In Norfolk city, Virginia, rent on a two-bedroom takes about three in ten dollars of the typical household's income
In Norfolk city, 31.1% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is higher than in 97% of U.S. counties.
More distressed than 88% of U.S. counties.
What drives Norfolk city's score
In Norfolk city, housing costs weigh most: the score for housing costs is 94.1. Late payments on loans come next, at 85.2.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Norfolk city: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each part is scored from 0 to 100, and a higher score means worse off than other counties.
Norfolk city does better than most counties on two measures: adults 25 to 54 not working (17.4%, 2020 to 2024) and people with a disability (15.1%, 2020 to 2024).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 94.1 of 100
Housing costs
Biggest factorRenters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent26.3% · 2020 to 202490th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income31.1% · fiscal year 202797th percentile
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- 85.2 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind9.1% · August 202591st percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind8.2% · August 202584th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score50.0% · second quarter of 202679th percentile
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- 84.2 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector34.2% · August 202584th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people243.4 · 202584th percentile
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- 59.1 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line15.3% · 202466th percentile
- Children below the poverty line21.5% · 202470th percentile
- People with a disability15.1% · 2020 to 202441st percentile
- People without health insurance9.1% · 2020 to 202460th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$64,281 · 202457th percentile
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- 44.7 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year4.3% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202660th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working17.4% · 2020 to 202429th percentile
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Sources: Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and Census income; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. County Distress Index by American Default Research, from data through Sep 2026.
Where the money in Norfolk city comes from
Benefit checks are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid paid on people's behalf, veterans' benefits, and food and income support, so a high share usually means an older population, low pay, or both. In Norfolk city, 13.0% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Norfolk city
Virginia
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
Benefit checks' share of income in Norfolk city rose most in two steps: 13.0% in 2004 to 18.2% in 2009; 21.9% in 2019 to 27.1% in 2024.
In Norfolk city, benefit checks' share of income has grown to about five times its 1969 level, reaching 27.1% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in twice as much as benefit checks
In Norfolk city, Virginia, benefit checks' share of income grew to about five times its 1969 level by 2024, reaching 27.1%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Norfolk city getting SNAP food aid had its largest rise, from 12.5% in 2011 to 14.3% in 2012.
The share of households in Norfolk city getting SNAP food aid rose by about half from 2009 to 2024, reaching 17.0%
High on the chart: 17.4% in 2015. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Norfolk city, Virginia.
How Norfolk city has changed
Norfolk city's population fell most sharply after its 1974 high, from 288,557 in 1974 to 269,274 in 1979.
Norfolk city's population fell by about a fifth to 231,105, the lowest on the chart
High on the chart: 288,557 in 1974. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Norfolk city, Virginia.
The number of jobs located in Norfolk city had its largest rise in the last span, from 132,792 in 2020 to 144,347 in 2025.
The number of jobs located in Norfolk city fell 5% from 1990 to 2025, with its low point on the chart in 2020
Low on the chart: 132,792 in 2020. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Norfolk city, Virginia.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 4.7% | 2025 4.0% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 24.1% | 2024 15.3% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $21,288 | 2024 $64,281 |
The table uses 4.0% for 2025; the score uses 4.3% for the latest year (Oct 2025 to Sep 2026), both from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Norfolk city's history
1680
1680 (as town). Wikipedia
1962
A tornado in April 1962 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
1970
The county's largest recorded population was the 1970 Census count of 307,951. The 2020 Census counted 238,005, 77% of the peak. Census Bureau
2007
Ford Motor Company's Norfolk Assembly plant closed in 2007 after operating since 1925. Wikipedia
2011
A thunderstorm in May 2011 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
2016
A flood in October 2016 did $19 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2022
A thunderstorm in July 2022 did $50 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1972
18 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Norfolk city, 2 of them for flooding. FEMA
Norfolk city beside its neighbors
Of the three counties that border Norfolk city, one scores higher. For the share of income from benefit checks, Norfolk city ranks 2nd of the four; Portsmouth city is highest, at 31.9%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portsmouth city, VA | 96 | 15.2% | 31.9% |
| Norfolk city, VA | 88 | 15.3% | 27.1% |
| Chesapeake city, VA | 48 | 10.5% | 19.6% |
| Virginia Beach city, VA | 41 | 7.9% | 17.0% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Sep 2026; each county scored against all 3,144. Poverty rate: Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. Benefit checks: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is Norfolk city the poorest county in Virginia?
No, Norfolk city's poverty rate was 15.3% in 2024, 42nd highest of 133 in Virginia (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Radford city, at 27.2%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Norfolk city ranks 15th of 133 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Norfolk city
Housing counselors approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development work at nonprofit agencies. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes free foreclosure-avoidance counseling, including help with mortgage-company conversations and available options Source CFPB.
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Child & Family Services of Eastern Virginia, Inc. D/b/a the UP Center
HUD-approved housing counselor
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Credit.org - Virginia Branch
HUD-approved housing counselor
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HOMENET (Norfolk RHA)
HUD-approved housing counselor
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Legal Aid Society of Eastern Virginia
Legal aid
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HUD-approved housing counselors
Our help directory lists 1,010 agencies approved for foreclosure counseling, by state.
The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Sep 2026, built from Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. The County Distress Index is American Default Research's own calculation; the Urban Institute does not produce or endorse it. Our methodology
- Urban Institute · Debt in America Breno Braga, Signe-Mary McKernan, Samantha Atherton, and Kassandra Martinchek, "Debt in America," last updated November 20, 2025, https://datacatalog.urban.org/dataset/debt-america-2025. Licensed under ODC-By 1.0.
- Rent on a two-bedroom and household income The rent share compares HUD fair market rent for fiscal year 2027 with Census Bureau median household income for 2024. The page calls this the typical household's income.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Norfolk city comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.