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

Newport News, VA vs Portsmouth, VA

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

Summary

Newport News spends 21.9% more per capita than Portsmouth ($10,244/person difference). Portsmouth, VA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 75/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Newport News, VA
Pop. 185,118
F
32/100
Budget Balance7
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
City B
Portsmouth, VA
Pop. 97,384
B
75/100
Budget Balance100
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Newport News
Portsmouth
Total Spending
$10.5B
$4.5B
Spending / Capita
$56,948
$46,704
Total Revenue
$6.2B
$6.4B
Revenue / Capita
$33,516
$66,060
Total Debt
$409.7M
$0
Debt / Capita
$2,213
$0
Population
185,118
97,384
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Newport News$1,848
Portsmouth$1,848
Fire Protection
Newport News$658
Portsmouth$450
Highways & Roads
Newport News$702
Portsmouth$954
Parks & Recreation
Newport News$2,102
Portsmouth$1,573
Education
Newport News$23,175
Portsmouth$20,569
Health
Newport News$377
Portsmouth$270

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

Newport NewsPortsmouth
Sales Tax
$382
$291
Income Tax
$820
$2,119
Intergovernmental
$899
$12
Charges & Fees
$5,701
$2,606
Other
$4,722
$2,972

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

Newport NewsPortsmouth
Police
$1,848
$1,848
Fire Protection
$658
$450
Highways & Roads
$702
$954
Education
$23,175
$20,569
Public Welfare
$1,145
$1,406
Health
$377
$270
Hospitals
$2,755
$3,784
Parks & Recreation
$2,102
$1,573
Housing
$4,827
$3,282
Sewerage
$219
$298
Utilities
$7,332
$4,446
Interest on Debt
$0
$63
Other
$11,810
$7,760
F
Newport News, VA
Fiscal Health Score: 32/100
Critical fiscal distress
B
Portsmouth, VA
Fiscal Health Score: 75/100
Good fiscal health

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