Hampton

About 3 miles from Downtown Hampton, Buckroe Beach is a coastal community near the Chesapeake Bay. “It was a fabulous secret when I first moved out there 25 years ago,” says Sheila Johnson-Pane, Realtor with Sheila Pane Realty. She has worked in the area since her move and says that the neighborhood is still a “quaint and quiet” place. People can swim, fish and sail off the shores of the titular beach. Many homes cost under $400,000, although gated communities with more expensive properties populate the northern parts of the neighborhood. Students in the area attend Hampton City Public Schools, which receives a B from Niche. Buckroe Beach and Park, this neighborhood’s namesake, has a nearly 1-mile-long sandy bank. It is open all year, with lifeguards on duty between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Families can splash in the water and enjoy a picnic, and children can pretend to be sailors at the nautical-themed playground. During the summer, food vendors fill the boardwalk. The James T. Wilson Fishing Pier sits at the beach’s end and gives people a fishing license with their day or yearly passes. Salt Ponds is at the top of the neighborhood if someone is looking for a smaller beach. Southall Landings Marina and Salt Ponds Marina Resort are in the Buckroe Beach area, allowing their members to dock their boats. Both offer several amenities, including a swimming pool, fish cleaning stations and a clubhouse. For more activities, locals can travel the 3 miles into Downtown Hampton to explore the Hampton History Museum or watch a movie at the Virginia Air and Space Center. The Pointe at Salt Ponds is a gated community at the top of Buckroe Beach. Many of these waterfront properties have personal docks in their backyards. Single-family contemporary homes built in the late 1990s and early 2000s are situated upon landscaped lawns. Most of these houses have at least one balcony, letting residents watch the sun come up over the water. While three- and four-bedroom prices tend to fall between $775,000 and $875,000, many have sold for upwards of $1 million. The rest of the neighborhood is filled with a variety of houses. Bungalows and ranch styles sitting on grassy lawns are common throughout, typically costing between $175,000 and $275,000. Two-story new traditional homes, many with colonial or French influences, sit on manicured lawns near the beach, and sidewalks line the roads. Homebuyers can expect to pay anywhere from $300,000 to $375,000 for these properties. Locals will travel into Downtown Hampton to enjoy the several events held throughout the year, including the summer concert series Groovin’ by the Bay at Mill Point Park. The Blackbeard Pirate Event is an annual celebration with reenactments of pirate fights and interactive activities. Southall Landings Marina and the Salt Ponds Marina Resort feature year-round social gatherings for their members. Buckroe Beach Farmers Market runs every Saturday morning between spring and fall and sells produce, baked goods and canned goods from local vendors. Residents shop for groceries at Food Lion and head to Buckroe Shopping Center for more stores, including Dollar General. In the shopping center, they can also eat a Southern American brunch at Laura’s Rise and Shine. Residents travel farther into Hampton to explore the many restaurants in the city, including Surf Rider, which is about 5 miles away. “It’s the best seafood,” Johnson-Pane says. Lowe’s and Target are about a 7-mile drive from the beach. As part of Hampton City School District, students can start at Francis Asbury Elementary School, which earns a B-plus from Niche, before attending Benjamin Syms Middle School, rated B. Phoebus High School, which receives a C-plus, features the Academy of Digital Video Production, allowing them to work in television and media production or video media production. Andrews Boulevard acts as the main drag in the neighborhood. “There’s not a lot of traffic because there’s just the one-in and one-out road,” Johnson-Pane says. The road connects with US Route 258, about 2 miles outside the area. From there, drivers can easily access Interstate 64, which connects to major Virginia cities. Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) has bus routes that connect the beach to the rest of Hampton, although most people drive themselves. Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport, about 17 miles away, offers flights to Philadelphia and Charlotte through American Airlines. Because Buckroe Beach is right on the water, residents can expect a 1% annual flood chance. The Know Your Zone initiative classifies the neighborhood as Zone A, meaning it will be one of the first areas to evacuate or shelter in place during severe weather. Many homeowners with a mortgage are required to get flood insurance.

