Moving from Huntington Beach, CA to Newport News, VA

Cross-country relocations like Huntington Beach, CA β†’ Newport News, VA cover 2695 mi and about 47h 26m of driving through 8 states. Expect a multi-day trip and a meaningful change in climate, cost-of-living, and job market. The sections below compare each data layer directly from BEA, Census, Zillow, BLS, and NOAA.

2695 mi Β· 47h 26m by car Β· CA β†’ AZ β†’ NM β†’ TX β†’ OK β†’ AR β†’ TN β†’ VA

COL -13.8% Home values -78.7% Ξ” -5.4Β°F annual

Distance & route

Driving
2695 mi
Drive time
47h 26m
States
8
Fuel (25 mpg)
108 gal
Route throughCA β†’ AZ β†’ NM β†’ TX β†’ OK β†’ AR β†’ TN β†’ VA
Primary highwaysI 40, I 81, I 64
Major cities en routeLong Beach, Torrance, Downey, Costa Mesa, Inglewood

Route via OSRM driving profile. Actual time varies with traffic and season.

Cost of living

Huntington BeachNewport NewsU.S. avg
All items (RPP)113.56697.941100.0
Rents158.58989.579100.0
Goods106.62396.767100.0
Services170.43399.805100.0

RPP moves from 113.566 to 97.941, putting Newport News roughly 13.8% below Huntington Beach on the overall price level.

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (MSA-level Β· MSA-level); 2024.

Housing prices

Huntington Beach β€” typical home
$1,366,658
Newport News β€” typical home
$290,660
Huntington Beach β€” typical rent
$3,026/mo
Newport News β€” typical rent
$1,607/mo

Homes run dramatically cheaper in Newport News: 13.8% below Huntington Beach on Zillow ZHVI (2026-03).

YoY change: Huntington Beach +2.8%, Newport News +1.4%. Snapshot: 2026-03. Data provided by Zillow.

Climate

1991–2020 normalsHuntington BeachNewport News
Annual avg temperature65Β°F60Β°F
January avg low49Β°F31Β°F
July avg high79Β°F88Β°F
Annual snowfallβ€”β€”
Annual precipitation11.2"45.1"

Climate cools by 5.4Β°F on the annual average β€” 64.9Β°F β†’ 59.5Β°F.

Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (stations: SANTA ANA JOHN WAYNE AP, CA US, NEWPORT NEWS INTL AP, VA US).

Demographics

ACS 5-year 2023Huntington BeachNewport News
Population196,010184,774
Median household income$119,885$66,718
Median age43.434.2
Bachelor's degree or higher29.5%17.7%
Avg household size2.532.44

Income gap is large: median household income drops 13.8% between Huntington Beach and Newport News (ACS 2023).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year 2023.

Jobs & wages

Huntington Beach MSA β€” median wage
$50,490
Newport News MSA β€” median wage
$46,990
Huntington Beach MSA β€” employment
6,185,570
Newport News MSA β€” employment
737,200

Top occupations in Newport News MSA

OccupationEmploymentMedian wage
Office and Administrative Support Occupations 82,690 $39,820
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations 71,490 $29,090
Sales and Related Occupations 69,500 $31,880
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations 59,850 $38,810
Business and Financial Operations Occupations 57,140 $79,090

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.

Moving between California and Virginia

California income tax
13.3% top marginal
Virginia income tax
5.75% top marginal

State income-tax top marginal rates are from the Tax Foundation, updated annually. Check Virginia's DMV for the current deadline to transfer driver license and vehicle registration after establishing residency. Consult a tax professional for your specific filing situation β€” state tax treatment depends on residency, sourcing, and reciprocity agreements.

Best time to move

Moving companies typically charge 20–30% more between Memorial Day and Labor Day (peak season). October through April offers the lowest rates and better mover availability.

To avoid mid-semester school transfers, most U.S. families schedule moves between mid-June and mid-August. Public school calendars typically run late August or early September through late May or early June.

Winter driving along this route

  • Donner Pass (I-80) and Tejon Pass (I-5 Grapevine) see chain requirements and occasional closures December through March.
  • I-17 and I-40 through the Flagstaff area can see winter closures; the rest of Arizona is generally clear year-round.
  • Raton Pass (I-25 at the Colorado line) can close in winter storms.
  • I-40 through the Smokies and I-75 near Jellico Mountain can see chain requirements in winter storms.
  • I-64 across Afton Mountain and I-77 at Fancy Gap see chain requirements in winter storms.

State DOT 511 phone or web services provide real-time road conditions year-round.

Frequently asked

How much do homes cost in Newport News compared to Huntington Beach?

Zillow ZHVI (2026-03) puts the typical home value at $290,660 in Newport News vs $1,366,658 in Huntington Beach β€” a 78.7% lower figure. Data provided by Zillow Research.

When is the best time to move from Huntington Beach to Newport News?

Moving companies usually charge 20–30% less between October and April (off-peak). Memorial Day through Labor Day is peak pricing. For a 2695 mi drive, weather on the route matters too β€” see the timing section above for state-specific winter warnings.

How far is Newport News, VA from Huntington Beach, CA?

The driving distance is 2695 mi and the route typically takes 47h 26m via I 40 and I 81. The trip crosses 8 state(s). Actual time varies with traffic and season.

How does the job market in Newport News compare to Huntington Beach?

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics show median wages of $46,990 in the Newport News MSA vs $50,490 in the Huntington Beach MSA, on total employment of 737,200 and 6,185,570 respectively. Top occupations on the destination side appear in the Jobs & wages section above.

How does household income compare in Huntington Beach vs Newport News?

Median household income on the Census ACS 5-year (2023) is $66,718 in Newport News vs $119,885 in Huntington Beach β€” a 44.3% lower figure. Compare this against the cost-of-living gap above when budgeting.

Is Newport News more expensive than Huntington Beach?

Based on BEA Regional Price Parities (2024), overall price level in Newport News is 13.8% lower than Huntington Beach (97.941 vs 113.566, U.S. average = 100). Rent and services typically carry most of this gap.

Plan the move

Estimate costs with our moving cost calculator, or see where else to move from Huntington Beach.

City profiles: Huntington Beach, CA Β· Newport News, VA.

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