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2019 Best Suburbs to Live in the Norfolk AreaAbout this List

Explore the best suburbs to live in the U.S. based on crime, public schools, cost of living, job opportunities, and local amenities. Ranking based on data from the U.S. Census, FBI, BLS, CDC, and other sources. Read more on how this ranking was calculated.

1 – 14 of 14
Best Places to Live
14 results

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  1. Williamsburg

    • Town in Virginia
    • 90 reviews
    #1 Best Suburbs to Live in Norfolk Area

    Current Resident: I've lived in Williamsburg for most of my life and I really love it. I'm planning on attending W&M, which has already begun to provide a new perspective on Williamsburg and the area around it. It's stunning, especially in the spring and fall, has great historical attractions, a good overall town environment, and is pretty safe if you ask me! The only issues I have with Williamsburg is it isn't very walk-able, things can be pretty far apart, and if you aren't part of the college, there isn't much to do in the way of evening/weekend activities. You'd have to head to Richmond or towards Hampton to find any clubs or music. Other than that, I love Williamsburg and I think its a great place to live for people of any age.
    Read 90 Reviews

    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A-
      Public Schools
    • 14,817 Population
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  2. Virginia Beach

    • City in Virginia
    • 1,621 reviews
    #2 Best Suburbs to Live in Norfolk Area

    Current Resident: There is a lot of history in Virginia such as Colonial Williamsburg where you can visit the Jamestown Settlement. Virginia Beach is a diverse population due to being a large military city. We offer many tourist attractions at our Oceanfront including whale watching, parasailing, museums, and kayaking. Virginia Beach has many local restaurants using fresh ingredients grown right here at the farms in the area. A landfill turned into a mountain to fly kites on with a children's playground is Virginia Beach's very own Mount Trashmore. Finally, our neighbor cities in Hampton Roads have several shopping and site seeing venues too. There is certainly something to please every taste!
    Read 1,621 Reviews

    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A
      Public Schools
    • 450,057 Population
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  3. Chesapeake

    • Town in Virginia
    • 613 reviews
    #3 Best Suburbs to Live in Norfolk Area

    Current Resident: I have lived here my entire life and it is a local family of warm welcoming people. There are all walks of life here as well, which makes it an inviting area for anyone! It was a rural area for majority of my life but has recently started to develop with several neighborhoods offering a great place for young families to raise their children. On that note, the schools in Chesapeake are rated very well and I have been influenced greatly by my educators and have been taught life lessons along the way. As a student in Chesapeake all my life I was always encouraged by my teachers, to the point I fell in love with furthering my education. I began taking college courses in High School because I was so driven by my professors. Overall, Chesapeake is a wonderful place, especially young families looking for a great opportunity for their children regarding their education.
    Read 613 Reviews

    • A-
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A
      Public Schools
    • 235,410 Population
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  4. Poquoson

    • Town in Virginia
    • 16 reviews
    #4 Best Suburbs to Live in Norfolk Area

    Current Resident: Poquoson Is home for people who love coastal VA and can afford it. Sadly, this mostly means relatively privileged white families inhabit this area. (I only use the word sadly because it takes away from the possibility for more diversity, and has actually led to Poquoson garnering a bit of a reputation of being a somewhat racist town) Some people are nice, but it takes a while to be accepted into the "long-term" community. Military families who commute to Langley or Eustis may not feel the warmest welcome from their neighborhood, however they won't receive any negative attention. (Maybe just little to no acknowledgement) Over all, Poquoson is a good environment for white families looking for a place to stay in the long term.
    Read 16 Reviews

    • B+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A-
      Public Schools
    • 12,022 Population
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  5. Carrollton

    • Town in Virginia
    • 25 reviews
    #5 Best Suburbs to Live in Norfolk Area

    Former Resident: Moving from a big city in California to a small town in Virginia was a very big change. The people in Carrollton are very welcoming and caring. It is a small town where this is one elementary, middle, and high school. So, with that being said, everyone knows everyone. Carrollton really is the homiest town I've ever lived in.
    Read 25 Reviews

    • B+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • B
      Public Schools
    • 5,981 Population
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  6. Smithfield

    • Town in Virginia
    • 28 reviews
    #6 Best Suburbs to Live in Norfolk Area

    Current Resident: Smithfield is a beautiful town with a lot to offer visitors and citizens alike. From it's beautiful country roads, to its water front restaurants, this quaint town can please anyone looking for a good time in a nice environment. Want to get out? Great! Smithfield is only a half hour away from several popular locations including but not limited to, Newport News, Williamsburg, Norfolk and Virginia Beach. It is a great family friendly town that is a joy to be a member of.
    Read 28 Reviews

    • B+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • B
      Public Schools
    • 8,262 Population
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  9. Newport News