Coliseum Central, a Hampton neighborhood along Southwest Branch Back River, boasts over 650 upscale retailers, dining destinations and businesses. This highly commercial district spans over 1,900 acres, and residents from all over the city flock here for its shopping and nightlife. With the Hampton Coliseum and Peninsula Town Center nearby, there is always something to do in this upbeat community. "There’s nothing else like it in the city, and it’s just a quick walk or drive away," says Jamie Shannon, a Realtor with EXP Realty, who’s been selling homes in the area for over 12 years. The area’s biggest draw is the Hampton Coliseum, a multi-use arena and an architectural jewel. Since it opened in 1969, it’s been the go-to destination for entertainment. There are concerts often, and iconic acts like Elvis Presley, the Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin have recorded live albums here. It’s also a sports arena, hosting everything from college basketball conference tournaments to WWE shows and stock-car racing. The Coliseum also holds the annual Hampton Jazz Festival, one of the largest jazz events in the country. The three-day event has showcased some of the biggest names in jazz over the years, including Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin. Riverdale residents can head to their community pool, while other neighbors can visit the Hampton Virginia Aquaplex for indoor pools and an outdoor waterpark. Air Power Park is a museum showcasing vintage aircraft and jets from the nearby Air Force base, as well as rockets from the NASA Langley Research Center. There’s also an observation deck with a boat launch and creekside views. Golfers can head to Hamptons Golf Course, a public 27-hole course. For those looking to escape the Virginia humidity, visit Sky Zone Trampoline Park or the local YMCA. Residents from all over Hampton come to Peninsula Town Center to shop. Head to big-box stores like Target, Kroger and PetSmart, as well as other boutiques and department stores. There are fast food options like Five Guys and sit-down chains like Bar Louie. It also has popular local restaurants, such as Juan's Cafe and Cantina for Mexican dishes and Park Lane Tavern for American bar food with decor inspired by London’s classic pubs. "Park Lane Tavern is a local favorite,” says Shannon. “People from all over come, the food is always good and fresh.” For a sophisticated night, head to Legacy Live, a cozy listening room with live jazz and soulful blues. There are several residential areas surrounding its central hub. The area offers luxury condos with private clubhouses, apartments that sit on top of retail businesses and single-family homes in established neighborhoods. 1960s Ranch-style homes and split-level houses with attached garages comprise most of the community. The Southwest Branch River backs up to some homes with marshes and low-lying wetlands, while others have scenic views of Coliseum Lake from their porches. Single-family homes typically sell for $250,000 to $350,000, while condos go for $150,000 to $250,000. "There isn't much turnover for homes in the area, which is good; it’s a sign of stability," adds Shannon. Kids may start at Burbank Elementary, which earns a B from Niche, before going to Lindsay Middle with a B-minus. Students may then attend Hampton High, which also gets a B-minus and offers an International Baccalaureate program. Those living in condos or apartments close to town center are within walking distance of the area’s amenities, while those in nearby homes just have a short drive to make. There are bus stops with limited service along Coliseum Drive and Cunningham Drive. Interstate 64 runs right next to the neighborhood and takes Coliseum Central residents to Williamsburg and Norfolk.

The tourism department in Hampton, Virginia, recently adopted a new town slogan, calling itself “A city with an old soul and a youthful enthusiasm.” This blend comes to life in the Downtown Hampton community, where residents enjoy various museums, theaters, parks, fishing piers and historical sites within walking distance of their riverfront homes. “The downtown area has so much going on,” says Liz Kilby, supervising broker at the James River Newport News office with Long & Foster Real Estate. “There are all of the museums and shops you’d expect in a downtown area, plus unexpected attractions like golf courses and beaches.” With only 261 homes in the neighborhood, the housing market in Downtown Hampton is understandably slow, and homebuyers can expect fewer than 10 homes to come up for sale within any given year. Nearly all those homes are bracketed between Eaton Street and the riverfront, where the residential streetscapes are surprisingly suburban despite the neighborhood’s downtown location. A circular subdivision of waterfront townhouses hugs the Hampton River north of Mill Point Park, where residents enjoy HOA amenities, attached garages and outdoor living spaces with views of the river starting at $250,000. A small enclave of single-family homes rests on the neighborhood’s northeast corner, offering saltbox, split-level and stick-style houses for $350,000 to $450,000. Students in Downtown Hampton begin their education at Peake Elementary School, a C-plus-rated school with a student-teacher ratio of 17-to-1. From there, students graduate to Alton Lindsay Middle School and Hampton High School, both of which earn a B-minus grade on Niche. Nearly one in five seniors at Hampton High School are enrolled in AP classes; and with an average SAT score of 1040, these students are regularly admitted into prestigious local universities like James Madison University and William & Mary. Downtown Hampton is located on the banks of the Hampton River as it empties into the Chesapeake Bay, providing plenty of options to enjoy the great outdoors. River Street Park features a popular canoe and kayak boat launch on the Hampton River, offering residents access to the vast network of tidal rivers cutting into the Newport News peninsula. Downriver from River Street Park, Mill Point Park is the gem of Downtown Hampton’s park system, home to most of the local festivals and events throughout the year, including outdoor concerts, fall festivals and farmers markets. On rainy days, locals can explore the halls of the Hampton History Museum — with galleries illustrating four centuries of national history on Virginia’s Atlantic Coast — or touch the more than 100 hands-on exhibits at the Virginia Air & Space Center. Retail and grocery shopping is easy in Downtown Hampton, where residents can walk to the specialty stores and boutiques around Hampton City Hall or take the city bus from any of the stops on Pembroke Ave to the major retailers on the neighborhood’s edge. Locals shop for groceries at Food Lion or Swami Food Store, while major retailers like Lowe’s, Walmart and The Home Depot are located a few exits north along Interstate 64. Breakfast is served at Guilty Pleasure Coffee Shop, a locally owned establishment with a unique breakfast menu and gourmet coffee bar. The Grey Goose bakery and restaurant serves one of the most popular brunch menus in Hampton, while the Vanguard Brewpub & Distillery offers an array of house-made beer and spirits — in addition to local and national touring bands — within its dining room in the historic Hampton armory. Located at the southern tip of the Newport News peninsula, Downtown Hampton sits on the banks of the Hampton River as it empties into the Chesapeake Bay. Residents enjoy immediate access to Interstate 64, on which they can travel the 75 miles inland to Richmond — home of the nearest international airport — or travel south into Norfolk and Virginia Beach on the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnels. The Hampton Transit Center provides public transportation by bus into areas throughout Hampton, while the Greyhound Bus Station offers access to surrounding cities across the Atlantic Coast.

