What it's like to live in Hampton
Hampton is a mid-size city in Virginia with home prices that remain within reach, commutes that run shorter than most cities, air quality that stays clean most of the year, and schools with smaller class sizes than the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Hampton deals with a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin and a car-dependent commute, with few people using transit.
The good
- Affordable home prices
- Short commutes
- Clean air
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- High rent burden for renters
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Hampton compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Hampton
Based on Hampton's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,854
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $57,080 a year
- 55% of Hampton renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$49,140
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $24,570
- Homes cost 3.5× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,427/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,427 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $245,700. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $245,700 · 55% of renters cost-burdened
Job marketNear US average
4.2% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.2%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 16% below US
276 violent crimes per 100k
Crime runs about typical for a city this size. Some neighborhoods are safer than others, and one overall rate doesn't tell the whole story, so a neighborhood-level look matters more than the headline stat.
Property crime 2878/100k · Hampton Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 13% below US
23 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 22.5 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 10% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 85°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 34°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
2 hospitals
There are 2 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 4.0 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 21% below US
29% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 29%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
36 public schools inside the boundary
There are 36 public schools inside the boundary and 8 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Fort Monroe National Monument (2 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Hampton's strongest points are home prices that remain within reach and commutes that run shorter than most cities; the main tradeoffs are a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin and a car-dependent commute, with few people using transit. A year of median rent ($1,427/mo) equals 25% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Hampton
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