City guide 6 of 7 · Peninsula
Moving to Hampton, VA: the honest guide
One of the oldest English-speaking settlements in the country, on the Peninsula side of the HRBT. Home to Langley AFB, NASA Langley Research Center, Fort Monroe and Hampton University, with bay beaches and a small-downtown waterfront.
By Jason Edwards, REALTOR® · Updated Oct. 10, 2026
Redfin, three months ending Aug. 2026 (checked Oct. 10, 2026); City of Chesapeake FY 2027 Local Tax Comparisons.
Overview: how Hampton is laid out
Hampton is on the Peninsula side of the HRBT and is one of the oldest English-speaking settlements in the country. It's home to Langley AFB, NASA Langley, Fort Monroe and Hampton University. You've got bay beaches at Buckroe, a small waterfront downtown, Phoebus near Fort Monroe, and Coliseum and Riverdale for shopping.
By the numbers
- Population: 137,596 (2024 estimate)
- Density: about 2,665 people per square mile (2020 census)
- Side of the water: Peninsula
- Official city site: hampton.gov
Census figures as reported in the City of Chesapeake FY 2027 Local Tax Comparisons.
Bases and job centers nearby
- Joint Base Langley-Eustis (Langley)
- NASA Langley Research Center
- Coast Guard Training Center Yorktown (York County)
Homes and prices in Hampton
What you'll see: Mostly mid-century single-family homes (1940s to 1970s ranches, Cape Cods, brick two-stories), older waterfront homes, and smaller pockets of newer construction and townhomes.
| Market measure | Hampton |
|---|---|
| Median sale price | $300,000 |
| Change from a year earlier | +3.4% |
| Median price per square foot | $196 |
| Median days on market | 28 |
| Regional median (REIN, August 2026) | $388,950 |
Source: Redfin Hampton housing market, 3 months ending Aug 2026, all home types (checked Oct. 10, 2026). Regional: REIN MLS 'August Takeaway' report, published Sept 10, 2026.
How to read the median
It's the middle sale across every type of home, so a city with more condos and townhomes shows a lower number, and one with more acreage or waterfront shows a higher one. Use it to compare cities, not to set your budget. Your budget comes from your lender and your full monthly number.
Hampton real estate tax and car tax
| Tax or fee (FY 2027) | Amount |
|---|---|
| Real estate taxDue June 5 and Dec 5 | $1.14 per $100 |
| Example: $378,400 assessed home | about $4,314 / yr |
| Car tax (personal property)Due Two halves: June 5 and Dec 5 | $4.50 per $100 |
| Vehicle license feeBilled with the car tax | $35 / yr |
| Trash (solid waste) fee | $39.28 / mo |
| Stormwater fee | $13.83 / mo |
| Meals tax | 7.5% |
| Sales tax4.3% state + 1.0% local + 0.7% Hampton Roads regional (transportation) | 6.0% |
Source: City of Chesapeake, FY 2027 Local Tax Comparisons (seven Hampton Roads cities), covering Fiscal year July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027 (checked Oct. 10, 2026). The $378,400 example is the median assessed value of a Chesapeake single-family home used in that report. Due dates from the city treasurer's site, checked Oct. 2026; a weekend or holiday date usually moves to the next business day.
Real talk: the car tax
This is the one that surprises people from other states. Every car gets a bill every year, and it isn't in your mortgage escrow. Virginia's PPTRA lowers the rate on the first $20,000 of value for qualifying personal-use vehicles. If you're active duty with a legal residence in another state, you're generally exempt under the SCRA. Bring your LES to the Commissioner of the Revenue when you arrive.
Commutes from Hampton to bases and job centers
Short drives to Langley AFB and NASA Langley, and to Newport News Shipbuilding. Naval Station Norfolk is across the HRBT, which is free but is the region's best-known bottleneck until the expansion opens.
No-traffic estimates from Downtown Hampton (a reference point in each area), rounded to the nearest 5 minutes. Treat these as the best case.
| To | From Downtown Hampton |
|---|---|
| Naval Station Norfolk | 20 min · 10.4 mi |
| NAS Oceana | 50 min · 30.6 mi |
| Norfolk Naval Shipyard | 35 min · 18.4 mi |
| JEB Little Creek-Fort Story | 30 min · 15.4 mi |
| JBLE Langley AFB | 15 min · 7.3 mi |
| Newport News Shipbuilding | 20 min · 8.6 mi |
| Downtown Norfolk | 25 min · 15.4 mi |
Method: OSRM routing on OpenStreetMap road data, computed Oct. 10, 2026, no traffic. Gate locations, tolls and time of day will change your number. Tolls: Elizabeth River Crossings, SNJB, City of Chesapeake, VDOT (2026 rates, checked Oct. 10, 2026).
Run the bad-day test
Map the drive for a Tuesday at 7 a.m. and the drive home at 5 p.m. Then ask: if the tunnel on that route is backed up, what's my other way? If there isn't one, that's fine, as long as you choose it on purpose.
Flood zones and insurance in Hampton
A lot of Hampton is low and close to the water (Back River, Hampton River, the Bay). Flood zones are common in Fox Hill, Buckroe and waterfront areas. Check every address.
- Virginia is buyer-beware. The Residential Property Disclosure Statement says the owner makes no representation about flood hazard areas (Va. Code § 55.1-703). That homework is on you.
