Newport News : Virginia
Living a Beach Lifestyle in Newport News, Virginia
Newport News is a busy port, shipbuilding center, and military center in Virginia's Hampton Roads. The population is about 180,000. While you wouldn't think of Newport News as a beach town, it is not far to the great beaches of Virginia like Willoughby Beach and Virginia Beach.The North End is an historic district listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The city has its rough edges as well as its charms. The Victory Arch is a local landmark. Langely Air Force Base, Fort Eustis, Fort Monroe, and Naval Weapons Station Yorktown are important to the local economy. Christopher Newport University is located in town. Photo of Oyster Point City Center, a redevelopment project, courtesy of Wikipedia and Durrock.
Where to Retire in Newport News and Home Prices
The city has many different neighborhoods including the North End and Hilton Village. Some of them have waterviews. There are active adult communities in the area.
Prices will vary greatly by neighborhood. The median value of a home was about $180,000 in mid-2019, according to Zillow, which refers to it as a "Very Hot" market at this time. The National Association of Realtors reports the median sale price of a home in the Virginia Beach-Newport News-Norfolk VA-NC area was $260,000, during the 2nd quarter of 2020.
What Is Special about Newport News
Newport News has 32 parks, a varied cultural base, several museums, and a diversified economy. Oyster Point is a welcome addition and is often referred to as the new downtown. There are many nice neighborhoods such as Hilton Village and the North End.
What Is Not Special about Newport News
Newport News is well below average in walkability; some not so nice neighborhoods.
Climate and Physical Environment
The average January temperature is 44 degrees, with July's average at 80 degrees. Newport News gets a few inches of snow during the winter.
Restaurants & Cultural Scene
Newport News is part of the Toast the Coast Beer, Wine and Shine Trail along the peninsula, and has several seafood restaurants; the town hosts events and festivals year-round including Civil War re-enactments; there are many places of interest and historical sites here including the Mariners' Museum/USS Monitor Center, The Virginia Living Museum, the Endview Plantation, and the Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center; Christopher Newport University's Ferguson Center for the Arts provides many cultural attractions with a broad range of performances and programs.
Crime
As might be expected in a town with a seaport, the crime rate is above average.
Medical Facilities
Riverside Regional Medical Center and Mary Immaculate Hospital serve the area.
Transportation
Public transportation is provided by by Hampton Roads Transit; nearby airports include Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport, Norfolk International Airport, and Richmond International Airport; Amtrak also serves the city with four trains a day along the Virginia Peninsula to Richmond.
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