Newport News

Don’t be fooled by the name: even though Bland connects with some of the sleepier suburban communities around Fort Eustis, there’s plenty of activity. Interstate 64 coasts along to the west, while Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport is to the east. But perhaps more importantly, Bland is a landing strip for Newport News inhabitants looking to shop, dine and hang out: there’s a convenient cluster of commercial amenities that draws people here, so life stays interesting on a daily basis, while the neighborhood still offers peace and quiet. <br><br>The residential portion of Bland is focused on the north side, where streets end with cul-de-sacs. The area is kept quiet, removing residents from the traffic associated with the commercial center. Realtor David Tortolini with eXp Realty notes that homes around Fort Eustis can share a similar vintage. “You’re still looking at a lot of 1960s, 1970s type builds, with some 80s and 90s mixed in there.” Prices can vary, but the range isn’t drastic – look for homes to be somewhere between $200,000 and $315,000. For example, a three-bedroom ranch from 1985 can go for $200,000 here. Expect a suburban setting with similar styles neatly stacked along streets with names like Ashwood Drive. Homes are set back from long carpets of grass, while any landscaping mostly consists of large shade trees looming in backyards or the edges of driveways. As far as other options go, homebuyers still might encounter a three-bedroom ranch from the 80s, but extensive interior renovations would bring a higher price tag. Finishes like quartz countertops and vinyl floors add a modern sheen, while a stark white color palette is in keeping with contemporary trends. <br><br>Kiln Creek Elementary enrolls around 620 students, but maintains a 17 to 1 student-teacher ratio, helping it to earn a B-minus in the teachers category from Niche. Ella Fitzgerald Middle enrolls 1,200 students. In 2023, it expanded athletic offerings to include soccer, wrestling, football and cheerleading. Denbigh High enrolls 1,200 students as well, and it offers a telecommunications program where students can gain experience in live television productions. <br><br>The centrally located Jefferson Commons shopping mall has just about anything residents could need in terms of everyday conveniences. Trader Joe’s and Aldi both offer an array of groceries. Donato’s Pizza is a casual place to grab a crispy slice when you’re out – or swing by one of the numerous food trucks for more on-the-go service. There’s plenty of entertainment here, too. Peruse books at 2nd and Charles, or check out the guitar selection. <br><br>Focused on residential and commercial amenities, there aren’t many parks in Bland – but there are ways to stay active, and there’s even a hidden gem that people from other neighborhoods seek out. Across the street from the shopping mall is Riverside Wellness and Fitness, which offers an aquatic center and tennis courts. Or, escape into an oasis at the Chatham Trail, which goes by a manmade lake. The wooded trail is suitable for bikers and walkers. <br><br>Interstate 64 is a boon for reaching cultural destinations like the Virginia Living Museum, about 5 miles south of Bland. Jefferson Avenue is ideal for getting to all those retail amenities, as it runs right past the mall. And the Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport is right in Bland’s backyard – for all those times when you want to step outside this little slice of suburbia.

Pocketed between the James River and Chesapeake Bay, the Virginia Peninsula contains many attractive neighborhoods settled close to the water. One of them is Boulevard, which sits just 2 miles from the James River and offers an array of appealing properties for potential home buyers. "Homes in the Boulevard area are a little bit smaller, a little bit older," says Danielle Kearns of RE/MAX Peninsula. "The market is definitely quick with homes in such high demand right now."<br><br>Boulevard's winding, cul-de-sec-heavy streets sheltered by towering pines and bushy oaks are characterized by brick, hipped roof ranch homes built in the '50s and '60s that range between $250,000 and $375,000. Larger split-level colonial-style dwellings with upwards of four bedrooms can price north of $400,000.<br><br>Students in Boulevard are served by the Newport News Public Schools district. Children can go to Hidenwood Elementary School or Ethel M. Gildersleeve Middle School while teenagers may attend Menchville High School to the west of Boulevard off Menchville Road. Earning an overall Niche grade of B+, the high school regularly competes for state championships in boys' indoor and outdoor track and offers a student newspaper called "The Lion's Roar." Boulevard also neighbors the campus of Christopher Newport University, which has a total undergraduate enrollment of over 4,000 students. "Boulevard definitely has that college town vibe with Christopher Newport University nearby, but it's also a good family community with lots of residential homes in the area," Kearns says.