94,131 paid employees in mid-March 2023, +3.9% since 2018 (County Business Patterns).
Unemployment averaged 4.0% in 2025, 0.6 points higher than in 2019 (before the pandemic).
Builders were authorized to start 125 new homes in 2025, or 0.7 per 1,000 residents.
Median household income was $69,634 in the 2020–24 American Community Survey, +27.7% since 2016–20.
Across the 3,107 U.S. counties with a comparable estimate, its population growth ranks 2,337th.
Part of the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area.
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Newport News city population by year
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 183,230 | −171 |
| 2024 | 183,401 | +90 |
| 2023 | 183,311 | −665 |
| 2022 | 183,976 | −683 |
| 2021 | 184,659 | −1,371 |
| 2020 | 186,030 | – |
Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year.
What drove the change in Newport News city
Newport News city lost 2,800 people since 2020; the biggest drag was domestic migration (−8,912).
| Component | 2025 | 2020–25 | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural changebirths minus deaths | +657 | +3,170 | |
| International migrationfrom and to other countries | +485 | +3,005 | |
| Domestic migrationfrom and to other U.S. counties | −1,306 | −8,912 | |
| Census adjustmentbalancing residual | −7 | −63 | |
| Total change | −171 | −2,800 |
Census Bureau population estimates, components of change, each year July 1 to June 30. The components add up to the change in the estimate; the Census adjustment is the small balancing figure the Bureau publishes.
How it ranks
| Measure | In Virginia | Among U.S. counties |
|---|---|---|
| Population growth | 109th of 133 | 2,337th of 3,107 |
| Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents | 125th of 133 | 2,727th of 3,108 |
| Private-sector job growth | 56th of 133 | 1,358th of 3,092 |
| Median household income | 63rd of 133 | 1,211th of 3,107 |
| Lowest unemployment rate | 94th of 133 | 1,606th of 3,108 |
| New homes permitted per 1,000 residents | 118th of 132 | 2,291st of 3,005 |
1st = highest (lowest for unemployment). Counties are ranked only against others with a figure for the same period.
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Neighbouring counties
Newport News lost population faster than all 7 of its neighbouring counties (−1.5%, 2020–25).
5 of its 7 neighbouring counties had a higher median household income than Newport News's $69,634 (2020–24).
| County | Population2025 | Population change2020–25 | Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents2025 | Homes permitted per 1,000 residents2025 | Median household income2020–24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newport News, VA This county | 183,230 | −1.5% | −7.1 | 0.7 | $69,634 |
| Hampton, VA | 137,315 | +0.0% | −2.5 | 0.7 | $69,621 |
| York County, VA | 71,374 | +1.6% | −0.4 | 2.9 | $109,956 |
| Portsmouth, VA | 96,777 | −1.2% | −1.6 | 1.8 | $60,491 |
| Isle of Wight County, VA | 41,321 | +6.7% | 12.8 | 7.3 | $95,241 |
| Suffolk, VA | 104,699 | +10.4% | 12.8 | 5.6 | $92,666 |
| James City County, VA | 83,326 | +6.2% | 7.2 | 2.7 | $109,985 |
| Surry County, VA | 6,603 | +0.8% | 4.1 | 5.3 | $78,041 |
Census Bureau population estimates and building permits, American Community Survey 5-year income. Rates per 1,000 residents. – means no figure, or a base too small for a change or rate (it would swing on a few people). A figure from another period shows its year and is left out of the comparison.
Questions
Is Newport News growing?
No. Its population fell 1.5% between 2020 and 2025, about 2,800 fewer people (Census Bureau population estimates). Virginia as a whole changed +2.8% over the same years. That ranks 109th of 133 counties in Virginia for population growth.
How many people moved to Newport News?
On net, none in 2025: about 1,306 more people moved out to other U.S. counties than moved in (Census Bureau net domestic migration estimate).
What is the unemployment rate in Newport News?
It averaged 4.0% in 2025 (BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual average).
What is the population of Newport News?
About 183,230 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's population estimate for July 1, 2025.
How many jobs are in Newport News?
Private employers there had 94,131 paid employees in mid-March 2023, +3.9% since 2018 (Census Bureau County Business Patterns; government jobs and the self-employed are not counted).
What Beacon CRE covers in Virginia
Map, parcel and listing layers cover North and South Carolina only for now. This page and the other Virginia county pages carry the public federal growth figures.
Newport News city data alerts
Email me when Newport News city gets new Census numbers: population, building permits, jobs and income. About 4 emails a year, one click to stop.
Sources and method
- U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics
- U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns
Each number shows its own period. Changes compare the latest period with five years earlier (or the earliest period available). Beacon CRE last refreshed these figures on 2026-11-05. Figures come from public federal statistics and are informational only, not investment advice. Check the source before relying on a number. Methodology: how we compute every number. More on every layer: data sources and licences.
Jobs outside North and South Carolina use County Business Patterns (paid private-sector employees in mid-March); wages and government jobs are not included.