Norfolk, VA · standard
ZIP Code 23508
Norfolk County, Virginia - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 20,263
- 2,348/sq mi High-density area
- $74,885
- Median income Near-median income area
- $408,100
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 58.7%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Norfolk pairs an above-median household income with upper-quartile home values, in a suburban-density, mixed-tenure area.
- Top 45%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 20%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 2,348
- people per sq mi
- 52%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 23508 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 23508 (Norfolk, VA) rose +1.7% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 293.7 in 2023 to 298.9 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 23508 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Norfolk, Norfolk County, Virginia, with 20,263 residents across 8.6 square miles, a density of 2,348 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 23508 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $74,885 (12% below the average Virginia ZIP), while per-capita income is $41,168. The poverty rate is 15.7%, with unemployment at 4.7%; those measures add context to the income figure. Median home value is $408,100 (22% above the average Virginia ZIP) and median rent is $1,464; 51.9% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
This is a highly-educated ZIP: 58.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 25.2, and the average commute is 24 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Norfolk County, so 23508 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 23508
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Norfolk, VA
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 23508.
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
45 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
33 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
31 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
24 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 23508, 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
20,263
Population
8.6
Area (sq mi)
2,348
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 23508?
25.2
Median Age
52.0%
Male
48.0%
Female
7.2%
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?
$74,885
Median Household Income
-12% vs state ZIP avg
$41,168
Per Capita Income
15.7%
Poverty Rate
4.7%
Unemployment Rate
24.0 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 23508 ranks among Virginia ZIPs
Norfolk, VA household income vs. every Virginia ZIP code
Median household income among 804 reporting Virginia ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$74,885 Top 49% higher than 51% of 804 Virginia ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more Virginia 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
7,216housing units
7,216
Total Housing Units
6,632
Occupied Units
584
Vacant Units
2.30
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$408,100
Median Home Value
+22% vs state ZIP avg
$1,464
Median Rent
1956
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
+1.7%
YoY Change (2024)
299
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+199%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 23508 have increased 1.7% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +199% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +1.3% | 219 |
| 2021 | +10.9% | 243 |
| 2022 | +6.7% | 260 |
| 2023 | +13.2% | 294 |
| 2024 | +1.7% | 299 |
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 253 business establishments in ZIP 23508, employing approximately 2,623 people with a combined annual payroll of $113,835,000.
253
Businesses
2,623
Employees
$113.8M
Annual Payroll
13
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and food services | 45 | 17.8% |
| Health care and social assistance | 33 | 13.0% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 31 | 12.3% |
| Retail trade | 24 | 9.5% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 23 | 9.1% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 22 | 8.7% |
| Construction | 18 | 7.1% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 11 | 4.3% |
| Manufacturing | 10 | 4.0% |
| Educational services | 10 | 4.0% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 9 | 3.6% |
| Finance and insurance | 8 | 3.2% |
| Wholesale trade | 6 | 2.4% |
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 23508 vs 23507 →
ZIP 23508 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 23505
Norfolk (23505)
28,503 residents
- 23507
Norfolk (23507)
25,818 residents
- 23703
Portsmouth (23703)
25,739 residents
- 23508
Norfolk (23508)
20,263 residents
- 23704
Portsmouth (23704)
18,716 residents
- 23509
Norfolk (23509)
12,817 residents
- 23510 7,031
Norfolk (23510)
7,031 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 23508 ranks #4 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 23508 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 23507
Norfolk (23507)
$104,295 median income
- 23703
Portsmouth (23703)
$78,707 median income
- 23508
Norfolk (23508)
$74,885 median income
- 23510
Norfolk (23510)
$73,524 median income
- 23509
Norfolk (23509)
$72,816 median income
- 23517
Norfolk (23517)
$67,375 median income
- 23511
Norfolk (23511)
$62,946 median income
- 23505
Norfolk (23505)
$58,579 median income
- 23704
Portsmouth (23704)
$49,583 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 23508 ranks #3 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23507 | Norfolk, VA | 25,818 | 1.4 mi |
| 23517 | Norfolk, VA | 4,484 | 1.4 mi |
| 23708 | Portsmouth, VA | 181 | 2.5 mi |
| 23509 | Norfolk, VA | 12,817 | 2.6 mi |
| 23510 | Norfolk, VA | 7,031 | 2.4 mi |
| 23505 | Norfolk, VA | 28,503 | 2.5 mi |
| 23511 | Norfolk, VA | 2,457 | 3.6 mi |
| 23551 | Norfolk, VA | 930 | 3.0 mi |
| 23704 | Portsmouth, VA | 18,716 | 4.2 mi |
| 23703 | Portsmouth, VA | 25,739 | 3.4 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 23508, 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 (20,263 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 23508 in?
ZIP code 23508 (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 23508?
ZIP code 23508 in Norfolk, VA has a population of 20,263 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 23508?
The median household income in ZIP 23508 is $74,885, which is 2% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 23508?
The median home value in ZIP 23508 is $408,100, which is 47% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 23508?
The largest racial group in ZIP 23508 is White at 51.2%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 6.9% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 23508?
ZIP code 23508 has 253 business establishments employing approximately 2,623 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 23508?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 23508 are: Accommodation and food services (45), Health care and social assistance (33), Other services (except public administration) (31). There are 13 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 23508?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 23508 increased by 1.7% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 199%. 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 23508?
In ZIP code 23508, 68.4% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 58.7% 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 23508?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 23508 is 24.0 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 23508?
In ZIP code 23508, approximately 51.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 48.1% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 23508?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 23508 is 15.7% 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 23508's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 23508 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.