PlainZIP

Norfolk, VA · standard

ZIP Code 23502

Norfolk County, Virginia — Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

20,678
803/sq mi
$63,208
Median income
$266,200
Median home value
23.4%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Norfolk pairs a below-median household income with above-median home values, in a low-density, mixed-tenure area.

35th pct
household income, US ZIPs
Top 39%
home value, US ZIPs
803
people per sq mi
45%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 23502 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 23502 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 25.8 square miles in Norfolk, Norfolk County, Virginia. The area is home to 20,678 residents, producing a population density of 803 people per square mile, and falls within the New York time zone. These USPS and Census boundary values drive every downstream statistic on this page, including the benchmarks that compare 23502 against Virginia and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 23502 sits at $63,208 (26% below the Virginia average), while per-capita income is $34,643. The poverty rate stands at 16.6% and the unemployment rate at 6.4%. On housing, the median home value is $266,200 (20% below the state average) with median rent at $1,398 per month, and 45.0% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 23502 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 23.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 37.3, and the average commute is 23 minutes. We also surface 10 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Norfolk County, so you can benchmark 23502 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone. Every figure is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, HUD Fair Market Rents, and FHFA Home Price Index data, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with HUD →

Top industries in ZIP 23502

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 23502.

establishments

What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + HUD FMR + FHFA HPI ACS demographics, ZBP business establishments, HUD Fair Market Rents, FHFA HPI for ZIP 23502, Norfolk, VA · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; HUD FMR + FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.

Quick Facts

20,678

Population

25.8

Area (sq mi)

803

People / sq mi

New York

Time Zone

standard

ZIP Type

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 23502?

37.3

Median Age

50.5%

Male

49.5%

Female

8.3%

Foreign-Born

White 30.6%
African American 48.8%
Asian 3.8%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 11.2%
Hispanic or Latino 13.4%

Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

How much do residents earn?

$63,208

Median Household Income

-26% vs state

$34,643

Per Capita Income

16.6%

Poverty Rate

6.4%

Unemployment Rate

22.7 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 23502 ranks nationally

Household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income — the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$63,208 35th percentile higher than 35% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). This entry sits in this band. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What is the education profile here?

High School Graduate or Higher 57.0%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 23.4%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

8,807

Total Housing Units

8,269

Occupied Units

538

Vacant Units

2.40

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 45.0%
Renter 55.0%

$266,200

Median Home Value

-20% vs state

$1,398

Median Rent

1967

Median Year Built

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

How have home values changed over time?

FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals

+7.7%

YoY Change (2024)

297

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+197%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 23502 have increased 7.7% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +197% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +5.4% 210
2021 +14.3% 240
2022 +8.8% 261
2023 +5.5% 276
2024 +7.7% 297

Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.

What businesses operate in this ZIP?

Census Bureau data shows 1,154 business establishments in ZIP 23502, employing approximately 32,050 people with a combined annual payroll of $2,072,726,000.

1,154

Businesses

32,050

Employees

$2.1B

Annual Payroll

16

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Retail trade 226 19.6%
Health care and social assistance 179 15.5%
Other services (except public administration) 114 9.9%
Accommodation and food services 113 9.8%
Wholesale trade 81 7.0%
Construction 77 6.7%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 72 6.2%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 62 5.4%
Real estate and rental and leasing 56 4.8%
Finance and insurance 51 4.4%
Transportation and warehousing 46 4.0%
Manufacturing 32 2.8%
Information 17 1.5%
Management of companies and enterprises 11 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 9 0.8%
Educational services 8 0.7%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.

Nearby ZIP Codes

Want a side-by-side? Compare 23502 vs 23513 →

ZIP 23502 vs its nearest neighbors, by population

Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 23502 ranks #6 by population — useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 23502 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

median income

What this shows By household income, ZIP 23502 ranks #9 of 9 neighboring ZIPs — local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
ZIP Code City Population Distance
23513 Norfolk, VA 29,595 2.4 mi
23518 Norfolk, VA 28,095 3.7 mi
23504 Norfolk, VA 23,483 3.1 mi
23509 Norfolk, VA 12,817 3.2 mi
23325 Chesapeake, VA 17,592 3.7 mi
23462 Virginia Beach, VA 61,973 3.7 mi
23517 Norfolk, VA 4,484 4.6 mi
23523 Norfolk, VA 7,793 4.0 mi
23510 Norfolk, VA 7,031 4.6 mi
23455 Virginia Beach, VA 47,938 4.1 mi

More ZIP Codes in Norfolk County

23503 standard
Norfolk, VA
Pop: 30,856
23513 standard
Norfolk, VA
Pop: 29,595
23505 standard
Norfolk, VA
Pop: 28,503
23518 standard
Norfolk, VA
Pop: 28,095
23507 standard
Norfolk, VA
Pop: 25,818
23504 standard
Norfolk, VA
Pop: 23,483

Related Areas

Norfolk County Norfolk, VA Virginia

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 23502 in? ▼
ZIP code 23502 (Norfolk) is located in Norfolk County, Virginia. Norfolk County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/norfolk-va.
What is the population of ZIP code 23502? ▼
ZIP code 23502 in Norfolk, VA has a population of 20,678 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 23502? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 23502 is $63,208, which is 17% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 23502? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 23502 is $266,200, which is 4% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 23502? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 23502 is African American at 48.8%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 13.4% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 23502? ▼
ZIP code 23502 has 1,154 business establishments employing approximately 32,050 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 23502? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 23502 are: Retail trade (226), Health care and social assistance (179), Other services (except public administration) (114). There are 16 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 23502? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 23502 increased by 7.7% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 197%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 23502? ▼
In ZIP code 23502, 57.0% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 23.4% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 23502? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 23502 is 22.7 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 23502? ▼
In ZIP code 23502, approximately 45.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 55.0% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 23502? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 23502 is 16.6% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

ZIP Code Research Guides

Reading Census Demographics
How to interpret population, income, and education data from the Census Bureau.
Understanding ZIP Code Data
What ZIP codes are, how ZCTAs differ, and what the data reveals.
Best ZIP Codes for Families
Key factors to evaluate when choosing a family-friendly neighborhood.
ZIP Codes for Relocation
Data-driven tips for evaluating ZIP codes before a move.

Official Data Resources for Norfolk, VA

Verify and explore additional data for this area using these official government sources.

U.S. Census Bureau
Official demographic, economic, and housing data from the American Community Survey.
HUD Fair Market Rents
Department of Housing and Urban Development rental cost estimates by metropolitan area.
FBI Uniform Crime Reports
Official crime statistics compiled from law enforcement agencies nationwide.
FHFA House Price Index
Federal Housing Finance Agency home value trends based on repeat sales and appraisals.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.