Rents are 2% above what Norfolk's 10-year trend predicts — running hotter than its own history.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,749 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
Rent in Norfolk is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.
Rent in Norfolk changed +7.4% over the year to September 2026. Across the 66 Virginia cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.5%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in Norfolk rose 41.6% while median household income rose 28.1% ($51,590 to $66,109). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in Norfolk is 55.7% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 32 months in a row, and rose in 12 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($66,109) is $1,653 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,631); a 3-bedroom is $2,270.
The priciest of 11 ZIP codes in Norfolk, 23509 ($1,947/mo), costs 34% more than the cheapest, 23504 ($1,457/mo).
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Norfolk. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Norfolk, VA is roughly split between renters and owners, skews toward younger working-age adults, 33.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Norfolk, VA has changed in 5 years
Compared with 2021, rent in Norfolk, VA has increased by $527 per month, settling near $1,749 after starting the period at $1,222. Census figures show median household income at $66,109 today, compared with $56,244 five years earlier. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 25.6 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 238,556 to 233,596 between 2021 and 2024, a 2.1% change. About 53.7% of households rent today, against 56.5% in 2021. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.
Discussions about Norfolk
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Can you afford rent in Norfolk on your salary?
At $1,749/mo, how Norfolk rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Norfolk rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Norfolk. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Norfolk
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Norfolk is $1,749/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,417/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,631/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,425/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,270/mo.
At 32% of local median household income ($66,109/yr), Norfolk ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 7.4% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Norfolk?
Is rent going up or down in Norfolk?
Has rent outpaced income in Norfolk?
Which Norfolk neighborhoods have the lowest rent?
How does Norfolk rent compare to other cities in Virginia?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Norfolk?
At $1,749/mo, rent takes ~32% of Norfolk's median household income ($66,109/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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