Moving from Irvine, CA to Newport News, VA

It is 2684 mi and 47h 14m from Irvine to Newport News β€” a cross-country move across 8 states. Housing, cost of living, climate, and tax picture all tend to shift substantially at this distance. This page pulls the current figures from each federal source and Zillow Research into one comparison.

2684 mi Β· 47h 14m by car Β· CA β†’ AZ β†’ NM β†’ TX β†’ OK β†’ AR β†’ TN β†’ VA

COL -13.8% Home values -81.3% Ξ” -5.4Β°F annual

Distance & route

Driving
2684 mi
Drive time
47h 14m
States
8
Fuel (25 mpg)
107 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, Santa Ana, Huntington Beach, Garden Grove, Orange

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

Cost of living

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

Overall cost of living drops 13.8% moving from Irvine to Newport News β€” meaningful on rent but closer to parity on groceries.

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

Housing prices

Irvine β€” typical home
$1,557,982
Newport News β€” typical home
$290,660
Irvine β€” typical rent
$3,335/mo
Newport News β€” typical rent
$1,607/mo

Zillow ZHVI drops from $1,557,982 in Irvine to $290,660 in Newport News, a 13.8% decrease on the typical home value.

YoY change: Irvine -0.8%, Newport News +1.4%. Snapshot: 2026-03. Data provided by Zillow.

Climate

1991–2020 normalsIrvineNewport News
Annual avg temperature65Β°F60Β°F
January avg low43Β°F31Β°F
July avg high85Β°F88Β°F
Annual snowfall0.0"β€”
Annual precipitation14.1"45.1"

Expect 5.4Β°F colder year-round on the NOAA 1991–2020 normals.

Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (stations: TUSTIN IRVINE RCH, CA US, NEWPORT NEWS INTL AP, VA US).

Demographics

ACS 5-year 2023IrvineNewport News
Population308,160184,774
Median household income$129,647$66,718
Median age33.934.2
Bachelor's degree or higher39.4%17.7%
Avg household size2.752.44

Expect median household income to fall 13.8% β€” $129,647 β†’ $66,718 per ACS 5-year estimates (2023).

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

Jobs & wages

Irvine MSA β€” median wage
$50,490
Newport News MSA β€” median wage
$46,990
Irvine 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

When is the best time to move from Irvine 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 2684 mi drive, weather on the route matters too β€” see the timing section above for state-specific winter warnings.

How much do homes cost in Newport News compared to Irvine?

Zillow ZHVI (2026-03) puts the typical home value at $290,660 in Newport News vs $1,557,982 in Irvine β€” a 81.3% lower figure. Data provided by Zillow Research.

How does the job market in Newport News compare to Irvine?

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics show median wages of $46,990 in the Newport News MSA vs $50,490 in the Irvine 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.

Is Newport News more expensive than Irvine?

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

How does household income compare in Irvine vs Newport News?

Median household income on the Census ACS 5-year (2023) is $66,718 in Newport News vs $129,647 in Irvine β€” a 48.5% lower figure. Compare this against the cost-of-living gap above when budgeting.

How far is Newport News, VA from Irvine, CA?

The driving distance is 2684 mi and the route typically takes 47h 14m via I 40 and I 81. The trip crosses 8 state(s). Actual time varies with traffic and season.

Plan the move

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

City profiles: Irvine, CA Β· Newport News, VA.

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