Tall trees, grassy lawns and narrow roads welcome Farmington residents when they return home. “Farmington is a tucked away, established melting pot community because it has bigger and smaller homes, which offer diversity in the neighborhood,” says Realtor and local expert resident Charles Holloway with Keller Williams Elite-Peninsula. North of this lush area, Sandy Bottom Nature Park offers even more nature to explore, including Sandy Bottom Lake and miles of hiking trails. Farmington residents live 7 miles from downtown Hampton and 8 miles from the Langley Air Force Base, making the neighborhood a good spot for military families and Hampton commuters. “There’s a lot of military members in Farmington with the air force base nearby. That’s one of the big reasons people move to the area,” says Robyn Slocum, a Realtor with The Slocum Team at Iron Valley Real Estate who has over five years of experience. No matter why residents move here, they stay for the access to nature and retail destinations. Hikers, dog walkers, fishing enthusiasts and nature lovers unwind at Sandy Bottom Nature Park. Before it was a park, the 456-acre area was a garbage dump that has since been transformed into an outdoor destination. Visitors can learn at the Sandy Bottom Nature Center, meet other pet parents at the dog park or rent a boat to spend the day floating on Sandy Bottom Lake. Those who prefer indoor fun stop by the Northampton Community Center, where seniors attend Lifelong Living events to meet with friends, take a yoga class or learn strategies for coupon shopping. Others spend time exploring the shelves at the Northampton Branch Library. Residents don’t have to travel far to find grocery stores, retail shops and eateries. They drive less than three miles south to Mercury Boulevard. Shoppers looking for daily groceries have their pick of two Food Lions and a Walmart Neighborhood Market. Homeowners in the north half of the neighborhood have a shorter trip with a Food Lion waiting off Big Bethel Road. Game’s Farmers Market is a popular spot for locally sourced produce, and it's open year-round except for Christmas Day. When shoppers need to refuel, they grab lunch at Tommy’s Restaurant, a staple in the community that has been serving home-style meals for over 35 years. Anyone craving gumbo with rice or Vietnamese sandwiches takes a trip to Anthony’s Seafood. While these locally owned restaurants stay popular, residents who need a quick bite have plenty of fast-food chains to choose from. “That area is really close to the Hampton Coliseum, Chicken Salad Chick and Monsoon Eclectic Modern Indian,” Slocum says. Farmington has over 7,000 homes, so the architectural designs vary greatly. Most homes are three-bedroom ranch, split-level, Colonial Revival and Craftsman houses that wrap around cul-de-sacs. Prices range from $140,000 to almost $500,000, with most landing in the $300,000s. Residents have large yards with enough space for a pool or outdoor sitting area, but some streets don’t have sidewalks, giving homeowners even more yard space. “When houses get on the market, they sell very quickly, and when you get a home here, you’re likely to stay,” Holloway says. In addition to the eclectic array of existing homes, the Michaels Woods subdivision is growing, with brand-new Craftsman homes going up in 2024. Students attend George P. Phenix Elementary, which earns a B-plus from Niche, for prekindergarten through eighth grade. Sixth- through eighth-grade students can try out for the Phenix Band to show off their music skills. Bethel High School earns a B-minus and allows teens to study for future careers with specialty academies, including Governor’s Health Sciences and Law and Public Safety. Over 14 churches, the Peninsula Islamic Community Center and the Phap Nghiem Temple are open to the over 22,000 Farmington residents. The Sentara CarePlex Hospital, on the other side of Interstate 64, is open for medical emergencies and routine care. Although bus stops sit along Todds Lane and Big Bethel Road, most residents use their cars to get around town. Locals who want to visit Norfolk or downtown Hampton for the day can hop on Interstate 64 or Interstate 664 and be in the area after a roughly 30-minute drive. Although Langley Air Force Base is 8 miles from the neighborhood, Slocum says she never heard any planes while in Farmington for an open house.

