Norfolk city, VA

County

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2024 Population

233,596

US Senator

Mark Warner

Democratic Party

US Senator

Tim Kaine

Democratic Party

2024 Median Age

32.7

0.926% 1-year increase

2024 Poverty Rate

16.5%

4.58% 1-year decrease

2024 Median Household Income

$66,109

3.27% 1-year growth

2024 Median Property Value

$289,900

6.62% 1-year growth

2024 Employed Population

102,915

0.00972% 1-year growth

About

None of the households in Norfolk city, VA reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

96.4% of the residents in Norfolk city, VA are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Norfolk city, VA are Old Dominion University (5,264 degrees awarded in 2023), Tidewater Community College (3,536 degrees), and Norfolk State University (922 degrees).

In 2024, the median property value in Norfolk city, VA was $289,900, and the homeownership rate was 46.3%.

Most people in Norfolk city, VA drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 23 minutes. The average car ownership in Norfolk city, VA was 2 cars per household.

Norfolk city, VA borders Northampton County, VA, Chesapeake city, VA, Hampton city, VA, Portsmouth city, VA, and Virginia Beach city, VA.

Photo by Sharon Flowers

United States Virginia Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC

Population & Diversity

Norfolk city, VA is home to a population of 234k people, from which 96.4% are citizens. As of 2024, 7.75% of Norfolk city, VA residents were born outside of the country (18.1k people).

In 2024, there were 1.06 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (96.2k people) in Norfolk city, VA than any other race or ethnicity. There were 90.9k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) and 11k Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

96.4%

2024 Citizenship

96.5%

2023 Citizenship

As of 2024, 96.4% of Norfolk city, VA residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.2%. In 2023, the percentage of US citizens in Norfolk city, VA was 96.5%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been decreasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Norfolk city, VA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Norfolk city, VA

White (Non-Hispanic)
96.2k ± 395
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
90.9k ± 1.1k
Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic)
11k ± 1.14k

10.1%

Hispanic Population

23.7k people

10.1% of the people in Norfolk city, VA are hispanic (23.7k people).

The following chart shows the 8 races represented in Norfolk city, VA as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for Virginia.

Most Common Origin

El Salvador
107,827 ± 8,012 people
India
97,961 ± 7,641 people
Mexico
63,695 ± 6,173 people

In 2023, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Virginia was El Salvador, the natal country of 107,827 Virginia residents, followed by India with 97,961 and Mexico with 63,695.

Foreign-Born Population

7.75%

2024 Foreign-Born Population

18.1k people

7.55%

2023 Foreign-Born Population

17.7k people

As of 2024, 7.75% of Norfolk city, VA residents (18.1k people) were born outside of the United States, which is approximately the same as the national average of 14%. In 2023, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Norfolk city, VA was 7.55%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Norfolk city, VA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Gulf War (2001-)
11,681 ± 927
Vietnam
4,012 ± 417
Gulf War (1990s)
3,923 ± 503

Norfolk city, VA has a large population of military personnel who served in Gulf War (2001-), 2.91 times greater than any other conflict.

The chart shows the distribution of veterans by conflict in Norfolk city, VA.

Economy

The economy of Norfolk city, VA employs 103k people. In 2024, the largest industries in Norfolk city, VA were Health Care & Social Assistance (14,956 people), Retail Trade (11,374 people), and Educational Services (10,723 people), and the highest paying industries were Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gas Extraction ($130,667), Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services ($73,771), and Public Administration ($71,751).

Employment

Occupations

103k

2024 Value

± 2,635

0.00972%

1 Year growth

± 3.57%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Norfolk city, VA grew at a rate of 0.00972%, from 103k employees to 103k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Norfolk city, VA, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (12,117 people), Sales & Related Occupations (9,424 people), and Management Occupations (9,164 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Norfolk city, VA.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Virginia.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in Virginia (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

Industries

Employment by Industries

103k

2024 Value

± 2,635

0.00972%

1 Year growth

± 3.57%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Norfolk city, VA grew at a rate of 0.00972%, from 103k employees to 103k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Norfolk city, VA, are Health Care & Social Assistance (14,956 people), Retail Trade (11,374 people), and Educational Services (10,723 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Norfolk city, VA, though some of these residents may live in Norfolk city, VA and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$48,864

Median earning men ± $1,308

$36,772

Median earning women ± $1,490

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2024 are Public Administration ($74,710), Professional, Scientific, & Management, & Administrative & Waste Management Services ($62,800), and Manufacturing ($61,850).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2024 are Public Administration ($57,267), Construction ($50,682), and Information ($47,895).

Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Virginia.

Y-Axis

2.48%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 4.1M people employed in Virginia. This represents a 2.48% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

Right after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, during April 2020, a general dip can be seen across industry sectors, resulting in an overall decline in employment by 10.8%.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in Virginia.

Establishments by Size

The industries with the most establishments

378
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
356
Other Services (except Public Administration)
291
Retail Trade

The visualization shows the distribution of establishments by industry and by size according to the number of employees.

The visualization shows the number of establishments and its share across establishment sizes.

Payroll by Industry Sector

The industries with the highest total annual payroll

$1.4M
Health Care and Social Assistance
$867k
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
$632k
Transportation and Warehousing

The chart shows the total annual payroll and the average annual payroll by industry.

Civics

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in Virginia went to Kamala Harris with 51.8% of the vote. The runner-up was Donald J. Trump (46.1%), followed by Other (0.905%).

Mark Warner and Tim Kaine are the senators currently representing the state of Virginia. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

Virginia is currently represented by 11 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Elections

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

Voting results are not available for Norfolk city, VA. Showing the available data for Virginia.

2024 Election Results

Kamala Harris (51.8%)
Democratic Party
Donald J. Trump (46.1%)
Republican Party
Other (0.905%)
Other Party

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in Virginia went to Kamala Harris with 51.8% of the vote. The runner-up was Donald J. Trump (46.1%), followed by Other (0.905%).

The following chart shows the popular vote results in Virginia for each registered party from 1976 to 2024.

Senator Elections

US Senators from Virginia

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for Virginia.

Mark Warner

Senator from Virginia

Assumed office on January 3, 2009

Tim Kaine

Senator from Virginia

Assumed office on January 3, 2013

Mark Warner and Tim Kaine are the senators currently representing Virginia.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in Virginia over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

Education

In 2023, universities in Norfolk city, VA awarded 11,045 degrees. The student population of Norfolk city, VA in 2023 is skewed towards women, with 19,901 male students and 27,231 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Norfolk city, VA are White (4,948 and 45.8%), Black or African American (3,440 and 31.9%), Hispanic or Latino (921 and 8.53%), and Two or More Races (661 and 6.12%).

The largest universities in Norfolk city, VA by number of degrees awarded are Old Dominion University (5,264 and 47.7%), Tidewater Community College (3,536 and 32%), and Norfolk State University (922 and 8.35%).

The most popular majors in Norfolk city, VA are General Studies (583 and 5.28%), General Business Administration & Management (441 and 3.99%), and General Psychology (430 and 3.89%).

The median tuition cost in Norfolk city, VA for a public four year colleges is $6,758 for in-state students and $22,447 for out-of-state students.

Admissions & Enrollments

Applicants, Admissions & Enrolled

University

Measure

In 2023 in Norfolk city, VA, the percentage of applicants admitted was 89.3%, while the percentage of admitted who enrolled was 18.6%. The number of students enrolled in 2023 was 47,132 (42.2% men and 57.8% women).

The line chart shows the evolution of the percentage of applicants admitted, admitted who enrolled or the number of students enrolled according to the option selected in the upper button.

Enrollments by Gender and Races

Universities

In 2023 there were 47,132 students enrolled in Norfolk city, VA, 42.2% men and 57.8% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 17,818 records, of which 54.4% were women and 45.6% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

General Psychology
421 degrees awarded
Other Multidisciplinary Studies
253 degrees awarded
General Biological Sciences
226 degrees awarded

In 2023, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Norfolk city, VA was General Psychology with 421 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Bachelors Degree from schools in Norfolk city, VA according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

Old Dominion University
5,264 degrees awarded
Tidewater Community College
3,536 degrees awarded
Norfolk State University
922 degrees awarded

In 2023, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Old Dominion University with 5,264 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

University

In 2023, 4,606 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Norfolk city, VA, which is 0.715 times less than the 6,439 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2023, the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 4,948 degrees mean that there were 1.44 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Black or African American, with 3,440 degrees awarded.

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Universities

Private for-profit, 2-year ($16,500) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2023.

Public, 4-year or above ($4,328) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2023.

