The Town FilesNorfolk, Virginia
City in Norfolk city · population 238,005 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $289,900
- Household income
- $66,109
- Jan low / Jul high
- 34° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 29
- Median age
- 32.7
Norfolk is a city of 238,005 people in Norfolk city, Virginia. The median home is worth $289,900, close to the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks more walkable than 98% of Virginia towns, more seaside character than 95% of Virginia towns, better for cycling than 92% of Virginia towns.
How Norfolk ranks
Percentile among Virginia towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Virginia towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Norfolk is worth $289,900, close to the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 4.4 times the median household income of $66,109, which is more affordable than 28% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $1,321 a month. 46.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Norfolk | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $289,900 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $1,321 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $66,109 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.4× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 46.3% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1964 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Norfolk
| People | Norfolk | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.7 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.0% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.5% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.5% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 14.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.9% | — |
| Work from home | 10.2% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 23.0 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.8% | 91.8% |
Weather in Norfolk
July highs average 88.7°F and January lows 34.0°F. About 45.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.0 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 42 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 32 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Norfolk since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 30, 2023 about 9.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 30, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 85 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 13, 1998.
Severe weather in Norfolk city since 1996
Norfolk city has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, freezing, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3631: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 2, 2020 | Biological | DR-4512: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3448: Covid-19 |
| September 11, 2018 | Hurricane | EM-3403: Hurricane Florence |
| November 2, 2016 | Hurricane | DR-4291: Hurricane Matthew |
Jobs and pay in Norfolk city
Norfolk city had 144,085 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $72,432 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Norfolk itself the ACS puts it at 5.7%.
Public schools in Norfolk
53 public schools with 26,882 students, about 12.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Granby High | 9-12 | 1,850 | 16.2 |
| Norview High | 9-12 | 1,821 | 15.4 |
| Matthew Fontaine Maury High | 9-12 | 1,736 | 16.1 |
| Norview Middle | 6-8 | 1,152 | 13.1 |
| Lake Taylor High | 9-12 | 1,137 | 15.8 |
| Blair Middle | 6-8 | 1,072 | 13.1 |
| Booker T Washington High | 9-12 | 955 | 13.1 |
| Azalea Gardens Middle | 6-8 | 808 | 15.0 |
| Northside Middle | 6-8 | 767 | 13.7 |
| Crossroads PreK-8 School | PK-8 | 750 | 11.7 |
| Academy for Discovery at Lakewood | 3-8 | 730 | 14.6 |
| Southside STEM Academy at Campostella | K-8 | 701 | 11.7 |
Towns near Norfolk
- Portsmouth, VA7.6 mi · 97,915 people · home $246,900
- Hampton, VA9.1 mi · 137,148 people · home $245,700
- Poquoson, VA14.6 mi · 12,460 people · home $400,300
- Carrollton, VA15.3 mi · 7,498 people · home $423,900
- Virginia Beach, VA15.5 mi · 459,470 people · home $382,500
- Bethel Manor, VA15.6 mi · 4,540 people · home —
- Chesapeake, VA17.1 mi · 249,422 people · home $378,400
- Newport News, VA18.6 mi · 186,247 people · home $260,600
Norfolk questions
Is Norfolk, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Norfolk scores better for retirees than 5% of Virginia towns and quieter than 6%. 13.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.7).
How much does a house cost in Norfolk?
The median owner-occupied home in Norfolk is valued at $289,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $66,109, so homes cost about 4.4 times income. Median rent is $1,321 a month.
What is the weather like in Norfolk?
July highs average 88.7°F and January lows 34.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.7 inches of precipitation a year and 3.0 inches of snow.
Does Norfolk get tornadoes?
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Norfolk since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on April 30, 2023. The typical Virginia town has had 11.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)