City guides · Updated Oct. 10, 2026
The 7 cities of Hampton Roads, honestly
Hampton Roads is seven independent cities that work like one metro. Locals split it in two: the Southside (Suffolk, Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, Norfolk and Portsmouth) and the Peninsula (Hampton and Newport News). Each city sets its own tax rates and fees, and the water between them decides your commute.
Suffolk
Virginia's largest city by land area: newer North Suffolk, a historic downtown on the Nansemond River, and a lot of rural land.
Read the Suffolk guide →SouthsideChesapeake
Big and spread out, with hubs in Greenbrier and Great Bridge, older Western Branch and South Norfolk, and farmland to the south.
Read the Chesapeake guide →SouthsideVirginia Beach
Virginia's most populous city: Oceanfront and Bay beaches, a big suburban middle, Town Center and the rural south end.
Read the Virginia Beach guide →SouthsideNorfolk
The urban center: downtown, two universities, the main airport and the world's largest naval station, with water on every side.
Read the Norfolk guide →SouthsidePortsmouth
A historic port city across the Elizabeth River from Norfolk, home to Norfolk Naval Shipyard and Naval Medical Center Portsmouth.
Read the Portsmouth guide →PeninsulaHampton
On the Peninsula side of the HRBT, home to Langley AFB, NASA Langley, Fort Monroe and the bay beaches at Buckroe.
Read the Hampton guide →PeninsulaNewport News
A long, narrow city on the James River, home to Newport News Shipbuilding, City Center and suburban Denbigh and Kiln Creek.
Read the Newport News guide →Free downloadGet all 7 in one guide
The 23-page relocation guide: cities, taxes, flood zones, bases, BAH and moving timelines.
Get the guide →*Median sale price, all home types: Redfin, three months ending Aug. 2026 (checked Oct. 10, 2026). Real estate tax: FY 2027 rate per $100 of assessed value, City of Chesapeake FY 2027 Local Tax Comparisons.
Side by side
| City | Side | Median sale price | Year over year | Real estate tax / $100 | Car tax / $100 | Population (2024) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suffolk | Southside | $408,000 | +1.9% | $1.06 | $4.25 | 103,105 |
| Chesapeake | Southside | $445,000 | +5.3% | $1.01 | $4.08 | 254,997 |
| Virginia Beach | Southside | $430,000 | +7.5% | $0.97 | $4.00 | 454,808 |
| Norfolk | Southside | $335,000 | +0.3% | $1.23 | $4.33 | 231,105 |
| Portsmouth | Southside | $290,000 | +7.4% | $1.24 | $5.00 | 96,482 |
| Hampton | Peninsula | $300,000 | +3.4% | $1.14 | $4.50 | 137,596 |
| Newport News | Peninsula | $320,000 | +4.9% | $1.18 | $4.50 | 183,056 |
Prices: Redfin city housing-market pages, three months ending Aug. 2026, all home types (checked Oct. 10, 2026). Taxes: FY 2027 rates (July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027), City of Chesapeake FY 2027 Local Tax Comparisons. Population: Census 2024 estimates as reported in that comparison.
Regional snapshot
Across the REIN service area in August 2026: median price $388,950, 27 median days on market, 6,120 active listings and 2.86 months of supply. Source: REIN MLS 'August Takeaway' report, published Sept 10, 2026.
The crossings that shape your commute
The HRBT (I-64), the MMMBT (I-664) and the James River Bridge are free. The Downtown and Midtown tunnels between Portsmouth and Norfolk are tolled ($3.40 peak / $2.42 off-peak with E-ZPass in 2026), and so are the South Norfolk Jordan Bridge and the Chesapeake Expressway. The HRBT expansion's contract substantial completion is Feb. 26, 2027. Sources: Elizabeth River Crossings, SNJB, City of Chesapeake, VDOT (checked Oct. 10, 2026).
Free guide · 23 pages
Get the free Hampton Roads Relocation Guide
All seven cities side by side, the taxes that catch newcomers off guard, flood zones and insurance, bases and commutes with 2026 BAH, and a moving timeline for PCS and civilian moves. Every number has a source and a date.
- Honest pros and cons for each city
- Tunnels, tolls and the HRBT, explained
- PCS and civilian checklists