<br><br>On the southeastern end of the Virginia Peninsula, Boulevard residents are close to multiple scenic parks and attractions. One mile south of the neighborhood is the Noland Trail at the 550-acre Mariners’ Park. Go for a run on the park's 5-mile pathway or test your photography skills with stunning shots of Mariners' Lake. Just east of Boulevard is the Deer Park, offering a large playground, two baseball fields and a picturesque view of Deer Park Lake.<br><br>Stationed directly next to Deer Park off J. Clyde Morris Boulevard is the Virginia Living Museum. Housing 250 species of native animals, guests can get up close and personal to red wolves, river otters and raccoons. You can also head just east of Boulevard and visit City Center at Oyster Point. A business district that features restaurants, retail markets and a movie theater, City Center is an excellent place to give yourself some TLC with friends.<br><br>For ingredients to make a home-cooked meal, head to the local Harris Teeter off Warwick or pick up essentials from Food Lion stationed inside Hidenwood Shopping Center, which also contains a Family Dollar and a myriad of restaurants.<br><br>If you're looking to eat out, Byrd's is one of the top local eateries in the area. A popular spot to gather for brunch, Byrd's offers chicken and waffles, cinnamon roll pancakes and signature mimosas. Schooners Grill is another neighborhood favorite, featuring build-your-own pizzas, chicken wings and a "Seafood Feast" that includes shrimp, flounder and crab cake.<br><br>Boulevard residents have terrific access to Interstate 64, which sits just 3 miles east of the neighborhood. Several Hampton Roads Transit bus routes also run through the area with many stops along Warwick while Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport is only 5 miles outside of Boulevard.<br><br>From its proximity to the water, highway and airport to its many nearby attractions, Boulevard is an excellent choice for home buyers looking to live on the peninsula without breaking the bank.

Charles is in the part of Newport News that is geared towards nature lovers. Even though it’s primarily residential, Charles is also just blocks away from the Warwick River. Plus, it borders Riverview Farm Park, widely considered the crown jewel of the area. As Realtor David Tortolini with eXp Realty puts it: “This is a great park that has the largest playground in all of Newport News. For the adults, it also has a giant one and a half mile walking trail that surrounds the entire park.” Overall, Charles is great for homebuyers that don’t mind hopping in the car to reach shopping, dining and cultural attractions. In exchange, the rest of the time they can enjoy a more easygoing pace of life focused on the outdoors. <br><br>With Charles being largely residential, the layout is relatively easy to navigate. Streets form an interlocking grid, though sometimes they end with cul-de-sacs. Eastwood Drive serves as a kind of central thoroughfare linking Charles to Warwick Boulevard, where commercial amenities are located. Homes in this neighborhood span a range of decades, and therefore prices can vary widely. The market starts at $250,000 and can extend upward into the low $500,000s. At the entry point, expect to see a lot of midcentury brick ranches in a classic leafy suburban setting. But in the upper reaches of the market, things change, from housing styles to the general ambiance. Gone is the shaded suburban streetscape, replaced in favor of bright open developments that highlight the facades of Colonials built in the 2010s. <br><br>Warwick Boulevard puts daily essentials on tap, whether that’s Food Lion or even more local establishments, like the Menchville Food Mart. Locally owned fast casual restaurants are nearby, too, like Crave Wings: flavors range from honey garlic to Korean spicy BBQ. Running in parallel to this thoroughfare is Interstate 64, which is surrounded by big box retailers like Sam’s Club and Walmart. <br><br>B.C. Charles Elementary enrolls nearly 400 students, and receives an A from Niche in the diversity category. Gildersleeve Middle enrolls over 1,000 students, and scores even higher in the diversity with an A-plus. Menchville High enrolls 1,700 students, and scores an A-minus in clubs and activities. The school is known for having successful sports teams, like the boys’ outdoor track team, which placed in state championships from 2000 to 2018.<br><br>Nicewood Park is a small escape on the north side where residents can quietly stroll or scramble across the playground. Riverview Farm Park on the south side is the place to go for longer jaunts. Walk the paved trails —with a furry companion, even— or bike along them, too, past mature shade trees. Benches are available when it’s time to take a rest, and soccer fields are there when that second wind kicks in. Two playgrounds, each designed for different ages, are a big attraction as well. <br><br>Charles has very walkable streets, being mostly built to prevent traffic passing through. And with Warwick Boulevard running along the east end, it’s easy to travel 5 miles to reach cultural destinations like the Virginia Living Museum, an open-air museum featuring Virginia’s indigenous species. About 2 miles further east is Interstate 64, a major corridor for exploring the wider region – it puts the Busch Gardens amusement park about 15 miles away. But with so much walkability close to home, it makes sense why Charles residents are drawn towards the quiet life.

