11th most populous of 133
With 183,056 residents in 2024, Newport News city ranks 11th by population among Virginia's 133 counties and is home to 2.1% of the state's residents.
Newport News city is home to 183,056 people (2024 estimate) on 69 square miles of land. This page brings together official U.S. Census Bureau population estimates since 2000, the components of change—births, deaths and migration—American Community Survey indicators on income, housing, poverty and education, BEA economic accounts and BLS unemployment.
Key indicators
Population
183,056
July 1, 2024 estimate
2020 Census base
186,239
April 1, 2020
Change since 2020
−1.7%
2020–2024
Land area
69 mi²
179 km²
Population density
2,653.1 /mi²
2024 estimate ÷ land area
Births
2,471
Year to July 1, 2024
Deaths
1,817
Year to July 1, 2024
Natural change
+654
Births minus deaths, 2024
Net migration
−837
Domestic + international, 2024
Per capita personal income
$53,320
BEA, 2024
Gross domestic product
$18.8 billion
BEA, current dollars, 2024
Median household income
$69,634
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Poverty rate
14.5%
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Bachelor’s degree or higher
30.6%
Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Foreign-born residents
7.7%
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Median home value
$260,600
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Unemployment rate
3.5%
BLS annual average, 2024
Historical data
Pick an indicator to see its long-run evolution.
Population
2000–2024183,056▲ 2%
U.S. Census Bureau: intercensal estimates 2000–2009, Vintage 2020 (2010–2019) and Vintage 2024 (2020–2024), July 1.
Data summary
| Indicator | Value | Year and source |
|---|---|---|
| Population estimate | 183,056 | 2024 · U.S. Census Bureau |
| Population, 2010 Census | 180,719 | 2010 · U.S. Census Bureau |
| Population, 2000 | 180,236 | July 1, 2000 · Census intercensal |
| Change since 2000 | +1.6% | 2000–2024 · Census |
| International migration | +787 | 2024 · Census Vintage 2024 |
| Domestic migration | −1,624 | 2024 · Census Vintage 2024 |
| Birth rate | 13.5 per 1,000 | 2024 · calculated |
| Death rate | 9.9 per 1,000 | 2024 · calculated |
| Population rank in Virginia | 11th of 133 | 2024 · calculated |
| Per capita personal income | $53,320 | BEA, 2024 · official |
| Gross domestic product | $18.8 billion | BEA, current dollars, 2024 · official |
| Median household income | $69,634 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Poverty rate | 14.5% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Bachelor’s degree or higher | 30.6% | Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Foreign-born residents | 7.7% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Median home value | $260,600 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Median gross rent | $1,339/month | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Median age | 34.4 years | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Households | 76,112 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Owner-occupied homes | 48.2% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
Newport News city in context
Comparable indicators for Newport News city, Virginia and the United States.
| Indicator | County | Virginia | U.S. | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population change 2020–2024 | −1.7% | +2.1% | +2.6% | Census Vintage 2024 |
| Birth rate (per 1,000) | 13.5 | 10.6 | 10.6 | 2024 |
| Death rate (per 1,000) | 9.9 | 8.9 | 9.1 | 2024 |
| Net migration rate (per 1,000) | -4.6 | 7.0 | 8.2 | 2024 |
| Population density (/mi²) | 2653.1 | 223.2 | 96.3 | 2024 |
| Per capita personal income | $53,320 | $77,351 | $73,204 | BEA, 2024 |
| Median household income | $69,634 | $93,170 | $80,734 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Poverty rate | 14.5% | 9.9% | 12.5% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Bachelor’s degree or higher | 30.6% | 42.2% | 35.7% | Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Foreign-born residents | 7.7% | 13.1% | 14.1% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Median home value | $260,600 | $383,700 | $332,700 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Median gross rent | $1,339/month | $1,579/month | $1,413/month | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Median age | 34.4 years | 39.0 years | 38.9 years | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Owner-occupied homes | 48.2% | 67.3% | 65.2% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
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Did you know? Newport News city
A quarter century of change
Its population went from 180,236 in 2000 to 183,056 in 2024, a change of +1.6%, compared with +24.0% for Virginia as a whole.
Births and deaths
In the year to July 2024 the county recorded 2,471 births and 1,817 deaths, so births outnumbered deaths by 654.
Peak population in 2020
Annual Census estimates since 2000 put the county's highest population at 186,052 in 2020. The 2024 figure is 2,996 lower.
17th in density
Newport News city has about 2653.1 residents per square mile of land, ranking 17th of 133 counties; Virginia averages 223.2.
Household income rank
With a median household income of $69,634 (ACS 2020–2024 5-year), the county ranks 63rd of 133 Virginia counties; the state median is $93,170.
Size of the economy
Its economy produced $18.8 billion of GDP in 2024 (BEA), 8th largest among 133 Virginia counties.
Latest economic growth
Real GDP fell 0.4% in 2024, adjusted for inflation (BEA, chained 2017 dollars).
Sources and methodology
- U.S. Census Bureau — County population totals and components, Vintage 2024
- U.S. Census Bureau — County estimates 2010–2020
- U.S. Census Bureau — Intercensal estimates 2000–2010
- U.S. Census Bureau — Gazetteer files (land area)
- U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional economic accounts
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — LAUS