Best Life Index › States › Virginia › Cities › Norfolk

Virginia city profile

What Is It Like to Live in Norfolk?

What it costs to live in Norfolk, and how it compares with other Virginia cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

22

83rd best value in Virginia

How much you get for what you pay, versus other Virginia cities.

Overall livability

18

89th overall in Virginia

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

Norfolk is home to about 238,556 people. A typical home runs $223,300 and a household earns around $56,200, a price-to-income ratio of 4.0. Among Virginia's largest cities, it ranks 83rd for value and 89th overall.

Norfolk at a glance

Median home price

$223,300

56th in VA of 90

Median rent

$1,114/mo

Median household income

$56,200

Home price to income

4.0x

Unemployment

7.1%

83rd in VA of 90

School rating

4/10

78th in VA of 90

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in VA of 90

Walk score

28/100

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‹ See all top Virginia cities ranked  ยท  Virginia state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within Virginia only. Updated 2026.