    • City in Virginia
    • 307 reviews
    #7 Best Suburbs to Live in Norfolk Area

    Current Resident: Newport News is my hometown and although I hope to expand my borders, I appreciate the time I've spent here and the people that I meet. There are many activities to do in Newport News and the surrounding cities that do not disappoint. My favorite restaurant here is called Brickhouse Tavern, the atmosphere and staff are so pleasant and of course, the food is extraordinary every time! Growing up here has allowed me to experience many opportunities in all aspects of my life, including my education. I have attended some of my districts best public schools and have many opportunities shown to me to further my education at the college level that vary from specializing in anything from medical science, technology, mathematics and so much more.
    Read 307 Reviews

    • B
      Overall Niche Grade
    • B-
      Public Schools
    • 180,775 Population
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  10. Hampton

    • City in Virginia
    • 230 reviews
    #8 Best Suburbs to Live in Norfolk Area

    Current Resident: Hampton is FULL of amenities! It's not a very big city, but everything you need is in close range. It's extremely convenient. My only real concern are the panhandlers. There are signs everywhere explaining not to encourage panhandling and to call the number listed. However, "homeless" individuals continuously stand right under the sign begging for money, and drivers that pass by continue to cater to them.
    Read 230 Reviews

    • B
      Overall Niche Grade
    • B-
      Public Schools
    • 136,255 Population
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  11. Suffolk

    • Town in Virginia
    • 230 reviews
    #9 Best Suburbs to Live in Norfolk Area

    Current Resident: I have lived in Suffolk all of my life. It's a quiet city but it covers alot of territory. The city's borders are connected to several others cities including Chesapeake and Portsmouth which I find to be an interesting fact. There are several beautiful recreational parks and most of them are located on the water. I attended all 3 levels of the public school system (elementary, middle & high school) and graduate with honors.
    The city has one community college but several universities within a short distance in nearby cities. If I could change one thing in Suffolk, it would be the mode of public transportation. It can be difficult to get from one location to another without a personal vehicle.
    Read 230 Reviews

    • B
      Overall Niche Grade
    • C
      Public Schools
    • 88,057 Population
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  12. Gloucester Courthouse

    • Town in Virginia
    • 1 review

    Current Resident: Gloucester Courthouse has a quaint small town Main Street full of activity for all ages. Enjoy concerts on the lawn, jogging with your fellow community members, parades throughout the year, safe trick or treating, and the well known Daffodil Festival. It’s enjoyable to either walk or drive Main Street to see community members out walking, with or without their dog. Teens enjoy taking to a bicycle ride to get a local treat at the cafe. Several local restaurants bring fabulous cuisine to life. Local artists paint murals and adorn the streets with spectacular statues. Many local businesses line the area to offer community members with the expert services they desire. There’s a little something for everyone in the family at Gloucester Courthouse.
    Read 1 Review

    • B-
      Overall Niche Grade
    • B-
      Public Schools
    • 2,364 Population
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  13. Gloucester Point

    • Town in Virginia
    • 15 reviews

    Current Resident: Gloucester Point is a waterside community that still manages to be diverse. You have the convenience of nearby grocery stores, hair salons, etc. all being a short drive away. The community strives to incorporate new, young families and provides public schools to do so.
    Read 15 Reviews

    • B-
      Overall Niche Grade
    • B-
      Public Schools
    • 9,291 Population
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  14. Portsmouth

    • Town in Virginia
    • 139 reviews

    Current Resident: Depending on what part of Portsmouth you are in, you can really have a good time and be safe. They have been revitalizing downtown by renovating old buildings and providing really good restaurants and different kinds of attractions for the 30 something crowd. It is family oriented and you have access to the ferry to take you across to Norfolk and Waterside and see the sights on that side as well. But if you waiver to the other side of Portsmouth at night, you need to be on guard and cautious and the drugs are out and the abandoned buildings lay waste.
    Read 139 Reviews

    • C+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • C
      Public Schools
    • 95,536 Population
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  15. Yorktown

    • Town in Virginia
    • 42 reviews

    Current Resident: I moved here recently(within the last two years), and I have loved it. The neighbors are nice enough, but I also live in a fairly secluded area, so your mileage may vary if your neighbors are closer. The schools are great, stores are relatively close, and you can always find a decent slice of pizza. I wish they would shovel during the winter! Throwing sand(not salt) down and it takes about 2 days for the plows to come around. Means that having an AWD truck is pretty much a pre-requisite to living here. All in all, a nice place.
    Read 42 Reviews

    • A-
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A
      Public Schools
    • 211 Population
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  16. Benns Church

    • Town in Virginia
    • 6 reviews

    Niche User: Smithfield has a low crime rate. Crimes do not happen a lot.
    Read 6 Reviews

    • B-
      Overall Niche Grade
    • B
      Public Schools
    • 686 Population
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