City · Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, city, in Norfolk city, Virginia. Norfolk had 231,013 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 3.0% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 238,005 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 233,596 (controlled total). GEOID 5157000.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
231,013
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 238,005 · ACS 2020-2024: 233,596
Median household income
$66,109
±$1,785 (90% margin)
Virginia: $93,170
Median home value
$289,900
±$5,479 (90% margin)
Virginia: $383,700
Median gross rent
$1,321
±$27 (90% margin)
Virginia: $1,579
Where is Norfolk and what county is it in?
Norfolk is a city in Norfolk city, Virginia. It covers 53.3 square miles of land, 4,467 residents per square mile in 2020.
Norfolk is in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 18 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Norfolk covers the same area as Norfolk city: the city and the county are one area, so the county's figures are Norfolk's; the county page lists its census tracts.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Norfolk, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 231,013 people lived in Norfolk on July 1, 2025, down 3.0% since 2020, while Virginia grew 2.9%. The 2020 Census counted 238,005 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 233,596.
| Measure | Norfolk | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 233,596 | 8,705,170 | −11,005 |
| Households | 94,965 ±721 | 3,365,732 | +6,612 |
| Average household size | 2.25 ±0.02 | 2.52 | −0.22 |
| Housing units | 103,524 ±282 | 3,684,756 | +5,854 |
Norfolk's population since 2000
From 234,403 in 2000 to 231,013 in 2025: down 1.4%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Norfolk as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Norfolk?
The median resident of Norfolk is 32.7 years old; 20.3% are under 18 and 13.0% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 41.2%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 38.9%. 7.9% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Norfolk | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.7 ±0.2 | 39.0 | +2.0 |
| Under 18 years | 20.3% ±0.1 pts | 21.7% | – |
| 65 years and over | 13.0% ±0.1 pts | 16.7% | – |
| Male | 50.7% ±0.1 pts | 49.4% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 10.1% | 11.0% | +2.1 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 41.2% ±0.2 pts | 58.4% | −2.2 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 38.9% ±0.5 pts | 18.3% | −1.6 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 3.6% ±0.2 pts | 6.9% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.3% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 5.3% ±0.5 pts | 4.7% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.5% ±0.2 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 7.9% ±0.5 pts | 13.1% | +0.7 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 11.8% ±0.5 pts | 17.4% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 14.2% ±0.7 pts | 9.4% | – |
| With a disability | 15.1% ±0.6 pts | 12.5% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 9.1% ±0.7 pts | 6.9% | −2.8 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 90.2% ±0.7 pts | 91.6% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 33.5% ±1.1 pts | 42.2% | +4.7 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 14.1% ±0.7 pts | 18.5% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 80.5% ±0.9 pts | 86.9% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 5.4% ±0.5 pts | 3.1% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Norfolk earn?
Half of Norfolk's 94,965 households earn less than $66,109 a year (±$1,785), against $66,109 in Norfolk city and $93,170 in Virginia. In 2015-2019 the median was $63,492 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $2,618 after inflation. 16.5% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Norfolk | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $66,109 ±$1,785 | $93,170 | +$2,618 |
| Mean household income | $91,610 ±$2,439 | $128,260 | – |
| Per capita income | $39,457 ±$1,045 | $50,666 | +$2,745 |
| People below the poverty line | 16.5% ±1.0 pts | 9.9% | −2.2 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 25.2% ±2.5 pts | 12.3% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 17.0% ±1.0 pts | 9.1% | – |
| Households with a computer | 95.2% ±0.6 pts | 95.4% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 88.8% ±1.0 pts | 91.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Norfolk?
Owners occupy 46.3% of Norfolk's occupied homes and renters 53.7%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $289,900 by its owner (±$5,479). The median renter pays $1,321 a month including utilities, and 44.1% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Norfolk | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $289,900 ±$5,479 | $383,700 | +$35,516 |
| Median gross rent | $1,321 ±$27 | $1,579 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 44.1% ±1.9 pts | 39.4% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,913 ±$38 | $2,127 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 46.3% ±1.4 pts | 67.3% | +2.9 pts |
| Renter-occupied homes | 53.7% ±1.4 pts | 32.7% | – |
| Housing units | 103,524 ±282 | 3,684,756 | +5,854 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.6% ±0.5 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 4.4% ±0.9 pts | 4.8% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 48.9% ±1.1 pts | 61.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.7% ±0.2 pts | 4.3% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.2% ±0.2 pts | 1.7% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 8.0% ±0.7 pts | 9.9% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 15.4% ±0.9 pts | 7.0% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 11.5% ±0.8 pts | 6.1% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Norfolk building?
Builders took permits for 156 new housing units in Norfolk in 2025 (143 in single-family houses), 0.7 per 1,000 residents against 3.7 across Virginia.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Norfolk work and get to work?
70.6% of Norfolk's workers drive alone and 10.2% work from home. The average trip to work takes 23.0 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 5.7%.
| Measure | Norfolk | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 69.8% ±0.7 pts | 65.4% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 5.7% ±0.6 pts | 4.3% | −1.9 pts |
| Drove alone to work | 70.6% ±1.3 pts | 67.6% | – |
| Carpooled | 9.5% ±0.8 pts | 8.0% | – |
| Public transportation | 2.6% ±0.4 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Walked | 5.0% ±0.7 pts | 2.1% | – |
| Worked from home | 10.2% ±0.8 pts | 18.3% | +7.3 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 23.0 min ±0.6 | 27.3 min | +1.7 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Norfolk?
81 census tracts lie mostly in Norfolk (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $11,953 (Tract 42) to $164,271 (Tract 24).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9.02Norfolk city | 10,638 | $42,475 |
| Tract 61Norfolk city | 9,085 | $89,560 |
| Tract 9.01Norfolk city | 6,829 | $52,350 |
| Tract 49Norfolk city | 5,221 | $81,313 |
| Tract 25Norfolk city | 4,863 | $44,839 |
| Tract 2.02Norfolk city | 4,596 | $77,257 |
| Tract 51Norfolk city | 4,539 | $34,625 |
| Tract 59.01Norfolk city | 4,461 | $41,299 |
| Tract 12Norfolk city | 4,163 | $81,133 |
| Tract 58Norfolk city | 4,037 | $52,193 |
| Tract 28Norfolk city | 3,988 | $89,506 |
| Tract 6Norfolk city | 3,973 | $61,761 |
Every census tract in Norfolk: the tract table of Norfolk city
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Norfolk) · Census block assignment files
How does Norfolk compare with other places in Virginia?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Norfolk is the 101st-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 4th-most populous of 227 in Virginia.
Norfolk ranks 243rd of 365 places in Virginia with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 4th | 227 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 119th | 139 |
| Residents per square mile | 46th | 374 |
| Median household income | 243rd | 365 |
| Per capita income | 200th | 374 |
| Median home value | 210th | 359 |
| Median gross rent | 180th | 341 |
| Poverty rate | 73rd | 263 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 191st | 359 |
| Median age | 330th | 372 |
| Owner-occupied share | 326th | 368 |
| Work from home | 230th | 286 |
| Travel time to work | 264th | 372 |
Norfolk's figures with every place in Virginia (CSV)
Every place in Virginia, sortable · Compare Norfolk with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Norfolk?
1 of the 57 figures for Norfolk on this page carries a coefficient of variation over 40% and is marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Norfolk are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Norfolk.