Best Places to Live in Norfolk, Virginia

With its charming, historical colonial homes and friendly people, Norfolk, VA is considered one of the best places to live in the state.

According to the Norfolk.gov website, Norfolk has 247,000 residents and encompasses 66 square miles.

It has seven miles of Chesapeake Bay beachfront and a total of 144 miles of shoreline along lakes, rivers, and the Bay. A good portion of the land is in residential neighborhoods.

Speaking of neighborhoods, Norfolk is known as a diverse community that offers everything from a vibrant downtown to charming historic places and more.

It’s also home to the Virginia Opera, the Virginia Stage Co., the Virginia Symphony, the Virginia Arts Festival, Chrysler Hall, Chrysler Museum of Art, the General Douglas MacArthur Memorial, and Nauticus, the National Maritime Center.

The same website says, “USA Today called Norfolk one of the Top 10 booming downtowns, recognizing a decades-long housing, retail and financial boom in Norfolk.”

Sounds like a great place to raise a family right? Or set down roots if you're a single professional?

Whatever your status, if you’re thinking of moving to Norfolk, VA, the first step to finding the right neighborhood is learning as much as you can about the best areas in the city.

Moving is never easy but if you’re set on calling “Mermaid City,” home, you might appreciate knowing where the best places are to live in Norfolk.

Here are a few ideas to get you started as you begin your hunt for the perfect place to call home in Norfolk, VA.

1. Ghent

If you’re looking for a neighborhood with all sorts of history, shops, and eating establishments, Ghent should be on your radar. There are also many mom-and-pop shops, antique stores, and specialty retailers to explore in Ghent.

Ghent is home to a wide variety of restaurants from an old-style drive-in theater to Norfolk’s local craft brewery. If you are an art lover, Ghent has performances from the Virginia Symphony and the Chrysler Museum of Art regularly.

Zillow reports, “The typical home value of homes in Ghent is $366,884. This value is seasonally adjusted and only includes the middle price tier of homes. Ghent home values have gone up 7.3% over the past year.”

2. Edgewater

Edgewater is one of the most popular Norfolk, VA cities that is bordered by the Lafayette and Elizabeth Rivers. It’s also just five miles away from downtown Norfolk making it a great spot to call home. It’s an excellent place for families to settle and make new friends, for its schools and abundance of local activities.

You’ll find wonderful schools if you have kids in this suburban neighborhood and a myriad of restaurants many of which are organic. While Edgewater may be expensive it’s truly a terrific place for home buyers looking to raise a family.

According to data from Zillow, “the typical home value of homes in Edgewater is $422,374. This value is seasonally adjusted and only includes the middle price tier of homes. Edgewater home values have gone up 10.4% over the past year.”

3. Colonial Place

A lovely historic neighborhood, Colonial Place has a friendly ambiance and is very welcoming. Many college students opt for Colonial Place because of its walkability, affordability, and low crime rate.

This area is a popular residential neighborhood and is a diverse community. Colonial Place is a good option for home buyers looking for an affordable yet peaceful place to call home.

Zillow reports, “The typical home value of homes in Colonial Place is $321,800. This value is seasonally adjusted and only includes the middle price tier of homes. Colonial Place home values have gone up 8.4% over the past year.”

4. South Bayview

South Bayview is known as affordable and offers a low crime rate if you’re looking for both. While there aren’t a lot of amenities here, there are some nice, local restaurants offering good fare.

South Bayview is also a dog-friendly neighborhood as well as a wonderful place for young professionals looking for a safe and affordable place to live.

Zillow reports the “The typical home value of homes in South Bayview is $250,933. This value is seasonally adjusted and only includes the middle price tier of homes. South Bayview home values have gone up 12.9% over the past year,” making it very affordable for those just starting.

Its steady appreciations rates make it a good choice for home buyers looking for a good investment.

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Seek a Professional to Help

Regardless of where you want to move, finding the best place to live in Norfolk, VA isn’t an easy feat.

Before selling your current home it's best to look for an agent who can steer you in the right direction and start showing you homes in the Norfolk, VA area that appeal to you and fall into your budget.

Also, a qualified Realtor should be able to find you the best neighborhoods that fit your lifestyle and budget. They should be able to answer all your questions, concerns and be able to show you as many properties as need to find the one.

You should also do your own homework about the area to get acquainted with what it has to offer as well as what neighborhoods strike a chord with you,

If you’re being transferred due to a job, or simply looking to move from another part of the state of Virginia to this wonderful area, you should have someone at your side who can guide you in the right direction.

Buying a home is one of the most important things you will ever do — whether it's your first, second, or retirement home — so be sure you have a professional Realtor who knows the Norfolk, VA area as well the market in general.

Once you find what you’re looking for be it in Ghent, Edgewater, or wherever, you’ll be able to start a new phase in your life in a new town, with new places to explore and new friends to make.

What could be more exciting?

Feel free to reach out we would love to help you find the perfect place for you to live!

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