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Data from U.S. Census Bureau · 2026 · Methodology
CitySpend

Chesapeake, VA vs Newport News, VA

Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)

Summary

Newport News spends 19.5% more per capita than Chesapeake ($11,089/person difference). Chesapeake, VA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (D, 41/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Chesapeake, VA
Pop. 249,377
D
41/100
Budget Balance30
Debt Burden68
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50
City B
Newport News, VA
Pop. 185,118
F
32/100
Budget Balance7
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Chesapeake
Newport News
Total Spending
$11.4B
$10.5B
Spending / Capita
$45,860
$56,948
Total Revenue
$24.3M
$6.2B
Revenue / Capita
$98
$33,516
Total Debt
$170.5M
$409.7M
Debt / Capita
$684
$2,213
Population
249,377
185,118
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Chesapeake$2,306
Newport News$1,848
Fire Protection
Chesapeake$755
Newport News$658
Highways & Roads
Chesapeake$413
Newport News$702
Parks & Recreation
Chesapeake$559
Newport News$2,102
Education
Chesapeake$25,005
Newport News$23,175
Health
Chesapeake$481
Newport News$377

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

ChesapeakeNewport News
Property Tax
$12
$0
Sales Tax
$39
$382
Income Tax
$0
$820
Intergovernmental
$5
$899
Charges & Fees
$1,780
$5,701
Other
$3,671
$4,722

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

ChesapeakeNewport News
Police
$2,306
$1,848
Fire Protection
$755
$658
Highways & Roads
$413
$702
Education
$25,005
$23,175
Public Welfare
$2,106
$1,145
Health
$481
$377
Hospitals
$1,086
$2,755
Parks & Recreation
$559
$2,102
Housing
$3,550
$4,827
Sewerage
$331
$219
Utilities
$3,148
$7,332
Other
$6,120
$11,810
D
Chesapeake, VA
Fiscal Health Score: 41/100
Below average fiscal health
F
Newport News, VA
Fiscal Health Score: 32/100
Critical fiscal distress

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