The Southside

Norfolk

The first thing to know about Norfolk is how to say it. Nothing will single you out as a transplant quicker than pronouncing it as it’s spelled. “NAH-fick” is an inviting urban center with amenities galore. A busy waterfront, parks, art galleries, live entertainment, and professional sports are all at your fingertips. Norfolk’s nightlife and restaurant scene is a perk for many, and a lot of the neighborhoods rate high in walkability. Career-minded spouses love Norfolk for its melting-pot of industries and who’s who of national headquarters (Geico, FedEx, and Stihl to name a few). Old Dominion University and several community colleges invigorate the area with young residents and provide options for spouses interested in continuing their education.

Norfolk’s borough-like neighborhoods offer just about any vibe you could want. Downtown has skyscrapers, quaint historic districts, and the oh-so-popular Ghent neighborhood. Diverse architecture and neighborhood styles can be found all over the city.  

Home Size and Price in Norfolk

The median value for single family homes in Norfolk is $181,000 according to the Zillow Home Value Index. Home Values are forecasted to increase by 2.9% in the coming year. According to Zillow’s Rental Index, the median rental rate for single-family homes in Norfolk is $1,263. Average home size ranges from 1,200 to 2,100 square feet and could come in the form of a condo, historic townhome, or pricey single-family home.

Schools in Norfolk

Public schools in Norfolk are in Norfolk City Public Schools. One of the highest rated schools is Larchmont Elementary School, which has a rating of 9 according to Greatschools.org.

Special programs to note in NPS include five middle school specialty programs (including World Studies, Medical, Science and Engineering, and a middle school International Baccalaureate program), and five high school specialty programs (Military Science, International Baccalaureate, Arts, Medical/Health Professions, Leadership, Science and Engineering).

Twenty-percent of NPS students are military-connected, and the district has programs like Interagency Collaboration and Wraparound Services to serve these students.

Norfolk Academy is Virginia’s oldest independent school and boasts an impressive campus and curriculum.

Commuting to Norfolk

Norfolk is in the middle of Hampton Roads. The intricate web of waterways and accompanying bridges and tunnels can take some getting used to. Naval Station Norfolk, Joint Base Little Creek-Fort Story, and Camp Allen all lie within city limits. Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, and U.S. Coast Guard Base Portsmouth are all across the Elizabeth River, so you need to factor in a tunnel if commuting to one of these installations.

Portsmouth

The city of Portsmouth, pronounced “ports-muth,” lies just west of the Elizabeth River from Norfolk and is similar in many respects, although “P-Town” has a much slower pace. The shipyards, manufacturing plants, and railway terminals give it a rustic, industrial feel. The downtown has an old world vibe with 1880’s-era brownstones and colonials on cobblestone streets. It’s also undergoing a revival with an emphasis on the local culinary scene. There are pockets of really nice neighborhoods beyond the historic district, but you need to do your homework. If you have school-aged children, you’ll also want to spend some time researching your options.

Home Size and Price in Portsmouth

The median value for single family homes in Portsmouth is $141,000 according to the Zillow Home Value Index. Home Values are forecasted to increase by 2.1% in the coming year. According to Zillow’s Rental Index, the median rental rate for single-family homes in Portsmouth is $1,171. Portsmouth homes range from 1,000 to 2,000 square feet on average. The good news here is that you can buy a home three times the size of a house in Virginia Beach, at the same price!

Schools in Portsmouth

The public schools in Portsmouth belong to Norfolk City Public Schools or Portsmouth City Public Schools. One of the highest rated schools in NPS is Larchmont Elementary School, which has a rating of 9 according to Greatschools.org. One of the highest rated schools in PCPS is W.H. Taylor Elementary School, with a rating of 7.

Portsmouth City Public Schools offers a preschool program through the Virginia Bright Start Program. Military children are qualified to participate.

Special Programs to note in PCPS include the E-Learning Backpack Initiative, which provides high schoolers a smart device, and STARBASE-VICTORY, a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) program run in conjunction with the U.S. Navy.   

Special programs to note in NPS include five middle school specialty programs (including World Studies, Medical, Science and Engineering, and a middle school International Baccalaureate program), and five high school specialty programs (Military Science, International Baccalaureate, Arts, Medical/Health Professions, Leadership, Science and Engineering).

Twenty-percent of NPS students are military-connected, and the district has programs like the  Interagency Collaboration and Wraparound Services to serve these students.

Commuting to Portsmouth

Ideal commutes from Portsmouth would be to its resident installations: Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, and US Coast Guard Base Portsmouth. Commuting to Norfolk and Virginia Beach is manageable, but you’ll need to go through either the Midtown or Downtown Tunnel. Also, there’s a very inexpensive ferry that can take you back and forth to Norfolk. Though it may not be ideal for daily commuting, it’s a great outing for visiting family.

