Ghent, Downtown and Ocean View to find a bite to eat are the city's restaurant centers. The founder of Doumar's Cones & Barbecue, located in Ghent, invented the waffle cone in the early 20th century, and the restaurant still crafts handmade cones and ice cream today. In Ocean View, locals can find Jessy's Tienda y Taqueria, a restaurant featured on the Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.” The Chelsea neighborhood, near Norfolk’s downtown, was once an industrial enclave that is now home to Smartmouth Brewing Co., Benchtop Brewing Company and the Birch, an award-winning mecca for beer enthusiasts.
MacArthur Center is a 1 million-square-foot shopping mall with department stores, restaurants and a movie theater. The Norfolk Premium Outlets, which opened in 2017, offer stores like Nike and Adidas, as well as a 331,000-square-foot IKEA. There are also several smaller shopping centers like Little Creek Marketplace with national retailers, including Walmart, and restaurants.
Virginia Beach has additional shopping and dining districts, including Hilltop and Town Center. With its location on the water, seafood is one of the most abundant cuisine options in the city. Virginia Beach has AAA Four Diamond-rated seafood restaurants close to the Oceanfront, including Terrapin Restaurant and Zoës Steak & Seafood.
Doumar's is home to the original waffle cone in Norfolk.
Jessy's Taqueria serves authentic Mexican cuisine in Norfolk.
The Norfolk Premium Outlets are a short drive from Oakdale Farms.
The MacArthur Center is a one million square foot shopping mall in Downtown Norfolk.
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Waterside city with the world’s largest naval base
While Norfolk started as a trade hub in the 17th century, the area today has transformed into a coastal, urban community home to historic suburbs on the outskirts of downtown and the world’s largest naval base. “Out of the seven cities in Hampton Roads, Norfolk has way more of a city vibe to it,” says Alphradezsa 'Lexi' Church, a Realtor and Associate Broker with Creed Realty, who’s been selling homes around the area since 2018. “But if you want a slower pace and more of a beach vibe, they have Oceanview too. There’s a little bit of something for everybody here.”
Established as a town in 1682, Norfolk immediately became important in the state for trade, serving as a hub for products ranging from tobacco to tar. Railroad construction in the 19th century boosted the city further and connected it to Virginia Beach. In the 1910s, officials built what is now called Naval Station Norfolk. Expanded in the 1930s and 1940s, the Naval base is now the largest hub of its kind in the world, home to 75 ships and 134 aircraft. It’s fitting that government work, including Department of Defense civilians, is one of the area’s top industries. There are other military workplaces across Hampton Roads. Four bases in Virginia Beach include Oceana Naval Air Station. The Navy’s shipyard in Newport News has been operating since 1886 and is the only place where naval aircraft carriers are built. Norfolk’s maritime, transportation and logistics fields are also major employers. The economic impact of The Port of Virginia includes $124.1 billion in output sales and $63 billion of Virginia's gross state product.
In their free time, residents can enjoy Norfolk’s bustling downtown, its lively arts scene and a long list of outdoor recreation. The city is also home to universities and a medical school. From its job and educational opportunities to its dining and entertainment attractions, the “Mermaid City” offers a charming pace and quality of life.
Downtown Norfolk is just 15 minutes from N Camellia Acres.
Meadowbrook Forest military residents have a short commute to Naval Station Norfolk.
Norfolk International Terminals is one of four terminals of the Port of Virginia.
Navy vessel that was decommissioned sits on the dock near Nauticus Museum in downtown Norfolk Virginia.
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Hub for higher education
Students in Norfolk attend Norfolk City Public Schools, which carry a C-plus from Niche. Student-teacher ratios across the district average just 13-to-1, lower than the national average. Norfolk’s Maury High earns a B-plus and students can take part in the medical and health specialties program, allowing them to also take classes at Eastern Virginia Medical School.
Norfolk is home to Old Dominion University and Norfolk State University, which have a combined enrollment of almost 29,000 students. ODU is designated an R1 Research Institution and is the city's fifth-largest employer. Psychology and nursing are among the most popular majors at ODU. Norfolk State is one of five historically black colleges or universities in Virginia and offers more than 64 majors, minors and graduate programs.
One of Tidewater Community College’s four campuses is also situated in Norfolk. The TCC system is the second-biggest community college in the state and students here can pursue a guaranteed transfer to ODU, NSU and other universities across the state. There's also Eastern Virginia Medical School, which offers a physician assistant program that is considered among the best in the country.
Eastern Virginia Medical School is one of the best physician assistant programs in the US.
Maury High School in Colonial Place continues to excel in academics and athletics.
Broad Creek is located next to Norfolk State University.
Norfolk State University is located in Broad Creek.
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Beach access and city trails
The city is home to the Ocean View Fishing Pier, the longest fishing pier in North America. The pier extends into the Chesapeake Bay, allowing anglers to catch everything from croaker to striper to trout. Residents also kayak the Lafayette River or sail on the Elizabeth River or Chesapeake Bay. The city has 24 beach access points and there are 7 miles of beaches in the city, all of them on Chesapeake Bay. To access the Atlantic Ocean, locals can head 20 miles east to Virginia Beach for an additional 38 miles of sandy coastline.
The Elizabeth City Trail is a 10-mile path that connects the city’s northern neighborhoods to downtown attractions. The 175-acre Norfolk Botanical Garden is the most extensive botanical garden in the state and includes more than 60 separate themed gardens. First Landing State Park in Virginia Beach is the most visited park in the state and offers 20 miles of trails and kayaking opportunities. Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, which is farther south near Pungo, is also accessible for kayakers. And for a complete natural escape, the 113,000-acre Great Dismal Swamp features 40 miles of trails and popular freshwater fishing spots. The Virginia Zoo, on Granby Street, is a 53-acre park that’s been open since 1900 and features over 700 animals. The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center in Virginia Beach has over 800,000 gallons of fresh and saltwater exhibits.
