Norfolk, VA, known as 'The Mermaid City,' offers a unique blend of historic charm and modern urban amenities. Located in southeastern Virginia, Norfolk is a large city that serves as a major cultural and economic hub. Major nearby cities like Virginia Beach and Chesapeake enhance its status as a central point in the region. Norfolk's blend of historic landmarks, cultural festivals, and urban amenities creates a distinctive living experience.
Norfolk is home to several iconic landmarks, including the USS Wisconsin, the historic Chrysler Museum of Art, and the scenic Norfolk Botanical Garden. The city offers a variety of attractions, from the beautiful Town Point Park to the bustling MacArthur Center, known for its shopping and dining. Norfolk's dining scene is diverse, offering everything from seafood cuisine to international dishes.
Annual events such as the Norfolk NATO Festival and the Virginia International Tattoo highlight the city's vibrant cultural scene and provide unique entertainment opportunities for residents and visitors. These events celebrate Norfolk's rich cultural heritage and community spirit. Prestigious institutions like Old Dominion University contribute to the city's academic and cultural vibrancy, fostering a thriving intellectual community.
The arts and culture scene in Norfolk is dynamic and diverse, with numerous theaters, music venues, and art galleries. The Harrison Opera House and the Virginia Arts Festival are just a few of the cultural landmarks that showcase the city's commitment to the arts. Living in Norfolk provides ample opportunities to engage with art, music, and history, making it an exciting place to call home.
Norfolk’s community is welcoming and diverse, creating a friendly environment for newcomers. The city is home to professional sports teams like the Norfolk Tides (MiLB) and the Norfolk Admirals (ECHL), providing plenty of excitement for sports fans. Major industries in Norfolk include healthcare, education, and maritime, with significant employers such as Sentara Healthcare and Norfolk Naval Shipyard driving economic growth. The city has extensive public transit options, including buses and light rail, making commuting convenient and efficient.
Amenities
A wealth of amenities, such as restaurants, coffee shops, grocery stores, parks and fitness facilities, are all conveniently located within walking distance.
Commute
An elevated score in the commute category points to excellent public transit accessibility and shorter-than-average work commute times in this area.
Cost Of Living
Taking into account the cost of goods and services like housing, groceries, transportation and utilities, the overall cost of living in this area is well below average.
Housing
High scores in the housing category are a distinguishing feature of this area, possibly driven by a favorable home affordability ratio, higher home values and appreciation rates.
Health & Safety
Good air quality as well as nearby health facilities like hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, fire and police stations all contribute to a higher than average health and safety score.
Crime
This area reports elevated crime rates per 100,000 individuals, potentially pointing some areas being unsafe for its residents. Stats are based on both property and violent crimes.
Located in the state of Virginia, Norfolk is a large city with a population of 250,142 people. In Norfolk, there are 4,695 people per square mile, which is well above the national population density average. Norfolk is known to be an ethnically diverse city. The two most common races are White (46%) and Black or African American (41%). The median age of all Norfolk residents is 31, which is well below the national average. This is a good indication that this city could be ideal for a younger demographic. Single men and women might be happy to hear that in Norfolk, only 41% of the population is married. Not a fan of sitting in traffic during your commute to work? Norfolk offers shorter work commutes, with an average one-way commute time taking only 21 minutes, far lower than the national average of 26 minutes.
Whether you’re relocating to a new town to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Norfolk could be a positive experience compared to other cities in Virginia if you know where to search. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. Finding the best places to live in Norfolk and nearby areas is a much easier task when you can rely on information and data from the livability score, which includes crime, health & safety, housing and other important metrics.
The livability score in Norfolk is 81 out of 100 and the city is ranked in the 95th percentile of all cities across America. Based on this score, Norfolk would be considered a very livable city! Norfolk also ranks in the top 10 percent of all cities, which is no small feat! For each of the livability categories, we see that Norfolk ranks very well for cost of living (B), education (A-) and housing (A). There is at least one category that did not score well in Norfolk. The following was graded with a disappointing score: crime (F).
Norfolk has many conveniently situated amenities and captivating attractions that adds to the continuous enjoyment of your everyday life. Having the assurance of abundant conveniences and a wide array of activities ensures your easy access to nearby grocery stores, restaurants, bars, fitness facilities, coffee shops and exciting entertainment options. This not only simplifies daily routines but also fosters a vibrant and dynamic lifestyle within the community. With a wealth of resources at your fingertips, you can savor the convenience and variety that Norfolk has to offer, making it a desirable destination for those seeking both accessibility and enjoyment in their daily lives. Here are some of the more popular things to do in Norfolk: Virginia Zoo, Norfolk Botanical Garden, and Chrysler Museum of Art.
Test scores serve as a vital gauge of a school's academic prowess and the proficiency of its students. They play a pivotal role in assessing whether local schools can deliver a robust educational foundation for children. In Norfolk, the schools boast an impressive average test score of 68%, significantly higher than the national average. This outstanding academic achievement not only reflects the excellence of the local educational system, but also indicates the potential for students to thrive academically, making it an attractive destination for families seeking a high-quality education for their children.
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, Norfolk 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 Norfolk is real estate affordability. The median home price for Norfolk homes is $383,174, which is 11.9% lower than the Virginia average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Norfolk, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 4.8, which is 6.7% higher 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 | Norfolk | Virginia | National |
| Average one way commute | 21min | 28min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 71.8% | 77.4% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 8.1% | 9.5% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 3.3% | 4.5% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.5% | 0.4% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 9.9% | 2.4% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 4.6% | 4.7% | 4.6% |
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