Norfolk, VA · standard
ZIP Code 23503
Norfolk County, Virginia - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 30,856
- 2,317/sq mi High-density area
- $67,649
- Median income Near-median income area
- $293,100
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 31.4%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Norfolk pairs a below-median household income with above-median home values, in a suburban-density, mixed-tenure area.
- 43rd pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 34%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 2,317
- people per sq mi
- 47%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 23503 against every reporting US ZIP.
ZIP code 23503 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Norfolk, Norfolk County, Virginia, with 30,856 residents across 13.3 square miles, a density of 2,317 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 23503 reports a modest median household income of $67,649 (21% below the average Virginia ZIP), while per-capita income is $42,758. The poverty rate is 11.2%, with unemployment at 3.4%; those measures add context to the income figure. Median home value is $293,100 (12% below the average Virginia ZIP) and median rent is $1,224; 47.4% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 31.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 35.5, and the average commute is 27 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Norfolk County, so 23503 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 23503
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Norfolk, VA
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 23503.
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
41 establishments
- Construction
Construction
39 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
35 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
29 establishments
- Real estate and rental and leasing
Real estate and rental and leasing
23 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, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 23503, Norfolk, VA · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
30,856
Population
13.3
Area (sq mi)
2,317
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 23503?
35.5
Median Age
50.9%
Male
49.1%
Female
8.6%
Foreign-Born
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?
$67,649
Median Household Income
-21% vs state ZIP avg
$42,758
Per Capita Income
11.2%
Poverty Rate
3.4%
Unemployment Rate
27.1 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 23503 ranks nationally
Norfolk, VA household income vs. every US ZIP code
Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked
$67,649 43rd percentile higher than 43% of 30,318 US ZIPs
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?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
15,552housing units
15,552
Total Housing Units
14,160
Occupied Units
1,392
Vacant Units
2.12
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$293,100
Median Home Value
-12% vs state ZIP avg
$1,224
Median Rent
1964
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
-0.4%
YoY Change (2024)
320
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+220%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 23503 have decreased 0.4% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +220% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +5.2% | 219 |
| 2021 | +12.3% | 246 |
| 2022 | +14.0% | 281 |
| 2023 | +14.4% | 321 |
| 2024 | -0.4% | 320 |
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 257 business establishments in ZIP 23503, employing approximately 1,746 people with a combined annual payroll of $49,126,000.
257
Businesses
1,746
Employees
$49.1M
Annual Payroll
13
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and food services | 41 | 15.9% |
| Construction | 39 | 15.2% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 35 | 13.6% |
| Retail trade | 29 | 11.3% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 23 | 8.9% |
| Health care and social assistance | 21 | 8.2% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 20 | 7.8% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 15 | 5.8% |
| Finance and insurance | 7 | 2.7% |
| Wholesale trade | 6 | 2.3% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 6 | 2.3% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 6 | 2.3% |
| Information | 4 | 1.6% |
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 23503 vs 23551 →
ZIP 23503 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 23503
Norfolk (23503)
30,856 residents
- 23513
Norfolk (23513)
29,595 residents
- 23505
Norfolk (23505)
28,503 residents
- 23518
Norfolk (23518)
28,095 residents
- 23504
Norfolk (23504)
23,483 residents
- 23508
Norfolk (23508)
20,263 residents
- 23509
Norfolk (23509)
12,817 residents
- 23517 4,484
Norfolk (23517)
4,484 residents
- 23511 2,457
Norfolk (23511)
2,457 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 23503 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 23503 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 23651
Fort Monroe (23651)
$97,500 median income
- 23518
Norfolk (23518)
$77,594 median income
- 23508
Norfolk (23508)
$74,885 median income
- 23509
Norfolk (23509)
$72,816 median income
- 23513
Norfolk (23513)
$68,380 median income
- 23503
Norfolk (23503)
$67,649 median income
- 23517
Norfolk (23517)
$67,375 median income
- 23511
Norfolk (23511)
$62,946 median income
- 23505
Norfolk (23505)
$58,579 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 23503 ranks #6 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23551 | Norfolk, VA | 930 | 2.1 mi |
| 23511 | Norfolk, VA | 2,457 | 2.4 mi |
| 23505 | Norfolk, VA | 28,503 | 2.6 mi |
| 23509 | Norfolk, VA | 12,817 | 4.5 mi |
| 23518 | Norfolk, VA | 28,095 | 3.4 mi |
| 23513 | Norfolk, VA | 29,595 | 4.2 mi |
| 23504 | Norfolk, VA | 23,483 | 6.3 mi |
| 23651 | Fort Monroe, VA | 696 | 4.9 mi |
| 23517 | Norfolk, VA | 4,484 | 5.6 mi |
| 23508 | Norfolk, VA | 20,263 | 5.0 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 23503, both outside VA so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (30,856 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Norfolk County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 23503 in?
ZIP code 23503 (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 23503?
ZIP code 23503 in Norfolk, VA has a population of 30,856 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 23503?
The median household income in ZIP 23503 is $67,649, which is 11% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 23503?
The median home value in ZIP 23503 is $293,100, which is 5% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 23503?
The largest racial group in ZIP 23503 is White at 61.3%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 13.6% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 23503?
ZIP code 23503 has 257 business establishments employing approximately 1,746 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 23503?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 23503 are: Accommodation and food services (41), Construction (39), Other services (except public administration) (35). There are 13 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 23503?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 23503 decreased by 0.4% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 220%. 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 23503?
In ZIP code 23503, 58.2% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 31.4% 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 23503?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 23503 is 27.1 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend more time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 23503?
In ZIP code 23503, approximately 47.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 52.6% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 23503?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 23503 is 11.2% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 23503's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 23503 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Norfolk, VA ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.