Norfolk city, Virginia Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Norfolk city is a major urban center located in Virginia, within Norfolk city. The total population is 235,037. It ranks as the 4th most populous out of 681 cities and towns in Virginia.

Age Demographics

The median age in Norfolk city is 32.4 years. This is 16% lower than the state median of 38.8 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Norfolk city is $64,017. This is 30% lower than the state median of $90,974. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 18% lower. The poverty rate stands at 17.3%. This is 74% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.9%. The unemployment rate is 6.1%. This is 42% higher than the state rate of 4.3%. The median home value is $271,900. Housing costs are 25% lower than the state median of $360,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.2x. 45.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 32% lower than the state average of 67.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Norfolk city is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. Black or African American residents account for 39.1%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (39.1% vs 18.4%).

Education

32.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 21% lower than the state rate of 41.5%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 89.6%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Norfolk city, Virginia is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Virginia state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 681 Census-designated places in Virginia. For official data, visit data.census.gov.