Suffolk

Suffolk (pronounced “suh-fok”) is the epitome of the semi-neglected, small-town America that is clamoring to get back on the radar. Suffolk is a mix of rural farmland, sporadically scattered neighborhoods, and a quaint downtown. Surprisingly, local chefs are landing this sleepy town on the culinary map with award-winning eateries like Harper’s Table, Riverstone Chophouse, and Vintage Tavern.

The nearby natural playground, the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, is a local favorite and defies its gloomy name. If you’re inclined to explore the great outdoors, you’ll love this haven for boating, fishing, bicycling, and bird watching. Amenities like shopping and entertainment are going to be a little more scarce here, but your day-to-day needs like groceries and restaurants are close at hand.

Home Size and Price in Suffolk

The median value for all homes in Suffolk is $265,000 according to the Zillow Home Value Index. According to Zillow’s Rental Index, the median rental rate for all homes in Suffolk is $1,492. The ZRI for Suffolk is for all rentals, including smaller apartments and very large homes. There isn’t enough data available to narrow down the median rate for single-family homes.

There is a wide range of homes in Suffolk, measuring anywhere from 1,600 to 2,800 square feet. This is going to be one of those “more-bang-for-your-buck” areas if having a brand new, huge home is a priority.

Schools in Suffolk

The public schools in Suffolk are part of Suffolk City Public Schools. One of the highest rated schools is Northern Shores Elementary School, with a rating of 7 according to Greatschools.org.

Special programs to note in Suffolk City Public Schools include: three high school specialty programs (International Baccalaureate, Biomedical Sciences, and Engineering), and middle school students are offered the opportunity to take part in the FLEX learning program (foreign language exploration).

Commuting to Suffolk

Though it seems like it’s a little “out in the boonies,” commuting from Suffolk actually isn’t that bad. There isn’t a ton of traffic flowing into the Norfolk area from here and Interstate 264 takes you directly to the heart of Norfolk. You can avoid the tunnels if you need to get to Virginia Beach through Chesapeake. Your closest installations will be those in Portsmouth.

Virginia Beach

Virginia Beach is the epitome of an East Coast beach town—warm, friendly, and buzzing with tourists. The shopping is a standout perk here, boasting higher-end retailers like Lululemon and Anthropologie, gourmet grocers like Whole Foods, and an up-and-coming boutique scene. The restaurants are another attraction with locally sourced food on every corner, especially those on the Oceanfront. Golf, resorts, concerts, events, and sporting events round out the entertainment and recreation offerings—not to mention the three-mile stretch of beautiful Atlantic beaches. Virginia Beach hosts the annual East Coast Surfing Championship. Mt. Trashmore is a local favorite, and it’s not as scary as it sounds. Once upon a time it was a landfill, but it has been filled in and repurposed into a hilly park that children and families enjoy year-round.   

Virginia Beach is a sprawling city that extends from the Hampton Roads harbor all the way down to the North Carolina state line. The farther south you go, the more breathing room you’ll have, but with that comes a longer commute from some of the fantastic amenities in town. There is a surge of tourists during the summer months, but you’ll learn to love them as the locals do. Families flock to Virginia Beach for the short commutes, impressive amenities, highly rated schools, and overall quality of life. There’s just something to be said for living by the water!

Home Size and Price in Virginia Beach

The median value for single family homes in Virginia Beach is $285,000 according to the Zillow Home Value Index. Home Values are forecasted to increase by 2.4% in the coming year. According to Zillow’s Rental Index, the median rental rate for single-family homes in Virginia Beach is $1,658. The average home size ranges from 1,200 to 2,400 square feet. Styles of homes vary from apartments to bungalows; modern split-levels to beachfront mansions.

Schools in Virginia Beach

Public schools in Virginia Beach belong to Virginia Beach City Public Schools. One of the highest rated schools is Kemps Landing Magnet, which has a rating of 10 according to Greatschools.org. Almost a third of the students in this district are military-connected!

VBCPS offers a full day preschool with transportation for those who meet criteria, and a  half-day kindergarten (morning or afternoon sessions depending on the neighborhood) for children who will be five years old on or before September 30 of the upcoming school year.

All VBCPS Title I schools provide full-day kindergarten for their students.

Special programs to note in VBCPS include partial Spanish immersion at select elementary and middle schools, and the Green Run Collegiate International Baccalaureate (IB) public charter school. VBCPS even has a planetarium!

Commuting to Virginia Beach

From most of Virginia Beach, access to Interstates 264 and 64 is convenient and most of the Southside is only 20 to 30 minutes away. If you or your spouse will be stationed at NAS Oceana, Dam Neck Annex, or Fort Story, living in Virginia Beach is a no-brainer. Commuting from here to Naval Station Norfolk is also pretty easy due to the absence of tunnels along the way. Commuting to Portsmouth will take a little longer, but with some creative navigating you can minimize the tunnel traffic. Keep in mind, there are several smaller bridges and tunnels located throughout the Southside, each with a substantial risk of bottlenecks and accidents.