Pros and Cons of Living in Newport News Va
Are you thinking about moving to Newport News Va but you’re not sure where to start? According to Niche.com, there are over 179,000 residents that call Newport News Va home. There’s a little bit of everything when living in Newport News Va, but it may not be the right place for you.
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Newport News, Va
Pros and Cons of Living in Newport News Va
Pros
1. There’s a Little Bit of Everything, For Everybody
In terms of major cities, Newport News, Virginia is not that. It is not littered with big skyscrapers or ginormous corporate offices. Newport News, Virginia has a “downtown” section in the south and a “suburban” section in the north.
Newport News, Virginia got its industrial start when the railroad connecting coal trains from Richmond to Newport News were completed in the late 1800s. Because of this, the Newport News Shipbuilding company was made and the Newport News Shipyard was built. With industry coming in and the need for military in World War I, Fort Eustis was built in 1918.
Aside from industry and jobs, the northern part of Newport News, Virginia has lots of shopping, outdoor activities, is more spread out than the southern part of Newport News, and nice beaches to visit.
2. Jobs in Newport News, Virginia
As mentioned above, Newport News, Virginia is very much an industrial and military city. The Army base, Fort Eustis, is in the northern part of Newport News and since Naval Station Norfolk is very close as well, a lot of Navy personnel live in Newport News as well. If you are PCSing to Fort Eustis, see our PCS Guide here.
According to zippia.com, the top two companies in Newport News are: Huntington Ingalls Industries which operates Newport News Shipbuilding; and Ferguson, a plumbing supply company.
But, there are plenty of other jobs in Newport News, Virginia. From shopping centers to landscaping, there are plenty of things to do in Newport News to make some money.
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3. Things to do in Newport News, Va
Piggy backing off the first pro, there is a little bit for everybody, and that includes things to do in Newport News, Va. Tripadvisor has a nice list of things to do in Newport News, Va. If you are a history or maritime buff, The Mariners' Museum might be right up your alley. Take a walk through the Jurassic period at the Virginia Living Museum.
Museums not your cup of tea? No worries, there are plenty of other things to do in Newport News, Va. Check out the Newport News Park for biking trails, hiking, picnics, etc. Take the kids to the SPCA Petting Zoo. Shopping? Patrick Henry Mall is where you want to be. Need a drink? The Ironclad Distillery has tours and a tasting room.
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Cons
1. Newport News Crime
Newport News Crime leaves something to be desired. If you have heard the reputation of Newport News, Va, then you probably have heard about Newport News crime rates.
According to crimegrade.org, the Newport News crime rate is 45%, meaning that 55% of cities in the US are safer. However, this is a statistic that covers all of Newport News, so obviously there are pretty safe places to live in Newport News. The southern part of Newport News, Va is considered the most dangerous, while the western part, along the coast, is considered the safest. Most of the Newport News crime is centered around the “downtown” section and the highways running through Newport News.
2. Newport News Public Schools
When you first look at school rankings on greatschools.org for Newport News Public Schools, it can seem like the schools look great. However, initially they show you the top 5 Newport News Public schools. Once you get past the top five schools, you can see that Newport News Public Schools ratings drop off significantly. Newport News Elementary Schools are on average a 3/10. Newport News Middle Schools are on average, a 4/10, and Newport News High Schools are a 3/10. “Good” schools are always an opinion, however, just going off of these stats, Newport News Public Schools are a little on the low side.
3. Newport News Traffic
If you live and work in Newport News, Va, Newport News traffic may not be as much of a concern for you. However, if you live in Newport News, Va and work at Naval Station Norfolk, or want to go from Newport News to Virginia Beach, traffic can be a nightmare at times. In the map below, you can see that Newport News to Virginia Beach is about 45-50 minutes. However, this can be extended if there is an accident in the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel. The Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel is the primary way that people in Newport News get to south Hampton Roads and it can be a pain in the butt sometimes!
Could be a Pro, Could be a Con
1. Cost of Living in Newport News
The cost of living in Newport News Virginia is generally lower than other areas when living in Hampton Roads. As of January 2022, the average home prices in Newport News are $225k, which is about $25k to $50k lower than the average home price when living in Hampton Roads.
As far as the other cost of living in Newport News, when living in Hampton Roads the utilities cost is about the same across the board. The average electric bill is between $100 and $200 per month. The average water bill is also between $100 and $200. These are comparable across-the-board when living in Hampton Roads.
So, the main reason the cost of living in Newport News is lower while living in Hampton Roads area, is because of the above-mentioned crime rate and schools in Newport News.
2. Newport News Weather
Newport News weather is pretty mild for the most part. When it comes to Newport News weather you have all four seasons, which for some people can be a negative. Summers are hot and Winters are cold. Newport News weather in the summer on average is about 85 degrees, while Newport News weather in the winter on average is about 42 degrees. These are just the averages and Newport News can get into the 90s in the summer, and into the 30s in the winter. because Newport News Virginia is on a peninsula, there is not usually a large amount of snow. However, just this year in 2022, we saw an uptick in snow. A lot of people, when it comes to Newport News weather, worried about flooding. However, it does not flood as often as most people think. There are still areas of Newport News that do flood, So some homes do require flood insurance, but this is not often.
3. Newport News Airport
Unbeknownst to a lot of people the Norfolk International Airport is not the only Airport in Hampton Roads. The Newport News Airport is also in Hampton Roads. The Newport News Airport does offer flights around the country that can be cheaper, especially coming into Newport News, then flying into Norfolk. However, the Newport News Airport is not an International Airport so it doesn't have as many flights as the Norfolk International Airport. You can see flights into the Newport News Airport here.
Is Newport News Virginia right for you? Our team talks to people just like you moving to Newport News Virginia and we absolutely love it! If you're thinking about moving to Newport News, or are already living in Hampton Roads And need help finding that perfect house for you Don't hesitate to reach out. Give us a call, shoot us a text (we do not use chatbots, it's really us), send us an email, or head over to our contact page to schedule an appointment, however you'd like to get a hold of us. We got your back when it comes to living in Hampton Roads.
Learn more about Newport News and watch our video here Pros and Cons of Newport News
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