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

Virginia Beach, VA vs Newport News, VA

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

Summary

Newport News spends 25.3% more per capita than Virginia Beach ($14,433/person difference). Virginia Beach, VA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (D, 47/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Virginia Beach, VA
Pop. 457,900
D
47/100
Budget Balance28
Debt Burden100
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
Virginia Beach
Newport News
Total Spending
$19.5B
$10.5B
Spending / Capita
$42,515
$56,948
Total Revenue
$14.6B
$6.2B
Revenue / Capita
$31,808
$33,516
Total Debt
$135.8M
$409.7M
Debt / Capita
$297
$2,213
Population
457,900
185,118
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Virginia Beach$1,126
Newport News$1,848
Fire Protection
Virginia Beach$512
Newport News$658
Highways & Roads
Virginia Beach$0
Newport News$702
Parks & Recreation
Virginia Beach$1,574
Newport News$2,102
Education
Virginia Beach$21,342
Newport News$23,175
Health
Virginia Beach$426
Newport News$377

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

Virginia BeachNewport News
Sales Tax
$673
$382
Income Tax
$831
$820
Intergovernmental
$31,808
$899
Charges & Fees
$1,462
$5,701
Other
$3,301
$4,722

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

Virginia BeachNewport News
Police
$1,126
$1,848
Fire Protection
$512
$658
Highways & Roads
$0
$702
Education
$21,342
$23,175
Public Welfare
$2,071
$1,145
Health
$426
$377
Hospitals
$1,036
$2,755
Parks & Recreation
$1,574
$2,102
Housing
$2,788
$4,827
Sewerage
$140
$219
Utilities
$3,523
$7,332
Other
$7,978
$11,810
D
Virginia Beach, VA
Fiscal Health Score: 47/100
Below average fiscal health
F
Newport News, VA
Fiscal Health Score: 32/100
Critical fiscal distress

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