Chesapeake, VA vs Newport News, VA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Newport News, VA spends 24% more per resident than Chesapeake, VA: $56,948 against $45,860. That gap is large enough to show up across most functional budget categories below.
Chesapeake, VA holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 41/100 (grade D) against 32/100 (grade F) for Newport News, VA — a 9-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Chesapeake, VA carries the lighter load at $684 per resident versus $2,213 for Newport News, VA. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: education leads in Chesapeake, VA at $25,005 per resident and in Newport News, VA at $23,175.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Chesapeake, VA at 3764% of total revenue, whereas Newport News, VA relies most on charges and fees at 17%.
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
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| 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)
| 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 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.