Living in Norfolk, VA
Mid-size city in Virginia
Norfolk is a mid-size city in Virginia, home to about 235,000 people, with 1.5 million living within 31 mi. Day to day, much of daily life is walkable. Life moves at a fast pace, and homes are mostly apartments.
Is Norfolk a good place to live? Pros and cons
👍 Pros
- Strong healthcare: 7 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
- Easy flying: ORF is 3 mi away
- Low natural disaster risk: 4 federally declared disasters since 2000
- Affordable housing: a typical 3-bedroom home is about $296k and rents for $2,380 a month
👎 Cons
- Few dog parks: 8 within 9 mi
- Fewer family amenities than most places
- Smaller job market: about 1.5 million people live within 31 mi
- Fewer outdoor escapes: flat, with few parks for its size
Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Norfolk ranks against your own priorities.
Key facts
Living in Norfolk: common questions
What is the cost of living in Norfolk?
A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $296k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $2,380 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are close to the US average (index 98, where the US is 100).
What are taxes like in Norfolk?
Virginia collects about $2,198 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 1.01% of their home's value in property tax each year.
Is Norfolk safe?
Violent crime is somewhat above the national rate (1.4× in FBI 2019 data).
What is the weather like in Norfolk?
Norfolk has cool winters: winter days average around 52°F and summer days around 87°F, with roughly 3″ of snow a year.
Does Norfolk get natural disasters?
Natural disaster risk is low, mainly from flooding and hurricanes: 4 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.35 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.
What is the nearest major airport to Norfolk?
The nearest major airport is ORF, about 3 mi away.
How Norfolk scores
Each bar compares Norfolk with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).
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Nearby
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Is Norfolk right for you?
Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.