Newport News, VA vs Richmond, VA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Richmond, VA and Newport News, VA spend within 8.3% of each other per resident — $61,661 versus $56,948 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Richmond, VA holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 45/100 (grade D) against 32/100 (grade F) for Newport News, VA — a 13-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Richmond, VA carries the lighter load at $1,304 per resident versus $2,213 for Newport News, VA. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: education leads in Newport News, VA at $23,175 per resident and in Richmond, VA at $20,033.
They also fund themselves differently: charges and fees is the largest single revenue source in Newport News, VA at 17% of total revenue, whereas Richmond, VA relies most on other revenue at 10%.
Summary
Richmond spends 7.6% more per capita than Newport News ($4,713/person difference). Richmond, VA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (D, 45/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Sales Tax | $382 | $930 |
| Income Tax | $820 | $879 |
| Intergovernmental | $899 | $3,985 |
| Charges & Fees | $5,701 | $3,949 |
| Other | $4,722 | $7,690 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $1,848 | $2,108 |
| Fire Protection | $658 | $921 |
| Highways & Roads | $702 | $738 |
| Education | $23,175 | $20,033 |
| Public Welfare | $1,145 | $1,535 |
| Health | $377 | $341 |
| Hospitals | $2,755 | $3,770 |
| Parks & Recreation | $2,102 | $1,154 |
| Housing | $4,827 | $5,951 |
| Sewerage | $219 | $17 |
| Utilities | $7,332 | $7,265 |
| Interest on Debt | $0 | $3,048 |
| Other | $11,810 | $14,781 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.