Historic charm meets affordability in Park Place, where tree-lined streets feature elegant homes often divided into spacious apartments. Located just minutes from both ODU and downtown Norfolk, the neighborhood offers excellent positioning for students and professionals. Most rentals provide more square footage than similarly priced downtown options, though properties vary in condition across this transitioning area.
Beachfront accessibility defines East Ocean View, where rental homes along Chesapeake Bay offer direct water access at significantly better rates than Virginia Beach oceanfront properties. The neighborhood features a mix of vintage cottages and new construction with varied price points. Though some blocks show investment transitions, the combination of affordability and beach proximity creates compelling value for water enthusiasts seeking authentic coastal living.
Waterfront renaissance energizes Downtown Norfolk, where historic buildings alongside sleek new developments face the Elizabeth River. The walkable district offers genuine urban living with restaurants, performing arts venues, and the popular Waterside marketplace just steps from most rentals. Though pricing exceeds suburban alternatives, the elimination of commuting time and car dependency for daily needs creates substantial quality-of-life improvements that many residents find justifies the investment.
Welcome to the Apartment List March 2026 Rent Report for Norfolk, VA. Currently, the overall median rent in the city stands at $1,565, after rising 0.9% last month. Prices and are now up 6.1% year-over-year. Read on to learn more about what’s been happening in the Norfolk rental market and how it compares to trends throughout the broader Virginia Beach metro area and the nation as a whole.
National study of renter’s satisfaction with their cities and states
Apartment List has released Norfolk’s results from the third annual Apartment List Renter Satisfaction Survey. This survey, which drew on responses from over 45,000 renters, provides insight on what states and cities must do to meet the needs of 111 million American renters nationwide.
"Norfolk renters expressed general satisfaction with the city overall," according to Apartment List. "They gave most categories near average scores."
Key findings in Norfolk include the following:
Renters say:
For more information on the survey methodology and findings or to speak to one of our researchers, please contact our team at rentonomics@apartmentlist.com.