Golfers in Norfolk have the Sewells Point Course and the Ocean View Course at their disposal, both offering 18 holes. Sewells Point is a military course that’s open to the public. The course has the historic significance of being where Arnold Palmer made his pro debut in 1954.
Camellia Gardens have easy access to Little Creek for water sports.
The USS Wisconsin is a short drive from Bay View.
Bay View residents love to enjoy the beaches in Norfolk.
The Ocean View Fishing Pier is short drive from Willoughby.
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Programs aimed to reduce crime, projects to minimize flood risks downtown
Crime has been a recurring issue for Norfolk. According to data reported to the FBI, the city has property and violent crime rates above the national average. From 2022 to 2023, violent crime rose slightly while property crime decreased nearly 23%. Norfolk Nighthawks is one of the initiatives the city created to help reduce violence through community engagement and includes nighttime basketball, professional development and information about job opportunities. The city has two plans aimed at improving problems in the future: the current plaNorfolk2030 and the upcoming NFK 2050. Key areas of interest are affordable housing and promoting environmental sustainability.
The city’s waterside location puts much of the area at risk of flooding during storms and high tide periods. Norfolk is also facing the fastest sea level rise on the East Coast, a function of both rising water and sinking land. In late 2023, the city approved a $2.6 billion project to construct a floodwall to protect downtown from storm surges. Residents in nearby suburbs, however, have raised concerns because plans for the floodwall protect only downtown and are not intended to reduce flooding in other parts of the city.
Live shows and sports stadiums downtown
Those looking for entertainment can find a show at one of the city’s several live event venues. The 2,500-seat Chrysler Hall hosts everything from dance exhibitions to comedy shows. The 650-seat Wells Theatre is home to the Virginia Stage Company and is a hub for plays and musicals. The city’s NorVA is a live music space that fits 1,500 and draws a variety of artists. The Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater in Virginia Beach hosts summer music festivals and big-name acts throughout the year. The Coliseum in Hampton also holds sports events and popular large-scale productions like “Disney on Ice.”
Norfolk residents can come together with events like October’s NEON Festival in what’s known as the NEON district, an arts-centric swath of downtown. “The creativity in the city is very definitive,” says Church. “It’s a melting pot of a bunch of different cultures. It’s just very different compared to the other cities.” The festival features all sorts of live entertainment, food, art demonstrations and more. Norfolk is also home to the Virginia Children’s Festival, which is held at Town Point Park. This festival has dozens of activities, including arts and crafts and storytelling.
In the spring and summer, sports lovers enjoy Norfolk Tides baseball, the Triple-A minor league affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. There’s also Norfolk Admirals hockey in the fall, winter and spring at Scope Arena. The Admirals are a pro team in the ECHL and an affiliate of the Winnipeg Jets and Manitoba Moose.
See a concert at the NorVa minutes from the Olde Huntersville neighborhood.
The Tides play at Harbor Park in Downtown Norfolk.
The Norfolk Scope is home to the Norfolk Admirals and many other concerts and shows.
The Wells Theatre is a hub for musicals and plays in Downtown Norfolk.
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Riverfront homes and modern, suburban enclaves
There are houses in the city that date back to the 18th century, mid-20th century styles and a good bit of new construction. Norfolk has more than 200 miles of riverfront and bayfront property in areas like Ocean View, where there’s a 90-acre modern neighborhood called East Beach.
Although Norfolk’s population has dropped by about 5,000 over the past few years, the city still has a competitive housing market. Homes in Norfolk sell after an average of about 28 days on the market, less than the national average of 42 days. The city features a collection of neighborhoods loaded with character, whether they are by the beach in Oceanview or on the Elizabeth River in the Historic Freemason District. Despite having some beautiful homes, and very walkable neighborhoods, the median price for a single-family home in Norfolk is $308,000, below the statewide median of $425,000. Condos and townhouses sell for a median price of $356,000.
E Ocean View has miles of beaches with public beach access.
Contemporary homes are common in E Ocean View.
New Craftsman style homes are common in Poplar Hall.
Newer construction condo buildings are prevalent in W Ocean View.
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Commuting via I-64 and light rail trains
Interstate 64 runs through Norfolk, connecting it with the nearby cities of Hampton and Newport News and to Richmond 90 miles northwest. I-64 cuts across Chesapeake Bay via the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel, which is known to have heavy traffic during morning and evening rush-hour periods. Surrounded by water on three sides, this city is frequently at the mercy of tunnels and bridges, which can turn a simple car accident into a traffic jam that lasts hours.
Norfolk also has a light rail system, dubbed The Tide, and a bus system, both operated by the Hampton Roads Transit system. The Tide network includes 11 stations, from the Fort Norfolk Station just off the Elizabeth River to the Newtown Road Park & Ride Station near Virginia Beach. The local bus system is anchored in part by the Downtown Norfolk Transit Center, which offers 14 routes. Norfolk also has an Amtrak train station by Harbor Field that connects passengers to Richmond, Washington and beyond. Norfolk International Airport serves more than 3 million passengers annually and offers nonstop flights to destinations including New York City, Miami and Denver. The city also has two Sentara general hospitals, one downtown and one close to the Kempsville area.
On average, homes in Norfolk, VA sell after 34 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Norfolk, VA over the last 12 months is $315,000, up 3% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