- Check the address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center and Virginia DCR's VFRIS flood risk map.
- Flood isn't in a standard homeowners policy. If the home is in a high-risk zone and your lender is federally regulated, flood insurance will be required. Get a quote before your inspection period ends.
- Wind is separate, too. Many policies here carry a separate hurricane or wind deductible. Read it.
Drive it at high tide
Maps tell you the zone. They don't tell you the road out of the neighborhood is under water twice a month in the fall. If you're serious about a house near the water, look at it at high tide or after a hard rain, or let me go look for you.
Areas and things to do in Hampton
Names people commonly search, so you know what to type in. This isn't a ranking, and the right one depends on your commute and budget.
- Phoebus
- Fox Hill
- Buckroe
- Downtown Hampton
- Wythe
- Coliseum / Riverdale
- Northampton
Parks, attractions and amenities
- Fort Monroe National Monument
- Buckroe Beach
- Virginia Air & Space Science Center
- Bluebird Gap Farm
- Sandy Bottom Nature Park
- Hampton Coliseum
Utilities
- Electric: Dominion Energy Virginia
- Gas: Virginia Natural Gas
- Water: Newport News Waterworks
Confirm providers by address.
Pros and cons of living in Hampton
The upside
- The median sale price ($300K) is below most of the Southside.
- Short drives to Langley AFB, NASA Langley and Newport News Shipbuilding.
- Bay beaches at Buckroe, Fort Monroe National Monument, Sandy Bottom Nature Park and the Virginia Air & Space Science Center.
The trade-offs
- If your job is on the Southside, the HRBT is the daily question until the expansion opens and settles in (contract substantial completion Feb. 26, 2027).
- A lot of Hampton is low and close to the water. Flood zones are common in Fox Hill, Buckroe and waterfront areas, so get insurance quotes early.
- The highest trash fee of the seven ($39.28 a month) and the highest vehicle license fee ($35 a year).
- Mostly mid-century housing, with smaller pockets of new construction.
Based on the figures and sources on this page. There's no "best" city, just the one that fits your commute, your budget and how you want to live.
Hampton, VA: frequently asked questions
What is the real estate tax rate in Hampton, VA?
Hampton's real estate tax rate is $1.14 per $100 of assessed value for fiscal year 2027 (July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027). On a home assessed at $378,400, that's about $4,314 a year. Bills are due June 5 and Dec 5. The trash fee is $39.28 a month. Source: City of Chesapeake FY 2027 Local Tax Comparisons, checked Oct. 10, 2026.
Does Hampton have a car tax?
Yes. Hampton taxes personal vehicles every year at $4.50 per $100 of value (FY 2027), due Two halves: June 5 and Dec 5, plus a $35 annual vehicle license fee. Virginia's car tax relief program (PPTRA) lowers the rate on the first $20,000 of value for qualifying personal-use vehicles. Active-duty service members whose legal residence is in another state are generally exempt under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act; bring your LES to the city's Commissioner of the Revenue. It isn't paid through your mortgage escrow.
What is the median home price in Hampton, VA?
The median sale price in Hampton was $300,000 for the three months ending August 2026 (+3.4% year over year), with a median of $196 per square foot and 28 median days on market, according to Redfin (checked Oct. 10, 2026). That median covers all home types, so condos and townhomes pull it down and waterfront or acreage pulls it up.
How long is the commute from Hampton to Naval Station Norfolk?
From Downtown Hampton, Naval Station Norfolk is about 20 minutes (10.4 miles) with no traffic, and JBLE Langley AFB is about 15 minutes (7.3 miles). Short drives to Langley AFB and NASA Langley, and to Newport News Shipbuilding. Naval Station Norfolk is across the HRBT, which is free but is the region's best-known bottleneck until the expansion opens. Those are no-traffic estimates from OpenStreetMap routing (computed Oct. 10, 2026); rush hour is longer, so test the drive at your real commute time.
Is Hampton in a flood zone?
Parts of it are. A lot of Hampton is low and close to the water (Back River, Hampton River, the Bay). Flood zones are common in Fox Hill, Buckroe and waterfront areas. Check every address. In Virginia, the seller's disclosure statement makes no representation about flood zones, so look up the exact address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center and Virginia's VFRIS map, and get a flood insurance quote before your inspection period ends. A standard homeowners policy generally doesn't cover flood.
What areas do people look at in Hampton?
Areas people commonly search in Hampton include Phoebus, Fox Hill, Buckroe, Downtown Hampton, Wythe, Coliseum / Riverdale, Northampton. Housing: Mostly mid-century single-family homes (1940s to 1970s ranches, Cape Cods, brick two-stories), older waterfront homes, and smaller pockets of newer construction and townhomes. I'd narrow it down by commute and budget first, then by house.
How do I check schools for a Hampton address?
Look up the specific schools for any address on the Virginia Department of Education's School Quality Profiles at schoolquality.virginia.gov, then confirm the assigned school with Hampton's school division. I don't rank schools or neighborhoods by school.
Watch: Hampton on my channel
Videos from my YouTube channel, @jason_edwards_realtor. Numbers in older videos may be out of date; the figures on this page are current as of Oct. 10, 2026.
Schools in Hampton
I don't rate schools or rank neighborhoods by school. Every school and division in Virginia has an official report card. Look up the specific schools for any address at the VDOE School Quality Profiles, and confirm the assigned school with the division.
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