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Norfolk, VA

Census place 5157000 · pop 233,596

D−46/ 100
🫤 Rough
D−
in VA
📍 Virginia ranks #14 of 50 states →
🏆 Air32 AQI · top 8%
🚽 Growth-4.5% · bottom 9%
💡 Did you know?

Home to Naval Station Norfolk, the largest naval base in the world.

Source ↗
Taxes
1.00% property · US 0.99%5.77% sales · US 7.00%up to 5.75% income · US 4.63%

Sales & income are statewide.

Google Maps ↗Zillow ↗Wikipedia ↗

The breakdown — worst first

Population growth (5yr)-4.5%9

U.S. median +2.4% · worse than most cities

-4.5% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Homeownership46.3%10

U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities

46.3% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Poor mental health19.4%17

U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities

19.4% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Adult obesity39.9%20

U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities

39.9% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Income inequality0.4722

U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities

Gini 0.47 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Poverty rate16.5%29

U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities

16.5% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Broadband access88.8%30

U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities

88.8% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Median household income$66,10938

U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities

$66,109 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Uninsured adults10.9%38

U.S. median 9.3% · worse than most cities

10.9% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Natural disaster riskCounty-level92/10043

U.S. median 77/100 · worse than most cities

92/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Physical inactivity26.1%44

U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities

26.1% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Adult smoking13.7%46

U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities

13.7% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Housing cost$289,90049

U.S. median $214,900 · worse than most cities

$289,900 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Property-tax burden1.00%49

U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities

1.00% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Rent$1,761/mo49

U.S. median $1,756/mo · worse than most cities

$1,761/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).

Commute time23 min56

U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities

23 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.

Bachelor's degree or higher33.5%57

U.S. median 24.3% · better than most cities

33.5% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Unemployment rateCounty-level3.3%67

U.S. median 3.6% · better than most cities

3.3% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Unhealthy air daysCounty-level0 days85

U.S. median 1 days · better than most cities

0 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Air quality (AQI)County-level32 AQI92

U.S. median 42 AQI · better than most cities

32 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Not measured for Norfolk: Crime, Property crime. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.

Frequently asked

Is Norfolk, VA a good place to live?
By the numbers, Norfolk scores 46/100 — a D− (Rough) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 20 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is air quality (aqi) and its weakest is population growth (5yr). Virginia overall ranks #14 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
Is Norfolk, VA expensive to live in?
Norfolk has a median home value of $289,900 and typical rent around $1,761/mo — pricier than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Norfolk, VA?
Its weakest measured area is population growth (5yr) (-4.5%) — 9/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
What is Norfolk, VA best at?
Its strongest measured area is air quality (aqi) (32 AQI) — 92/100, better than most U.S. cities. (A county-level figure.) Fun fact: Home to Naval Station Norfolk, the largest naval base in the world.

Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.