What it's like to live in Norfolk
Norfolk is a large city in Virginia with home prices that remain within reach, air quality that stays clean most of the year, several well-rated hospitals, 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. Norfolk deals with household incomes below the national average, crime rates above the national average, and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin.
The good
- Affordable home prices
- Clean air
- Several well-rated hospitals
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- Crime above national average
- High rent burden for renters
How Norfolk compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Norfolk
Based on Norfolk's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,642
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $52,840 a year
- 53% of Norfolk renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$57,980
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $28,990
- Homes cost 4.4× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,321/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,321 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $289,900. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $289,900 · 53% of renters cost-burdened
Job marketNear US average
4.0% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.0%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 21% above US
400 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is worth weighing seriously here. Rates run above the national average, and while plenty of residents live comfortably, neighborhood selection matters a lot more than it does in a safer city.
Property crime 3188/100k · Norfolk Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 12% below US
23 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 23 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 86°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 36°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
3 hospitals
There are 3 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 3.5 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforceNear US average
34% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 34% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
53 public schools inside the boundary
There are 53 public schools inside the boundary and 27 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13:1, 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 (7 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Norfolk's strongest points are home prices that remain within reach and air quality that stays clean most of the year; the main tradeoffs are household incomes below the national average and crime rates above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,321/mo) equals 24% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. Whether it fits comes down to the specifics: the neighborhood, the job, and what matters most in the move.
Other places near Norfolk
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