Resting on the shores of its namesake waterway near the confluence of the James and Warwick rivers, Deep Creek is one of the most secluded and serene neighborhoods in Newport News. The wooded enclave features riverside estates with private docks as well as traditional architecture, creating a cozy community for families just minutes from the city’s main shopping, dining and cultural centers. “A lot of the attraction is the neighborhood’s proximity to Christopher Newport University, which has built itself up as an entertainment hub,” says Carlyn Menser, a Realtor with RE/MAX Connect and a lifelong resident of the Hampton Roads area. Locals gather for performances at the university’s world-class Ferguson Center of the Arts, which is known to host renowned Broadway shows and the Virginia Symphony Orchestra. From local marinas and yacht clubs to nearby schools and seasonal markets, Deep Creek offers a blend of coastal charisma and suburban comfort. <br><br>Waterside recreation is one of Deep Creek’s main draws, so it’s no surprise that many residents own boats. Whether they have a private dock or not, locals can always store their vessels at the James River Marina, which provides both wet and dry storage and repair services. “You’ll see lots of sailing in this area because of the deep-water access and the proximity to the Warwick Yacht Club,” Menser says. Sitting across the creek from the marina, the yacht club offers its members plenty of opportunities for boating, swimming and upscale dining. The club’s swim team is popular with area kids, while annual events such as the Oyster Roast draw visitors from all over the city. <br><br>Covering more than 270 acres, Riverview Farm Park is a destination for kids’ playdates, weekend picnics and local soccer games. The spacious Fantasy Farm Playground includes a learning garden, a climbing wall and engaging sensory equipment, bordered by multiple picnic shelters and 2 miles of paved walking trails. Teens also enjoy practicing new tricks at the Riverview Farm Skatepark. After the occasional winter snow, the park becomes a winter wonderland, complete with gentle sledding hills. And in summer, residents often make the 50-mile drive south to the sandy shores of Virginia Beach. <br><br>Homes in Deep Creek offer space and seclusion, with large lots separated by tall trees. Private piers and boat docks often come with riverside properties, while inland homes present a classic suburban feel with modest yards and multicar garages. Brick ranch-style, traditional Colonial Revivals and riverside cottages are all common, and the majority of properties date to the 1960s and 1970s. Buyers can expect most of these homes to list in the $350,000 to $450,000 range. Newer homes, although rare, tend to be the largest, with five-bedroom properties commanding prices close to $500,000. <br><br>With shopping centers lining Warwick Boulevard, residents don’t have to go far to grab groceries at Food Lion or Harris Teeter. Locals are known to dine at the longstanding Schooner’s Grill, a seafood spot that Menser says is “super popular.” Down the road, “Dean and Dons is a locally owned shop that’s open every day” from April to early fall, Menser says. Family owned since 1967, the combination farmers market and garden center offers everything from fresh, seasonal produce to locally sourced bread, honey, jam and eggs. Gardeners enjoy the shop’s colorful selection of plants, ranging from local roses and azaleas to tropical hibiscus imported directly from Florida. <br><br>Deep Creek is also “just a hop, skip and a jump from Port Warwick and City Center, where you’ll find so much to do,” Menser says. Here, shoppers will find a walkable town center with premier retailers and local restaurants surrounding a circular lake dotted with fountains, as well as a movie theater and a host of administrative offices. Less than 3 miles north, Patrick Henry Mall offers a traditional indoor mall experience surrounded by major retailers like Target, Best Buy and Costco Wholesale. <br><br>As part of Newport News Public Schools, students in Deep Creek can attend Yates Elementary and Gildersleeve Middle, which both score grades of C or better on Niche. Many students will move on to Menchville High, which scores a grade of B on Niche and hosts the district’s only Dual Language Immersion program. <br><br>Warwick Boulevard, also known as U.S. Route 60, serves as the main north-south thoroughfare just outside the neighborhood. Hampton Roads Transit operates several bus lines along this corridor, which leads south past CNU and the Riverside Regional Medical Center. Drivers can also easily access Interstates 64 and 664, providing direct routes across the river to Norfolk and Chesapeake. For extended travel, the Newport News Williamsburg International Airport is just 5 miles away.