Public, 4-year or above ($1,525) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Norfolk city, VA was $289,900 in 2024, which is 0.871 times smaller than the national average of $332,700. Between 2023 and 2024 the median property value increased from $271,900 to $289,900, a 6.62% increase. The homeownership rate in Norfolk city, VA is 46.3%, which is lower than the national average of 65.2%.

People in Norfolk city, VA have an average commute time of 23 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Norfolk city, VA is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

In 2025, 19.8% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Norfolk city, VA. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 2.3%.

Housing

Property

$289,900

Median Property Value 2024

±$5,479

$44,000

Median Property Taxes

±$1,575

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Norfolk city, VA the largest share of households pay taxes in the $3k+ range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Norfolk city, VA compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

46.3%

Homeownership

2024

66.5%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2024

In 2024, 46.3% of the housing units in Norfolk city, VA were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 45.7%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Norfolk city, VA compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$66,109

Median Household Income

± $1,785

95k

Number of Households

± 2,365

In 2024, the median household income of the 95k households in Norfolk city, VA grew to $66,109 from the previous year's value of $64,017.

The following chart displays the households in Norfolk city, VA distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $75k - $100k range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Norfolk city, VA is from Virginia.

0.472

2023 Wage GINI in Virginia

0.475

2022 Wage GINI in Virginia

In 2023, the income inequality in Virginia was 0.472 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.599% decline from 2022 to 2023, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for Virginia was lower than than the national average of 0.476. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in Virginia in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in Virginia across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2024

Drove Alone (70.6%)
Worked At Home (10.2%)
Carpooled (9.54%)

In 2024, 70.6% of workers in Norfolk city, VA drove alone to work, followed by those who worked at home (10.2%) and those who carpooled to work (9.54%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Commute Time

23 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Norfolk city, VA have a shorter commute time (23 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.4 minutes). Additionally, 2.08% of the workforce in Norfolk city, VA have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Norfolk city, VA compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Norfolk city, VA distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Norfolk city, VA have 2 cars.

Poverty

Severe Housing Problems

In 2025, 19.8% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Norfolk city, VA. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 2.3%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the population living with severe housing problems.

Poverty & Diversity

16.5% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Norfolk city, VA (35.3k out of 214k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.5%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 25 - 34, followed by Males 18 - 24 and then Females 35 - 44.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Norfolk city, VA is Black, followed by White and Hispanic.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Children in Poverty

In 2025, 25.2% of the children was living in poverty in Norfolk city, VA. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 2.4%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the children living in poverty.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Security

Crimes & Accidents

Indicator

In 2022, the number of reported violent crimes offenses per 100,000 population was 603 in Norfolk city, VA. From 2014 to 2022, the indicator declined 24.4 per 100,000 population.

The graph shows the trend in the number of reported violent crimes offenses per 100,000 population.

Health

90.9% of the population of Norfolk city, VA has health coverage, with 34.5% on employee plans, 20.2% on Medicaid, 8.9% on Medicare, 17.1% on non-group plans, and 10.1% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Norfolk city, VA see 1,009 patients per year on average, which represents a 0% change from the previous year (1,009 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 979 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 305 patients per year.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 47.2% were men and 52.8% were women.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

1,009 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Norfolk city, VA

Primary care physicians in Norfolk city, VA see an average of 1,009 patients per year. This represents a 0% change from the previous year (1,009 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Norfolk city, VA in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Health Care Diversity

In 2024, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 24.5% under 18 years, 26.1% between 18 and 34 years, 35% between 35 and 64 years, and 14.4% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 47.2% were men and 52.8% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

Uninsured People

9.07%

Uninsured

34.5%

Employer Coverage

20.2%

Medicaid

8.9%

Medicare

17.1%

Non-Group

10.1%

Military or VA

Between 2023 and 2024, the percent of uninsured citizens in Norfolk city, VA declined by 0.621% from 9.13% to 9.07%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Norfolk city, VA changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.

Health Indicators

Health Outcomes

Indicator

In 2025, the number of deaths among residents under age 18 per 100,000 population was 86.7 in Norfolk city, VA.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Norfolk city, VA.

Health Behaviors

Indicator

In 2025, the percentage of the adult population (age 18 and older) that reports a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2 (age-adjusted) was 40% in Norfolk city, VA.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Norfolk city, VA.