Newport News (city), Virginia: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Newport News (city) supplies the labor the power build-out runs on. Electrical contractors employ 1,558, up 70.5% since 2019 against up 33.4% statewide, at an average $104,907 a year. Newport News (city) is an independent city: it is its own county-equivalent and is not part of any county. Unemployment was 4.2% in August 2026, against 3.4% in 2019. Employers here counted 101,627 jobs in 2025, down 1.8% from 2019. 183,230 people live here, down 1.5% since 2020.
Cities and towns in Newport News (city)
Newport News (city) is an independent city: it is its own county-equivalent and is not part of any county.
Residents are 2025 Census estimates for the part of each city, town or township inside this county. Census publishes no annual estimate for unincorporated communities.
What changed in Newport News (city)
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Virginia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 186,030 | 183,230 | ▼ 1.5% | 11th of 133 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 103,520 | 101,627 | ▼ 1.8% | 86th of 133 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $54,920 | $70,965 | ▲ 29.2% | — |
| Electrical contractor jobs (2019 → 2025) | 914 | 1,558 | ▲ 70.5% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.4% | 4.2% | ▲ 0.8pts | — |
Who powers Newport News (city)
No operating power plant is located in Newport News (city) in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Newport News (city) labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 101,627 | $70,965 | 1.00 |
| Electrical contractors | 1,558 | $104,907 | 2.13 |
Concentration is the BLS location quotient: 1.0 means the industry holds the same share of local jobs as it does nationally. Industry rows count private employers; cells BLS suppresses are left out.
Data centers and local rules in Newport News (city)
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Newport News (city). Virginia has 13 local measures on record statewide.
Newport News (city) and its neighbors
Of the 3 counties that border Newport News (city), James City County carries the most build-out activity: data centers, planned generation and operating plants combined.
| County | Population | Jobs since 2019 | Operating MW | Planned MW | Data centers | Local measures |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newport News (city) | 183,230 | ▼ 1.8% | — | — | — | — |
| Hampton (city) | 137,315 | ▼ 5.1% | — | — | — | — |
| James City County | 83,326 | ▲ 0.3% | 40 MW | 5 MW | — | — |
| York County | 71,374 | ▲ 5.1% | — | — | — | — |
More of Virginia
Newport News (city), answered from the record
Are there data centers in Newport News (city)?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Newport News (city).
What county is Newport News, VA in?
Newport News is in Newport News (city), Virginia. About 183,230 people live there (2025 Census estimate).
Is Newport News (city) adding jobs?
Employers counted 101,627 jobs in 2025 against 103,520 in 2019 (-1.8%, BLS QCEW).
Does Newport News (city) have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Newport News (city). Virginia has 13 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.