Once its own small town, today Denbigh is an urban neighborhood in Newport News. “Denbigh is a great location. It’s in the middle of everything and is convenient to shopping centers, Joint Base Langley-Fort Eustis and the Newport News Shipyards,” says Keisha Deering, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker NOW and a resident of Newport News. Before the 1960s, the Denbigh neighborhood primarily consisted of churches, farms and railroad stops. During the housing boom of the post-war 1960s and the concurrent development of nearby military facilities, subdivisions and commercial strips quickly sprang up across the area, attracting new residents and homeowners. “There is a great mix of people here, including longtime residents and military families,” says Deering. “Neighbors are protective of each other and of their community. They work hard to make sure their homes are kept up.”<br><br>The predominant home styles in Denbigh are brick ranch-style homes and bilevel houses with garages. While some homes maintain their original charm, many newly renovated properties exist. There are also condos, townhouses and apartments here. Home prices in the neighborhood range from $300,000 to around $450,000. Most homes sit on medium-sized lots with expansive backyards perfect for patios and pools. Quiet, tree-lined streets are plentiful throughout the community, and many homes offer views of wooded areas or of Lucas Creek’s marshlands. “Inventory is low. Homes are usually selling in a few days to a couple of weeks,” says Deering.<br><br>Students in Denbigh may begin their schooling at T. Ryland Sanford Elementary School, which has a C rating from Niche. Mary Passage Middle School also holds a C rating. Denbigh High School is rated C-plus. The high school’s nationally recognized Aviation Academy specializes in aircraft maintenance, piloting, engineering and aviation safety fields. <br><br>Residents of Denbigh have access to high-tech entertainment and outdoor fun. Both Tagtime Laser Tag and Surge Adventure Park are in the neighborhood. Nature lovers will want to explore Denbigh Park, nestled among the marshlands and wetlands. Locals can launch a kayak from the boat ramp, explore the Warwick River or follow the small walking trail through the marsh. Anglers will want to bring a rod and reel to the fishing pier. A visit to the Mariner’s Museum means a day of nautical adventure. The maritime museum has over 32,000 artifacts and is home to a life-sized replica of the ironclad warship that revolutionized naval warfare. Nature fans will enjoy strolling on the award-winning Noland Trail, a five-mile footpath offering views of wildlife.<br><br>Jefferson Avenue has a Trader Joe’s and an Aldi for groceries. The Jefferson Commons shopping center is home to big-name retailers like TJ Maxx, Home Goods and Old Navy. Patrick Henry Mall is less than 3 miles away. For those who don’t want to travel, the community has plenty of local options, including Denbigh & Warwick, a small gift shop with a curated selection of artisan soaps, fragrances and home décor. <br><br>When hunger strikes, there are plenty of choices. “Denbigh is definitely a melting pot of culinary options,” says Deering. Tres Borrachos, a Mexican restaurant, serves traditional Latin fare in a vibrant setting. The authentic Puerto Rican street food at DeRican Chef brings the taste of the islands to Virginia. A good way to end the day is with a local draft and apps from Craft 60 Taphouse & Grill. Or say good night with a sweet treat from Pasteles De Maria bakery. <br><br>The Denbigh Day Parade and Festival is held in September at the Courthouse Way Community Center. For 65 years, this family friendly event has included a parade, music, games, train rides, and more. In June, locals look forward to the Hampton Jazz Festival and its accompanying 757 Extravaganza Marketplace where jazz fans and shoppers can listen to great music while exploring the offerings of local artisans and vendors at the Hampton Roads Convention Center. <br><br>Denbigh is flanked to the east by Interstate 64. Denbigh Boulevard runs north-south through the community and Warwick Boulevard (U.S. Route 60) runs east and west. Williamsburg/Newport News Airport is 2 miles from Denbigh and Norfolk International is just under 30 miles. Denbigh is a car-dependent city with a slightly higher than average crime score of 5 out of 10.