Fox Hill has come a long way from its 17th-century origins. “It’s a unique area with a lot of waterways and deep-water access right in your backyard, which is a great premium feature,” says Jamie Shannon, a Realtor at eXp Realty with over 24 years of experience. Some residents live near the Chesapeake Bay shores, while others have private access to the Back River. The Fox Hill Neighborhood Center brings locals together for programs and their annual festival. And with Langley Air Force Base 5 miles away and downtown Hampton 3 miles away, locals have short commutes to work. Residents walk along the Grandview Beach access trail to see wildlife run around the nature preserve or spend the day relaxing on the sand at Buckroe Beach and Park. Fox Hill is a quiet neighborhood with easy access to beaches, Chesapeake Bay views and downtown Hampton. Fox Hill’s coastal location offers boat lovers and fishing enthusiasts easy access to Chesapeake Bay. Residents who don’t have a private pier dock their boats at Belle Isle Marina or Dandy Haven Marina. And when the urge hits to relax on sandy shores, locals can park on the side of State Park Drive and walk about 10 minutes along the access trail to Grandview Beach near the Grandview Nature Preserve. Grandview Beach is a secluded oasis of 2.5 miles of shoreline where people boat, fish or take in Chesapeake Bay. Beachgoers who need more space to relax drive to Buckroe Beach and Park, which has public parking, playground equipment and public restrooms. For some indoor fun, locals visit the Willow Oaks Branch Library or Fox Hill Neighborhood Center. Fox Hill has gated communities, townhouses and residential streets filled with single-family homes from the ‘50s, ‘70s, ‘80s and early 2000s. “It’s a pretty quiet area that’s not super beachy,” says Natalie Desurne, a Realtor with LPT Realty LLC who has over five years of experience. “My client moved there to be close to work in Hampton.” Waterfront townhouses in the gated Southall Landing community range from $350,000 to $400,000. Colonial Revival and ranch-style homes, often with four bedrooms and spacious lots, can sell for anywhere between $225,000 and $650,000. There is moderate space between each home to give neighbors some breathing room, and tall trees shade the homes. Some live in homes near Back River with private piers or close to Grandview Beach with backyards that face out toward Chesapeake Bay. The CAP Index gives Fox Hill a 2 out of 10 crime score, with 10 being the highest. The national average is 4. Students who live east of the Back River often attend Francis Asbury Elementary, home of the Foxes. Those on the west side learn at Samuel P. Langley Elementary. Both of these schools earn a B-plus from Niche. The next step is the B-rated Benjamin Syms Middle School before moving on to Kecoughtan High School, also earning a B-plus. The Kecoughtan High Warriors Boys Outdoor Track Team took the state title in 2024. Residents don’t have to visit downtown Hampton to find a restaurant besides the nearby McDonalds. Instead, they grab a table at Capri Pizza & Italian Restaurant for lunch or dinner. Others stop by Mezcal Mexican Grill for some street tacos or seafood chimichangas. Next door to Mezcal, Food Lion offers locals a wide range of daily essentials and groceries. Some get their groceries at Harris Teeter in the Willow Oaks Village Square. The central shopping hub is Peninsula Town Center, 6 miles away, where shoppers can pop into stores like Target, H&M and Bath & Body Works. The Fox Hill Neighborhood Center, run by local volunteers, hosts programs and learning activities throughout the year. Their biggest event is the annual Fox Hill Festival. Every May, the event kicks off with a parade, and the rest of the day is dedicated to eating with neighbors, browsing local vendors, learning the history of Fox Hill and listening to live music. The Buckroe Beach Farmers Market also sees a crowd shopping local produce every Saturday morning in May. Residents rely on their cars to get around Fox Hill or connect to East Mercury Boulevard to commute into Newport News. “It’s very easy to get to the other side of or off the peninsula over there,” Desurne says. Narrow sidewalks run throughout the residential streets, giving locals a path when going for a morning run or walking furry friends. Most can take a quick 10-minute drive to the Grandview Beach access trail or a seven-minute drive to Buckroe Beach. Fox Hill is surrounded by beaches and split by the Black River, posing a flood risk. “Some flooding, but it’s hit or miss. It goes property-by-property for which homes are in flood zones and which flood zones,” Desurne says. The Langley Air Force Base sits 5 miles east of the neighborhood, but Desurne also says the plane noise isn’t very noticeable. Eight churches sit throughout the neighborhood, including the First United Methodist Church Fox Hill, which organizes an annual indoor yard sale for the United Methodist Men Foundation.