Hampton, VA, known as 'The City on the Bay,' offers a unique blend of historic charm and modern urban amenities. Located in Hampton Roads, Hampton is a large city that serves as a major cultural and economic hub. Major nearby cities like Norfolk (20 miles) and Newport News (10 miles) enhance its status as a central point in the region. Hampton's blend of scenic landscapes, cultural festivals, and urban amenities creates a distinctive living experience.
Hampton is home to several iconic landmarks, including the Virginia Air and Space Center, the historic Fort Monroe, and the scenic Buckroe Beach. The city offers a variety of attractions, from the beautiful Sandy Bottom Nature Park to the bustling Peninsula Town Center, known for its shopping and dining. Hampton's dining scene is diverse, offering everything from seafood cuisine to international dishes.
Annual events such as the Hampton Jazz Festival and the Blackbeard Pirate Festival highlight the city's vibrant cultural scene and provide unique entertainment opportunities for residents and visitors. These events celebrate Hampton's rich cultural heritage and community spirit. Prestigious institutions like Hampton University contribute to the city's academic and cultural vibrancy, fostering a thriving intellectual community.
The arts and culture scene in Hampton is dynamic and diverse, with numerous theaters, music venues, and art galleries. The American Theatre and the Hampton History Museum are just a few of the cultural landmarks that showcase the city's commitment to the arts. Living in Hampton provides ample opportunities to engage with art, music, and history, making it an exciting place to call home.
Hampton’s community is welcoming and diverse, creating a friendly environment for newcomers. The city is home to professional sports teams like the Norfolk Admirals (ECHL) and the Peninsula Pilots (Coastal Plain League), providing plenty of excitement for sports fans. Major industries in Hampton include healthcare, education, and military, with significant employers such as Sentara Healthcare and Langley Air Force Base driving economic growth. The city has extensive public transit options, including buses and light rail, making it easy to navigate.
Cost Of Living
The cost of living in this region is notably lower than the national average, encompassing everyday goods, housing, utilities, transportation and health care expenses.
Housing
High scores in the housing category are attributed to this area, possibly pointing to a favorable home affordability ratio, robust appreciation rates or elevated home values.
Health & Safety
Achieving a high health and safety score relies on factors including great air quality and convenient access to vital health facilities such as hospitals, doctors, clinics and police stations.
Schools
The schools category boasts a high score thanks to factors like excellent test scores, impressive graduation rates and the convenient placement of elementary and high schools in this area.
Commute
Access to public transportation in this particular area may be limited, which can result in longer-than-average commute times to reach workplaces.
Located in the state of Virginia, Hampton is a moderately-sized city with a population of 138,888 people. Hampton is mostly populated by White (40%) and Black or African American (50%) ethnic groups. Hampton is not known to have a high population (over 15 years old) of married people. At only 48% married, this city falls well below the national average. The average American spends about 26 minutes on their one way commute to work each day. Lower travel times can increase overall happiness and allow for more time to be spent with family and friends. While living in Hampton, your commute times will be about average, with a one way commute time of 23 minutes.
Living in Hampton can be a fulfilling experience for anyone moving to the city. Having said that, in the state of Virginia, there are many incredible places to live, so choose wisely! When searching for a new neighborhood, several factors play a vital role in determining its suitability. Safety should be a top priority, ensuring a secure environment with low crime rates. Proximity to your workplace or school helps minimize commuting time and allows for a better work-life balance. Availability of essential amenities such as parks, coffee shops, restaurants, grocery stores, and healthcare facilities contributes to convenience and well-being. Access to reliable public transportation options facilitates easy commuting and connectivity. Additionally, considering the sense of community and the overall atmosphere that resonates with your lifestyle and preferences fosters a harmonious living experience. To help you find the best places to live in and around Hampton, AreaVibes has created a livability score using key metrics like amenities, crime, employment, housing and more.
Using data and statistics Hampton has received a livability score of 74/100. This score is ranked in the 85th percentile when compared to all other cities. If we check out each of the categories individually, we see that Hampton ranks well for cost of living (B), education (B+) and housing (A+).
Test scores can be a good way to measure a school's academic performance and the proficiency of its students. They can be an important metric in deciding if the local area schools can provide a solid educational system for children. The schools in Hampton have an average test score of 76%, which is well above the US average.
A healthy real estate market serves as a key economic indicator. It could signify overall local economic strength, stability and reflects consumer confidence in the area. Based on multiple factors including: median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability, Hampton has received high marks in the housing category. Based on these calculations, the apartment rental and real estate market appears to be very healthy.
Certain items on your wish list like shopping, restaurants, nightlife, parks and proximity to public transportation are all important things to look for. Having said that, perhaps the most important metric to consider when contemplating a move to Hampton is real estate affordability. The median home price for Hampton homes is $333,449, which is 23.3% lower than the Virginia average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Hampton, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 3.9, which is 13.3% lower than the Virginia average.
Why stop at city-to-city? With Local Insights, you can compare neighborhoods, zip codes, or even exact addresses. Access 300+ hyperlocal data points—from schools and crime to housing and amenities—to see which area is the better fit.
| Statistic | Hampton | Virginia | National |
| Average one way commute | 23min | 28min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 80.8% | 77.4% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 8.6% | 9.5% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 2.4% | 4.5% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.2% | 0.4% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 2.1% | 2.4% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 4.6% | 4.7% | 4.6% |
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