Norfolk, Virginia Population 2026

Updated April 2026 · US Census ACS 2023 5-Year Estimates

The population of Norfolk, Virginia is 235,037 as of the 2023 American Community Survey, making it the 97th-largest city in the United States and the 4th-largest in Virginia. The median household income is $64,017, the median home value is $271,900, and the median age is 32.4.

The population has declined 4.9% since 2010 (242,999 → 231,105).

235,037

Population

4412

People / sq mi

$64,017

Median Income

$271,900

Median Home Value

Norfolk covers 53.3 sq mi of land at 4412 people per square mile.

About Norfolk, VA

Norfolk is a city in Virginia with a population of 235,037. It ranks #4 among cities in Virginia by population. The median age is 32.4, younger than the national median. The population is 50.7% male and 49.3% female.

The median household income in Norfolk is $64,017, below the US median of $74,580. 12.6% of residents live below the federal poverty level. Home values sit at a median of $271,900, with monthly rent averaging $1,246. The homeownership rate of 45.7% is lower than the national rate of 64.8%.

Educational attainment in Norfolk reflects 32.7% of adults 25 and older holding a bachelor's degree or higher, near the national average of 34.3%. Roughly 8.6% of workers primarily work from home, below the national work-from-home rate of 14.2%. The average commute is 22.9 minutes each way.

Norfolk city Population History (2010-2024)

The city of Norfolk city had a population of 242,999 in 2010 and 231,105 in 2024, a -4.9% growth over 14 years. The peak was 246,576 in 2014. Average annual growth rate: -0.36%.

231,105

Population (2024)

242,999

Population (2010)

246,576

Peak (2014)

-0.36%

Avg Annual Growth

Year	Population	Change	Annual %	Source
2010	242,999	-	-	estimate
2011	243,655	+656	+0.27%	estimate
2012	246,149	+2,494	+1.02%	estimate
2013	245,468	-681	-0.28%	estimate
2014	246,576	+1,108	+0.45%	estimate
2015	246,457	-119	-0.05%	estimate
2016	245,680	-777	-0.32%	estimate
2017	244,543	-1,137	-0.46%	estimate
2018	243,585	-958	-0.39%	estimate
2019	242,742	-843	-0.35%	estimate
2020	237,813	-4,929	-2.03%	estimate
2021	234,920	-2,893	-1.22%	estimate
2022	232,766	-2,154	-0.92%	estimate
2023	231,378	-1,388	-0.60%	estimate
2024	231,105	-273	-0.12%	estimate

Race & Ethnicity

White	44.0%
Black or African American	39.8%
Asian	0.0%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	1.7%
Two or More Races	0.0%

Economy & Income

$64,017

Median Household Income

$37,433

Per Capita Income

12.6%

Poverty Rate

3.5%

Unemployment Rate

Housing

$271,900

Median Home Value

$1,246

Median Rent

45.7%

Owner-Occupied

Education

89.6%

High School+

32.7%

Bachelor's+

Commute

2.8%

Drive Alone

71.7%

Public Transit

8.6%

Work From Home

22.9 min

Avg Commute

Community Profile

41.5%

Foreign Born

88.4%

Non-English at Home

14.3%

Veterans

14.8%

With Disability

90.9%

Health Insurance

94.5%

Internet Access

Employment by Industry

Professional, Scientific & Management	23.9%
Finance, Insurance & Real Estate	13.2%
Education, Health Care & Social Services	11.0%
Manufacturing	7.6%
Public Administration	7.3%
Information	6.0%
Construction	5.9%
Retail Trade	5.6%
Arts, Entertainment & Food Services	4.6%
Transportation & Warehousing	1.5%
Agriculture & Mining	0.2%

Largest cities in Virginia

Virginia Beach (457,066)Chesapeake (251,153)Arlington (235,463)Richmond (227,595)Newport News (184,774)Alexandria (156,788)Hampton (137,334)Roanoke (98,677)Portsmouth (97,299)Suffolk (96,638)View all Virginia cities →

Largest counties in Virginia

Fairfax County (1,144,474)Prince William County (484,625)Virginia Beach city (457,066)Loudoun County (427,082)Chesterfield County (371,610)

Part of Virginia

Virginia demographic profile All Virginia data →

Metro areas in Virginia

Washington (6,263,796)Virginia Beach (1,782,590)Richmond (1,327,321)Roanoke (314,661)Kingsport (309,580)Lynchburg (262,716)Charlottesville (222,937)Blacksburg (181,605)All US metros →

City rankings

US Cities by Population Cities With Highest Median Income Expensive US Cities by Home Value Youngest US Cities by Median Age Racially Diverse US Cities Cities With Highest Rent Educated US Cities Cities With Highest Work From Home Rates Cheapest US Cities by Median Home Value Cities With Lowest Rent All rankings →

Common questions about Norfolk, VA

What is the population of Norfolk city, VA?What is the median household income in Norfolk city, VA?What is the median home value in Norfolk city, VA?What are the demographics of Norfolk city, VA?What is the cost of living in Norfolk city, VA?Is Norfolk city, VA growing?

Frequently Asked Questions

Norfolk, Virginia has a population of 235,037 according to the US Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, making it the 97th-largest city in the United States and the 4th-largest in Virginia.

The median household income in Norfolk, Virginia is $64,017, with 12.6% of residents living below the federal poverty level.

The median home value in Norfolk, Virginia is $271,900, with median monthly rent at $1,246 and a homeownership rate of 45.7%.

The median age in Norfolk, Virginia is 32.4 years. The population is 50.7% male and 49.3% female.

The population has declined 4.9% since 2010 (242,999 → 231,105).