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

Portsmouth, VA vs Newport News, VA

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

Summary

Newport News spends 18.0% 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
Portsmouth, VA
Pop. 97,384
B
75/100
Budget Balance100
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
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
Portsmouth
Newport News
Total Spending
$4.5B
$10.5B
Spending / Capita
$46,704
$56,948
Total Revenue
$6.4B
$6.2B
Revenue / Capita
$66,060
$33,516
Total Debt
$0
$409.7M
Debt / Capita
$0
$2,213
Population
97,384
185,118
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

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

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

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

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

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

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