Top 5 Best Neighborhoods in Norfolk, VA
Welcome to Norfolk Virginia, also known as Mermaid City, as the mermaid has been the city symbol since 1999. Since it’s just west of Virginia Beach and near the Atlantic Ocean, this makes sense. However, it’s truly surrounded by the Elizabeth and Lafayette Rivers, Willoughby Bay, and the Atlantic Ocean.
In addition to being a coastal location, it’s also very much an East Coast city, with colonial-era homes and historic places to visit. It also has four traditional seasons, getting down to the low 30s at night in the winter, and up into the high 80s during summer days.
Overall, this city of 245,000 residents is a great place to live. Here are five of the city’s best neighborhoods.
Larchmont-Edgewater
Larchmont-Edgewater is one of the most popular Norfolk areas. Bordered by the Elizabeth and Lafayette Rivers, this neighborhood boasts 5,800 residents. This is a great place to raise a family, with many houses and apartment complexes. It’s also home to Larchmont Elementary School, so if your kids are in the K-6 age range they can attend school in town. Catholic families can consider sending their children to St. Patrick Catholic School.
The roads and homes are positively surrounded by trees and greenery, and the houses, many two-stories tall, have the lovely look of bygone years.
The median home value is about $400,000 while the median household income is $57,000.
Ghent
This neighborhood includes The North Ghent Historic District, including Colonial Revival homes. You’ll find some great schools here, including Walter Herron Taylor Elementary School, James Blair Middle School, and Matthew Fontaine Maury High School. Local medical care can be found at Eastern Virginia Medical Center, Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, and Children’s Hospital of The Knight’s Daughters. There are small parks throughout the area and tons of places to eat and shop.
The population of Ghent is 7,150. The median listing price for a house is $345,000, and the median household income is $70,400.
Downtown
Hey, it’s downtown, which means if you live here, you’ll never be far from something to do. Downtown Norfolk has lots of restaurants, shops, and historical landmarks, including the Moses Myers House and the Hunter House Victorian Museum.
As for entertainment, check out the Downtown Norfolk Events Calendar to see how much is going on, from concerts to cocktail evenings.
The population is about 3,200 with more men than women, and the median home price is about $240,000. That’s great, considering access to everything, and the fact that the median household income is pretty good, too, at $56,000. This is a good place for young adults to live and make friends before starting a family.
Colonial Place
A lot of college students live in the neighborhood of Colonial Place, and this is a great place to get a start in the adult world. This area has a population of 3,950. The average rental price is about $1,100, and you may be able to save money with a roommate. Many of those students attend local colleges like Old Dominion University, College of Sciences, and ODU College of Continuing Education.
The median home listing price here is $300,000, while the median income is $43,000. However, that income number may be brought down a bit because of the student population, since college students typically don’t make as much as graduates.
Since Colonial Place is mostly residential, you’ll find local restaurants, cafes, and shopping close to hand in next-door neighborhoods. These include Highland Park and Riverview.:
North Shore
North Shore is a liberal-leaning neighborhood of 5,200 residents. Features in the area include Sewells Point Golf Course, Titustown Recreation Center, and several parks suitable for playing sports. Nearby you’ll find Granby High School, Granby Elementary School, and Norfolk Christian School. This neighborhood is right by the Lafayette River, with a variety of small docks for boats and areas to enjoy a riverside walk.
The area is rich with greenery and large homes. The median home value is $320,000, and the median household income is $80,000. Simply put, this is a peaceful neighborhood and a lovely place to live.
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