Overview of Findings
Apartment List has released Newport News’s results from the third annual Apartment List Renter Satisfaction Survey. This survey, which drew on responses from over 45,000 renters, provides insight on what states and cities must do to meet the needs of 111 million American renters nationwide.
"Newport News renters expressed general dissatisfaction with the city overall," according to Apartment List. "Some categories received average scores, and many received below average scores."
Key findings in Newport News include the following:
- Newport News renters gave their city an F overall.
- The highest-rated categories for Newport News were weather (A-), affordability (B) and public transit (B).
- The areas of concern to Newport News renters were recreational activities (F), jobs and career opportunities (D), quality of local schools (D) and pet-friendliness (D).
- Newport News did relatively poorly compared to other cities in Virginia, including Virginia Beach (A-), Norfolk (B) and Alexandria (A).
- Newport News did relatively poorly compared to other cities nationwide, including Austin, TX (A-), Denver, CO (B+) and Seattle, WA (B+).
- The top rated cities nationwide for renter satisfaction include Scottsdale, AZ, Irvine, CA, Boulder, CO and Ann Arbor, MI. The lowest rated cities include Tallahassee, FL, Stockton, CA, Dayton, OH, Detroit, MI and Newark, NJ.
Renters say:
- "I like being surrounded by the military, colleges and that it’s close to bigger cities. But I don’t like the lack of employment opportunities and salaries aren’t comparable to the cost of living." – Karla P.
- "I love that the city is diverse and that the cost of living isn’t too high. But the costs for registering older vehicles are unreasonable." – Natasha E.
- "Love the weather, people, restaurants, activities. But I hate housing income restrictions, cost of living and traffic." – Florence M.
- "Close access to malls and restaurants but the crime rate is high." – Anon.
For more information on the survey methodology and findings or to speak to one of our researchers, please contact our team at rentonomics@apartmentlist.com.
