Norfolk, Virginia
Cost of living, housing, income, commute, climate, and safety — compiled for relocators researching Norfolk, VA.
MapsToIt planning snapshot
How much does it cost to live in Norfolk, VA?
Norfolk, VA has a MapsToIt housing cost index of 91 (below the U.S. housing-cost baseline; 100 = U.S. avg). Median home value is about $271,900 and median rent about $1,246, against national ACS medians of $303,400 and $1,348. Median household income is roughly $64,017. Typical commute is 22 minutes; summer highs average 87°F. Violent-offense rates run about 545.7 per 100k (catalog avg 559.5).
Crime figures may use an older source vintage than housing and income on this page.
- Housing cost index
- 91U.S. avg 100
- Median home value
- $271,900U.S. $303,400
- Median rent
- $1,246U.S. $1,348
- Median income
- $64,017U.S. $78,538
- Unemployment
- 4.4%U.S. 4.2%
- Avg commute
- 22 minCatalog avg 25 min
- Violent crime
- 545.7per 100k · catalog avg 559.5
- Summer high
- 87°FCatalog avg 87°F
Key figures
Each metric shows how Norfolk compares with a U.S. baseline (ACS/BLS nationals) or a MapsToIt catalog average (crime, climate, and commute). Income, housing, population, and crime are for the incorporated city (city limits), not the broader metro/MSA — unemployment is county-level (BLS LAUS).
- Population
- 231,105City limits · Census PEP 2024 estimate
As of 2026-10-19 · Census PEP 2024 - Median household income
- $64,017Incorporated place (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year18% below U.S. avgU.S. $78,538 - Housing cost index
- 91ACS home+rent vs U.S. (100 = avg)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year9% below U.S. avgU.S. 100 - Median home value
- $271,900City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year10% below U.S. avgU.S. $303,400 - Median rent
- $1,246City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year8% below U.S. avgU.S. $1,348 - Unemployment
- 4.4%County LAUS · not city-only
As of 2026-10-19 · July 2026Near U.S. rate (4.2%)U.S. 4.2% - Avg commute
- 22 min12% below catalog avgCatalog avg 25 min
- Walk Score
- 45Near catalog avg (45)Catalog avg 45
- Violent crime rate
- 545.7per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback) · older data (2019)Near catalog avg (559.5)Catalog avg 559.5 - Property crime rate
- 3461.5per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback) · older data (2019)15% above catalog avgCatalog avg 3005.3 - Summer high
- 87°FAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normalsNear catalog avg (87°F)Catalog avg 87°F
- Winter low
- 35°FAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normalsNear catalog avg (35°F)Catalog avg 35°F
- Annual rainfall
- 49.2 inAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals48% above catalog avgCatalog avg 33.2 in
- Sunny days
- 247As of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals8% below catalog avgCatalog avg 268
Population trend
Norfolk declined 4.9% from 242,999 in 2010 to 231,105 in 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024). Playback steps monthly between annual Census PEP estimates.
Is Norfolk, VA expensive compared to the U.S. average?
Norfolk's housing cost index is 91 versus 100 nationally — below the U.S. housing-cost baseline. That gap is driven mainly by ACS median home values ($271,900 vs $303,400) and rents ($1,246 vs $1,348).
- Housing cost index 91 (U.S. 100)
- Median home $271,900 vs U.S. $303,400
- Median rent $1,246 vs U.S. $1,348
How much does housing cost in Norfolk, VA?
Typical ownership costs center near $271,900, while median gross rent is about $1,246 a month. Against a median household income of $64,017, rent alone is roughly 23% of income on an annualized basis.
- Median home value $271,900
- Median rent $1,246/month
- Median household income $64,017
What is the job market like in Norfolk, VA?
County unemployment recently ran 4.4% versus a U.S. rate of 4.2%. Median household income in Norfolk is about $64,017 (U.S. $78,538).
- Unemployment 4.4% (U.S. 4.2%)
- Median income $64,017
How long is the typical commute in Norfolk, VA?
Average one-way commute time is about 22 minutes, with Walk Score near 45/100. The catalog-city average commute is 25 minutes.
- 22 minutes average one-way
- Walk Score 45/100
Is Norfolk, VA safer than similar U.S. cities?
Published violent-offense rates are about 545.7 per 100k and property about 3461.5 per 100k, versus catalog averages of 559.5 and 3005.3. Citywide rates hide large neighborhood differences.
- Violent 545.7 per 100k
- Property 3461.5 per 100k
What is the climate like year-round in Norfolk, VA?
Normals show summer highs near 87°F, winter lows near 35°F, about 49.2 inches of rain, and roughly 247 sunny days a year.
- Summer high 87°F
- Winter low 35°F
- 49.2 in rain · 247 sunny days
Norfolk, Virginia counts about 231,105 residents inside the city limits. Median household income is roughly $64,017, while the ACS housing-cost index sits near 91 — below the national housing-cost baseline (100 ≈ U.S. average). A typical home near $271,900 and rents around $1,246 frame most shortlists.
Norfolk is compact enough that a single wrong neighborhood choice is easy to feel day to day — visit at commute hour before signing. Figures on this page are merged from Census ACS, BLS LAUS, FBI crime figures, and NOAA Climate Normals — use them to compare Norfolk with nearby alternatives before you relocate.
Federal-contractor suburbs and Atlantic coastal towns pull different budgets. The normals show about 49.2 inches of rain and 247 sunny days across a typical year. Plan on roughly 22 minutes each way for a typical commute; Walk Score is about 45. Unemployment recently ran near 4.4%, broadly in line with many large U.S. counties. Violent-offense rates near 545.7 per 100k sit in a mid-to-elevated band versus many peer cities in this catalog.
Nearby & similar cities
Continue researching with these internal links — each page is a full data profile.
Sources
- Census / ACS: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year (Norfolk city, 1600000US5157000) — As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year
- BLS: BLS LAUS · Norfolk city, July 2026 — As of 2026-10-19 · July 2026
- Crime: FBI CIUS Table 8 (2019), city offenses per 100k — As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)
- Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 Monthly Normals (USW00013737 NORFOLK INTL AP) — As of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals
- Population trend: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024) — As of 2026-10-19 · Census PEP 2024
Catalog refreshed 2026-10-19