Located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area, Newport News has convenient proximity to popular tourist areas Virginia Beach and Williamsburg without the congestion and the hubbub that comes along with it! Beautiful weather, moderate costs of living, many safe and family-friendly neighborhoods and an unemployment rate below the national average all make this city a great place to consider relocating!
If a move to Newport News may be in your future, there are many important factors to consider before you pack up your moving trailer and hit the road. Read on to find out more about the city's housing costs, schools, recreation and neighborhoods so that you can be sure it is the right place for you to call home.
Newport News Climate
Newport News has a humid subtropical climate, with cool, mild winters and hot, humid summers. While the region receives considerably ample rainfall--an annual average of 45 inches--its location keeps it out of the path of most hurricane and tropical storms.
Spring and summer are the wettest seasons, but snow is infrequent--only about six inches a year.
Newport News Neighborhoods
City Center at Oyster Point has been called the new downtown of the city, with many corporate headquarters, legal firms, and city offices relocating there. Within walking distance of this business hub are numerous shopping centers, restaurants, high-end specialty shops, and cafes. Housing options in the area include brick apartment buildings and luxury condominiums.
Other popular neighborhoods in the city include Hilton Village, Port Warwick, Kiln Creek, and Riverside. However, certain neighborhoods, such as the East end and parts of Denbigh, have been known to have high crime rates. Be sure to thoroughly research all neighborhoods before choosing one to live.
Registering Your Car
You are required to register your vehicle in the state of Virginia within 30 days of moving to the state to avoid paying a penalty. To register your car, visit any DMV customer service center with your car's title, previous out-of-state registration, and certification that you passed the emissions inspection. However, if you have had an emissions inspection in any of the following states no more than twelve months prior to your move, you are exempt from further testing: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Virginia , Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin.
To transfer your driver's license to the state, you will need two proofs of identification, Social Security number, proof of Virginia residency, and proof of legal presence.
Newport News Schools
If you will be relocating with children, they will be enrolled in the Newport City School district after your move. The system operates 43 schools educating over 30,000 students. The system has several alternative and unconventional areas of academic focus, including an aviation and engineering school, an international education school, and Enterprise Academy--a business school for expelled students and troubled youths. From 2006 until 2010, Newsweek's yearly list of the best schools in the nation included five Newport News institutions within the top six percent.
For higher education, you can attend the following public universities: Christopher Newport University, Old Dominion University, and Norfolk State University. The nearby historically black college Hampton University is located in the neighboring city of Hampton, and the Thomas Nelson Community College offers two-year Associate degree programs.
Newport News Employment
Major industries in the city include aerospace, military, maritime, and ship building. Many residents are employed by Newport News Shipbuilding, nearby military bases such as Fort Eustis, and the Newport News Marine Terminal. Other significant employers include plumbing hardware manufacturer Ferguson Enterprises, L-3 flight International Aviation, the city's school district, and several U.S. defensive industry suppliers.
As of March 2013, the unemployment rate in the city was somewhat low--6.3 percent. This is slightly less than the national average of 7.5 percent.
Living Costs in the City
The cost of living in the city is about four percent above the national average, with housing being the most expensive. Rent and real estate rates in the city are about eight percent above the average American city, with utilities around nine percent greater. Groceries are one percent lower, as is health care, and transportation is the most affordable expense you will incur-- at three percent below the national average.
The typical one-bedroom apartment in the city goes for about $755 a month, and a two-bedroom rents for around $840. The median home price in Newport News is $159,900.
Newport News Moving Resources
There are numerous moving and storage companies located in Newport News that are waiting to help you relocate to your new home. Be sure to do your research and obtain estimates from several different services before choosing one for hire. You can compare online quotes from many different moving companies and other services to aid you in your move, whether you are coming from the next city or overseas. Visit the following pages here at Movers.com to get fast quotes for the following services:
Newport News Transportation
If you will be living in the city without a vehicle, you will be utilizing the city's mass transit system. Public transportation within in the city is supplied by Hampton Roads Transit, which supplies service to Newport News and nearby communities. Greyhound provides bus service to neighboring cities from the station on Warwick Boulevard in the Denbigh area. Amtrak supplies the city with four trains a day, connecting to passengers to Norfolk and Virginia Beach.
Culture and Contemporary Life
The city offers an array of scenic outdoors activities and nature-related attractions to enjoy, such as the Virginia Living Museum wildlife preserve, the Newport News Park, and the Noland Trail. Historic monuments and museums celebrate the city's strong military presence, such as the Army Transportation Museum, located on Fort Eustis with exhibits showing the evolution of the army's vehicles; the U.S. Monitor Center, perfect for any Civil War buff; and the Virginia War Museum, featuring uniforms, weapons and other artifacts chronicling the history of the U.S. military.
For other recreation and leisure activities, the popular "Resort City", better known as Virginia Beach is only 40 miles away. Lie on the largest pleasure beach in the country, soak up the sun, and enjoy endless shopping, fresh seafood, and ride the rollercoasters on the Virginia Beach Boardwalk. The city is also only a short 21-mile drive from the tourist town of Williamsburg, which features historic attractions such as Colonial Williamsburg and the amusement park Busch Gardens.
Newport News Relocation Tips
- Research the neighborhoods. While most neighborhoods in the city are safe and family-friendly, others have higher crime rates. Be sure to be well-informed of the area you choose to live. Areas such as the East End and some parts of Denbigh are considered to be less safe regions.
- Make a moving checklist of everything you will need to accomplish before you make the trek to Newport News to stay better organized and be prepared! Things to include are: researching movers and comparing quotes, packing, making airline arrangements, changing your address, and hooking up utilities.
- Be sure to conduct a thorough background check on any moving company you are considering for hire: read reviews on the Better Business Bureau, verify their US DOT number on the FMCSA website, and ask for references to ensure that you are hiring quality movers. Don't forget these important questions to ask your mover so you don't make a costly mistake.