Norfolk, Virginia
Among the top 1% of US counties for getting around.
AffordabilityAffordability: grade F, better than 9% of US counties
WeatherWeather: grade B, better than 68% of US counties
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade D, better than 24% of US counties
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade A+, better than 99% of US counties
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade B+, better than 74% of US counties
- top 1% for airport distance
- top 1% for walkability
- bottom 1% for property crime
Norfolk is a county in Virginia with about 237,000 residents. It grades A+ for getting around and F for affordability. Standout strengths include airport distance, walkability, and air quality. It rates lower on violent crime and property crime.
- The median home value in Norfolk is $254k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Median household income in Norfolk is $61k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Median gross rent in Norfolk is $1k a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Norfolk has a violent crime rate of 2277/100k, per the FBI Uniform Crime Reports.
- The average one-way commute in Norfolk is 23 min, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
Climate
Hot, humid summers · Cool winters · Wet · Light snow
cold
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warm
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69%60%clearovercast
Precipitation 5.5 in3.3 in
muggy 87%dry
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$61k51st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$51kbetter than 17% of US counties
Home Value$254k81st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$1kbetter than 13% of US counties
Monthly Owner Costs$42kbetter than 13% of US counties
Property Tax Rate1.02%better than 38% of US counties
Income Tax5.80%better than 29% of US counties
Sales Tax5.77%better than 90% of US counties
Estimated total tax burden11.94%better than 17% of US counties
Unemployment6.7%better than 19% of US counties
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)42°F72nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)81°F73rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation50.8 in75th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall5.5 inbetter than 63% of US counties
Sunny Days242 daysbetter than 56% of US counties
Summer Humidity70°Fbetter than 23% of US counties
Comfortable Days89 daysbetter than 76% of US counties
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk81.2better than 18% of US counties
Air Quality18 AQIbetter than 96% of US counties
School Quality54.8better than 51% of US counties
Violent Crime2277/100kbetter than 4% of US counties
Property Crime5058/100kbetter than 0% of US counties
Community
Population236,97391st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age32.24th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.6396th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio1.0474th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningD+472nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)42.2%11th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)40.1%95th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)8.7%69th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)3.8%92nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)5.2%80th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time23 minbetter than 63% of US counties
Walkability13.1/20better than 99% of US counties
Airport Distance3 mibetter than 100% of US counties
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access86.1%better than 68% of US counties
Amenities Nearby19.41better than 95% of US counties
Park & Nature AccessModeratebetter than 29% of US counties
Data sources
- EPA Air Quality (AQI)
- EPA Smart Location Database
- EPI Family Budget Calculator
- FAA airport enplanements
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports
- FEMA National Risk Index
- MIT Election Data Lab (2020)
- NCES School Finance Survey
- NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA nClimGrid
- OpenStreetMap
- Tax Foundation + state revenue depts
- U.S. Census ACS (5-Year)
- USGS Protected Areas (PAD-US)
Frequently asked questions
- Is Norfolk an affordable place to live?
- Norfolk is relatively expensive. Its cost-of-living index is $51k, better than 17% of comparable areas. Median rent is $1k.
- Is Norfolk safe?
- Norfolk is higher-crime than most comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 2277/100k (better than 4%). Property crime is 5058/100k.
- What is the weather like in Norfolk?
- Norfolk averages 81°F in July and 42°F in January, with 50.8 in of annual precipitation and about 242 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Norfolk?
- Public-school quality in Norfolk is about average, scoring better than 51% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in Norfolk?
- The average one-way commute in Norfolk is 23 min.