Photo of Norfolk, VA
( 25 Ratings )

Living in Norfolk, VA

Norfolk Area Facts

Area Score
Is This the Right Place for You? Local Insights Report
  • Uncover the key details before you move
  • Use local data to guide a smarter investment
  • Compare neighborhoods side by side
Local Insights Report

Norfolk Reviews

Write a review about Norfolk Tell people what you like or don't like about Norfolk…
Worst Place I've Ever Lived In My Life! User Rating 0.5 rating By Anonymous ( Jan 11, 2019) Sure, the beach is close and there are some great attractions in the city, but honestly, the general attitudes of the people living here ruin it. I've never met so many outwardly aggressive people; outwardly aggressive for no reason. People here won't even let you come over in tr ...Read More affic; they would literally rather have a wreck than let you over so you can get off on your exit. The medical care situation is a sad state with unprofessional care from mis-diagnoses to sexual abuse of patients. The cops here are also just looking for anyone to arrest at any time. There's a huge racism problem here, especially if you're Latino, or anyone who's not black, white, or Asian. People here are just needlessly rude and nasty at every turn, from people on the streets to people working in stores and restaurants. Ugliest human behavior I've ever seen in one place in such a short time. If there's a hell, I know what it looks like already: No-F*** Virginia, where absolutely no one gives a f*** about each other!Oh, and also, their food overall sucks. People here don't know how to cook for some reason, especially pizza. Stick to Dominos, or you're likely to get something completely burnt, dried out, and inedible. Read Less
Norfolk - A Fun-Filled Destination User Rating 5 rating By Anonymous ( May 03, 2010) My wife and I have very much enjoyed visiting the city of Norfolk on different occasions. There are many attractions in Norfolk and things to do, it is an ideal place to spend a long weekend. Our favorite hotel, the Norfolk Waterside Marriott, has a great central location. It is ...Read More within walking distance of many attractions and is a nice place to stay.

Our favorite thing to do is go a day or two early to see the sights and then leave on a cruise from the cruise port. There is abundant parking available for $10 per day throughout the city.

The Chrysler Museum of Art and the Norfolk Botanical Garden have outstanding displays and are well worth the visit. The U.S. Navy's Battleship Wisconsin is permanently docked in the downtown port. It is an especially great choice to tour if you have children.

The MacArthur Center is a beautiful, upscale mall located in the heart of downtown. Its many shops and restaurants make it a favorite destination. Read Less
Show All Reviews

How Do You Rate The Livability In Norfolk?

1. Select a livability score between 1-100
0
Awful
25
Poor
50
Average
75
Good
100
Great
2. Select any tags that apply to this area
View results

Compare Norfolk, VA Livability

City Image
    City Default Image
      vs
      Compare Neighborhoods & Addresses Local Insights Report

      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.

      Local Insights Report

      Norfolk, VA

      Three hours south of Washington DC, nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and the North Carolina border lies the city of Norfolk, Virginia. Home the largest naval base in the world, Naval Station Norfolk, and Headquarters of the Atlantic Fleet. In addition to this large base, the area also has several smaller military installations, including Naval Air Station Oceana and Portsmouth Naval Shipyard just to name a few. The area is a unique mixture of people who have made the area their long term home and those who are passing through with the military.

      There is no large public transportation system, as the several tunnels in area present traffic challenges to large scale public transportation systems, but there are busses that operate regularly. The Norfolk Airport has grown significantly, and there are many flights in and out daily, to several destinations. The region is frequently referred to as the Tidewater area and Hampton Roads interchangeably, which also includes the cities of Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Newport News, Hampton and Virginia Beach.

      The house prices in the Norfolk area have risen significantly in the past decade, but purchasing a home is still very affordable. Rent prices are also reasonable, and the cost of living, although a bit higher than other areas in the South, is still reasonable. There are several colleges in the area including Norfolk State University, Old Dominion University, Regent University and Virginia Wesleyan University, but it is by no means a typical college town. Due to the student population, there are always reasonably priced apartments in the area, depending on proximity to schools and the downtown area.

      One of the benefits of the Norfolk area is that there is always something interesting to do here! Virginia Beach is a popular tourist destination in the summer, but visiting is fun any time of year. The variety of restaurants mean there is always a new place to try. Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown and Yorktown are less than an hour away from Norfolk, which makes incorporating history into regular life easy to accomplish.

      The downtown Norfolk area is called Waterside. It is home to Harbor Park, an NCAA basketball arena, a popular concert venue and also where the Norfolk Tides play AAA baseball as an affiliate for the Baltimore Orioles. Waterside is also home to many unique restaurants, and you can often find live music playing. The 10.5 mile Elizabeth River Trail runs along the Norfolk waterfront area, connecting Towne Point Park, Harbor Park and the historic Freemason district. The trail has interesting historical markers along the path that share facts and features about the environment and the area.

      People from all over the world call Norfolk home, making it a unique and beautiful place to live.

      A+ Amenities

      Are there many local amenities in Norfolk? Yes, there are lots of amenities close to this location.

      Parks

      MacArthur Center Green
      Farragut Park
      Freemason Green
      Pagoda & Oriental Garden
      TowneBank Fountain Park
      Town Point Park
      Pier at Brooke Avenue
      Botetourt Gardens

      Entertainment

      Chrysler Hall
      Regal Macarthur Center & RPX
      Roper Performing Arts Center
      The NorVa
      Granby Theater
      Benjack Studio Theater
      Perry Family Arts Center
      Wells Theater

      Food & Drink

      Panda Express
      Domino's
      Scotty Quixx
      Gershwins
      Barrell Room
      Tropical Smoothie Cafe
      Subway
      Pourhose of Norfolk

      B+ Commute

      Is public transit available in Norfolk? Of all people who commute, 3.3% take public transportation in Norfolk.
      Drive to Work
      72%

      5% lower than the US average

      Take Public Transit
      3%

      2% lower than the US average

      Walk to Work
      10%

      7% higher than the US average

      A+ Health & Safety

      Is Norfolk a healthy and safe place to live? Yes, there are many hospitals, police and fire stations.

      Hospitals

      Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters
      Sentara Norfolk General Hospital
      Sentara Leigh Hospital
      Bon Secours DePaul Medical Center
      Lake Taylor Transitional Care Hospital

      Pharmacies

      Rite Aid
      Target Pharmacy
      Macarthur Pharmacy
      CVS Pharmacy
      Rite Aid
      Walgreens
      Rite Aid
      CVS Pharmacy

      Doctors

      Bon Secours Medical Atrium
      New-Walk Medical Center
      Pediatric Associates