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Economy, jobs and prices in Norfolk, Virginia: official figures

The median household income in Norfolk was $66,109 a year in the 2020-2024 American Community Survey (in 2024 dollars), 230th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US median was $80,734 and the Virginia median $93,170.

Median household income
$66,109
2020-2024
Unemployment rate (ACS)
5.7%
2020-2024
Mean travel time to work
23.0 min
2020-2024
Median gross rent (monthly)
$1,321
2020-2024
Median home value (owner-occupied)
$289,900
2020-2024
Homes occupied by their owners
46.3%
2020-2024
Households with a broadband subscription
88.8%
2020-2024

What is the per capita income in Norfolk?

Income per resident (per capita income) in Norfolk averaged $39,457 a year in 2020-2024, 386th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $44,673; Virginia: $50,666).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How unequal are incomes in Norfolk?

Norfolk's Gini index of household income inequality was 0.474 in 2020-2024 (0 means equal incomes, 1 maximum inequality), 227th most unequal of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US figure was 0.483.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What is the unemployment rate in Norfolk, Virginia?

5.7% of the civilian labor force in Norfolk was unemployed on average over 2020-2024 (6,215 people), 327th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US rate in the same survey was 5.2% and Virginia's 4.3%.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of people in Norfolk are working?

69.8% of Norfolk's 190,715 residents aged 16 and over were in the labor force (working or looking for work) in 2020-2024, 161st highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 63.5%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in Norfolk have jobs?

102,915 residents of Norfolk held civilian jobs, 54.0% of those aged 16 and over (US: 59.7%), and 24,079 served in the armed forces.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What are the main industries in Norfolk?

The largest industry group for working residents of Norfolk was education, health care and social assistance (25.0% of employed residents), followed by professional, scientific, management and administrative services (12.8%) and retail trade (11.1%), 2020-2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in Norfolk work in manufacturing?

Manufacturing employed 7.4% of working residents of Norfolk, 299th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 9.9%); professional, scientific and management services employed 12.8% (US: 12.6%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How long is the commute in Norfolk, Virginia?

Commuters in Norfolk took 23.0 minutes on average to get to work in 2020-2024, 317th shortest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 26.4 minutes); 4.6% travelled an hour or more and 27.3% less than 15 minutes.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How do people in Norfolk get to work?

10.2% of workers living in Norfolk worked from home in 2020-2024, 221st lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 15.1%). 70.6% drove to work alone, 9.5% carpooled, 2.6% used public transport and 5.0% walked.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What is the average rent in Norfolk, Virginia?

The median gross rent (rent plus utilities) in Norfolk was $1,321 a month in 2020-2024, 271st lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $1,413; Virginia: $1,579).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does a house cost in Norfolk?

Owner-occupied homes in Norfolk had a median value of $289,900 in 2020-2024 as estimated by their owners, 255th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $332,700; Virginia: $383,700).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How affordable are homes in Norfolk?

The median home value in Norfolk was 4.4 times the median household income, 367th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 4.1 times).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of people in Norfolk, Virginia own their home?

46.3% of the 94,965 occupied homes in Norfolk were lived in by their owners in 2020-2024 and 50,965 were rented, 142nd lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more for home ownership (US: 65.2%; Virginia: 67.3%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of homes in Norfolk have broadband?

88.8% of households in Norfolk had a broadband internet subscription of some type in 2020-2024, 141st lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 91.0%; Virginia: 91.0%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many households in Norfolk have no internet?

7.9% of households in Norfolk (7,543) had no internet access at home in 2020-2024, 136th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.5%); 13.6% relied on a cellular data plan alone (US: 11.5%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Norfolk compares with other cities in the United States

Median household income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)

Norfolk ranks 594 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian household income (2024 dollars)
591Indianapolis$66,219
592Green Bay$66,206
593Davenport$66,200
594Norfolk$66,109
595Columbus$66,082
596Springfield$66,064
597Des Moines$65,932
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Per capita income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)

Norfolk ranks 438 of 823, highest first.

RankCityPer capita income (2024 dollars)
435Lincoln$39,672
436Apopka$39,625
437Menifee$39,521
438Norfolk$39,457
439Eau Claire$39,434
440Carson City$39,432
441Pompano Beach$39,363
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Gini index of household income inequality (2020-2024)

Norfolk ranks 227 of 823, highest first.

