How old are the homes in Norfolk, VA?

Name: Age of homes in Norfolk, VA, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

67.5% (±1.9 points) of the homes in Norfolk, VA were built before 1980 (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

15.4% were built before 1940.

9.2% were built in 2010 or later.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Built before 1980: 67.5% (±1.9 points)
Built before 1940: 15.4%
Built 2010 or later: 9.2%

When the homes in Norfolk were built

Housing units by year structure built, 2020–2024
Year built	Norfolk	Norfolk city	Virginia	United States
2020 or later	1.2% (±0.2 points)	1.2%	1.7%	2.0%
2010 to 2019	8.0% (±0.7 points)	8.0%	9.9%	9.4%
2000 to 2009	7.0% (±0.6 points)	7.0%	14.9%	13.6%
1990 to 1999	6.0% (±0.6 points)	6.0%	14.3%	12.4%
1980 to 1989	10.5% (±0.8 points)	10.5%	15.8%	12.9%
1970 to 1979	10.1% (±0.8 points)	10.1%	14.3%	14.2%
1960 to 1969	12.9% (±0.9 points)	12.9%	10.0%	9.9%
1950 to 1959	19.3% (±1.0 points)	19.3%	8.0%	9.5%
1940 to 1949	9.8% (±0.7 points)	9.8%	4.2%	4.4%
1939 or earlier	15.4% (±0.9 points)	15.4%	7.0%	11.7%

In Norfolk, the share of homes built before 1980 is not measurably different from Norfolk city (67.5%).

It is also higher than in Virginia (43.5%).

It is higher than the national figure (49.7%).

Statewide, it ranks 130 of 464.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

Why the age of a home matters: lead-based paint

Federal law treats housing built before 1978 as likely to contain lead-based paint.

Before a lease or sale of most pre-1978 housing, the landlord or seller must disclose any known lead-based paint and hazards and give the tenant or buyer the EPA pamphlet (42 U.S.C. § 4852d; 40 CFR part 745, subpart F; 24 CFR part 35, subpart A).

A contractor paid to renovate, repair or paint a pre-1978 home must be a certified firm, use a certified renovator and follow lead-safe work practices under the Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (40 CFR part 745, subpart E) whenever the job disturbs more than 6 square feet of painted surface in a room or more than 20 square feet outside; window replacement and demolition always count (40 CFR 745.83).

Certification comes from EPA, or from the state where EPA has authorized the state to run the program.

The Census Bureau groups construction by decade, so the share built before 1978 lies between the share built before 1970 (57.4%) and the share built before 1980 (67.5%).

Homes built before 1980 in places near Norfolk

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Norfolk
Place	Distance	Homes built before 1980	Compared with this place
Norfolk	—	67.5% (±1.9 points)	—
Portsmouth	7.6 mi	68.1% (±2.8 points)	Not measurably different
Hampton	9.1 mi	57.0% (±2.3 points)	Lower
Poquoson	15 mi	57.1% (±7.6 points)	Lower
Carrollton	15 mi	13.0% (±5.0 points)	Lower
Virginia Beach	16 mi	39.8% (±1.1 points)	Lower
Bethel Manor	16 mi	5.7% (±6.8 points)	Lower
Chesapeake	17 mi	31.7% (±1.4 points)	Lower
Newport News	19 mi	51.3% (±1.8 points)	Lower

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Hampton, VA (57.0%), Poquoson, VA (57.1%), Carrollton, VA (13.0%).

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about Norfolk

How old are most homes in Norfolk?

67.5% of homes in Norfolk, VA were built before 1980 (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Do homes in Norfolk need a lead paint disclosure?

A home built before 1978 does, before it is rented or sold, unless an exemption applies (42 U.S.C. § 4852d); between 57.4% and 67.5% of homes in Norfolk were built before then.

Does a contractor need lead certification to work on older homes in Norfolk?

Yes, when the job disturbs more than 6 square feet of paint in a room or 20 square feet outside, or replaces a window: the firm must be certified and a certified renovator must direct the work under the Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (40 CFR part 745, subpart E).

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Norfolk city, Virginia

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) for Norfolk city, Virginia (place:57000, in state:51).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0017PE, DP04_0017PM, DP04_0018PE, DP04_0018PM, DP04_0019PE, DP04_0019PM, DP04_0020PE, DP04_0020PM, DP04_0021PE, DP04_0021PM, DP04_0022PE, DP04_0022PM, DP04_0023PE, DP04_0023PM, DP04_0024PE, DP04_0024PM, DP04_0025PE, DP04_0025PM, DP04_0026PE, DP04_0026PM

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.