RankCityGini index of household income inequality
224Pompano Beach0.474
225Lakewood0.474
226Edmond0.474
227Norfolk0.474
228Hemet0.473
229High Point0.473
230Rapid City0.473
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Unemployment rate (share of civilian labor force) (2020-2024)

Norfolk ranks 327 of 823, highest first.

RankCityUnemployment rate (share of civilian labor force)
324Clermont5.7%
325Lakewood5.7%
326Spokane5.7%
327Norfolk5.7%
328Jurupa Valley5.7%
329Flagstaff5.7%
330Bolingbrook5.7%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Labor force participation rate (16 and over) (2020-2024)

Norfolk ranks 161 of 823, highest first.

RankCityLabor force participation rate (16 and over)
158Flower Mound69.9%
159Eau Claire69.9%
160Murray69.9%
161Norfolk69.8%
162Grand Prairie69.8%
163Eastvale69.8%
164Anchorage69.8%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Mean travel time to work (minutes) (2020-2024)

Norfolk ranks 507 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMean travel time to work (minutes)
504Raleigh23.0
505Camarillo23.0
506Meriden23.0
507Norfolk23.0
508Indio23.0
509Delray Beach23.0
510Newark23.0
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Workers who worked from home (2020-2024)

Norfolk ranks 603 of 823, highest first.

RankCityWorkers who worked from home
600Lancaster10.3%
601Davenport10.3%
602Newport News10.2%
603Norfolk10.2%
604Rockford10.1%
605West Allis10.1%
606Bellflower10.1%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Workers commuting by public transportation (2020-2024)

Norfolk ranks 202 of 823, highest first.

RankCityWorkers commuting by public transportation
199Portland2.6%
200Monterey Park2.6%
201Downey2.6%
202Norfolk2.6%
203Aurora2.6%
204Springfield2.6%
205Eugene2.6%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Employed residents working in manufacturing (2020-2024)

Norfolk ranks 525 of 823, highest first.

RankCityEmployed residents working in manufacturing
522Tacoma7.4%
523Glendale7.4%
524Columbus7.4%
525Norfolk7.4%
526Buckeye7.4%
527Bentonville7.4%
528Normal7.4%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Employed residents in education, health care and social assistance (2020-2024)

Norfolk ranks 249 of 823, highest first.

RankCityEmployed residents in education, health care and social assistance
246Barnstable Town25.0%
247Grand Rapids25.0%
248Tacoma25.0%
249Norfolk25.0%
250Omaha24.9%
251Boynton Beach24.9%
252Logan24.9%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median gross rent per month (2020-2024)

Norfolk ranks 553 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian gross rent per month
550San Marcos$1,322
551Shawnee$1,322
552Pensacola$1,322
553Norfolk$1,321
554Jacksonville$1,321
555St. Peters$1,321
556Broken Arrow$1,320
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median value of owner-occupied homes (2020-2024)

Norfolk ranks 569 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian value of owner-occupied homes
566Sioux Falls$292,400
567West Haven$291,700
568Albuquerque$291,500
569Norfolk$289,900
570Greer$288,700
571Tamarac$288,600
572Daytona Beach$287,700
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median home value as a multiple of median household income (2020-2024)

Norfolk ranks 454 of 820, highest first.

RankCityMedian home value as a multiple of median household income
451Pasco4.4x
452Alpharetta4.4x
453Chattanooga4.4x
454Norfolk4.4x
455Chicopee4.4x
456Smyrna4.4x
457Cincinnati4.4x
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Occupied homes lived in by their owners (2020-2024)

Norfolk ranks 682 of 823, highest first.

RankCityOccupied homes lived in by their owners
679Doral46.5%
680Grand Forks46.4%
681Atlanta46.4%
682Norfolk46.3%
683Lewisville46.3%
684Kissimmee46.3%
685Galveston46.2%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Households with a broadband subscription (2020-2024)

Norfolk ranks 683 of 823, highest first.

RankCityHouseholds with a broadband subscription
680Burlington88.9%
681Lubbock88.8%
682Kingsport88.8%
683Norfolk88.8%
684Hemet88.8%
685Fresno88.7%
686Winter Haven88.7%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Households with no internet access (2020-2024)

Norfolk ranks 136 of 823, highest first.

RankCityHouseholds with no internet access
133Tamarac8.0%
134Cleveland8.0%
135Winston-Salem8.0%
136Norfolk7.9%
137Philadelphia7.9%
138Mission7.9%
139Battle Creek7.9%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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