| City: | Norfolk, Virginia |
| County: | Norfolk City County |
| Timezone: | Eastern (GMT -05:00) |
| Local Time: | 12:58:31 AM |
| Population: | 20,547 [See All] |
| Area Codes: | 757 / 948 |
| Classification: | Standard [Normal Street Delivery] |
| Coordinates: | 36.8567, -76.2125 |
| Land Area: | 9.906 sq mi |
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ZIP Code 23502 has 20,547 residents and 8,320 households (average 2.40 persons per household). The median age is 38.5 years, about the same as the state (38.7) and about the same as the nation (38.8). The gender split is 48.5% male and 51.5% female, which is about the same as the national male share (49.1%), making this a female-majority area. Largest groups are Black or African American (50.9%, much higher than the state average of 18.6% and well above the national average of 12.4%) and White (33.5%, much lower than the state average of 60.3% and well below the national average of 61.6%); Hispanic or Latino residents make up 8.2%, which is much lower than the national average (18.7%), and Black or African American share is much higher than both the state (18.6%) and national averages (12.4%).
Explore More: Population Over Time By Age & Gender By Race By Gender Nativity & Citizenship
| 2020 Population: | 20,547Source: Census DHC |
| 2023 ACS Population Estimate: | 19,836Source: Census ACS |
| 2025 ZC Population Estimate: | 22,231Source: ZIP-Codes.com |
| Population Density: | 2,074.2 people per sq mile |
| Average Income: | $66,467Source: Census ACS |
| Households: | 8,320Source: Census DHC |
| Average House Value: | $244,800Source: Census ACS |
| Persons Per Household: | 2.40Source: Census DHC |
| Average Family Size: | 3.59Source: Census ACS |
| Group | 2010 | 2011 | 2102 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Census ACS Population Estimate | -- | 22,652 | 23,363 | 22,103 | 21,933 | 21,282 | 21,319 | 21,096 | 21,640 | 21,363 | 20,642 | 19,871 | 19,994 | 19,836 |
| Decennial Census | 20,678 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 20,547 | -- | -- | -- |
Median Age: 38.5
Male Median Age: 36
Female Median Age: 41
| Group | < 5 | 5-9 | 10-14 | 15-19 | 20-24 | 25-29 | 30-34 | 35-39 | 40-44 | 45-49 | 50-54 | 55-59 | 60-64 | 65-69 | 70-74 | 75-79 | 80-84 | 85+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 653 | 563 | 548 | 542 | 785 | 896 | 832 | 636 | 522 | 514 | 607 | 692 | 729 | 527 | 395 | 241 | 157 | 130 |
| Female | 596 | 507 | 526 | 517 | 764 | 857 | 751 | 658 | 567 | 564 | 657 | 761 | 851 | 642 | 484 | 294 | 271 | 311 |
| Total | 1,249 | 1,070 | 1,074 | 1,059 | 1,549 | 1,753 | 1,583 | 1,294 | 1,089 | 1,078 | 1,264 | 1,453 | 1,580 | 1,169 | 879 | 535 | 428 | 441 |
| White: | 6,891 | 33.44% |
| Black: | 10,457 | 50.74% |
| Hispanic:* | 1,681 | 8.16% |
| Asian: | 820 | 3.98% |
| American Indian: | 93 | 0.45% |
| Hawaiian: | 33 | 0.16% |
| Other: | 635 | 3.08% |
| Total: | 20,610 | 100% |
| Gender | Count | % | Median Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| Males: | 9,969 | 48.52% | 36.0 years |
| Females: | 10,578 | 51.48% | 41.0 years |
| Total: | 20,547 | 100% | 38.5 years |
| Native, born in the United States: | 17,539 | 88.42% |
| Native, born in PR, Island Areas, or abroad: | 439 | 2.21% |
| Foreign born, naturalized U.S. citizen: | 1,149 | 5.79% |
| Foreign born, not a U.S. citizen: | 709 | 9.37% |
| Total Population: | 19,836 | 100% |
| Total Native Population: | 17,978 | 90.63% |
| Total Foreign-born Population: | 1,858 | 9.37% |
In 2023, the Median household income is $66,467, which is considerably lower than the state median ($90,974), is up $19,227 (40.7%) since 2011 and above its 2019 pre-pandemic level by $8,717. Family households earn a median of $83,967 versus $42,246 for nonfamily households (a difference of $41,721). By gender, male median income is $55,769 and female is $41,690, which is far less than the state female median ($58,743), with a current gap of $14,079 that has widened from 2011 to 2023. The labor-force participation rate is 74.7%, which is considerably higher than the national rate (63.5%). The unemployment rate is 5.5%, which is notably higher than the state rate (4.2%). The largest occupation group is Management (33.2%).
Explore More: Income Over Time Household Income Employment Status By Occupation
| Income Type | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $47,240 | $48,223 | $47,378 | $46,684 | $47,011 | $48,080 | $50,686 | $54,322 | $57,750 | $58,952 | $61,358 | $65,421 | $66,467 |
| Median Family Income | $53,490 | $55,709 | $53,072 | $50,625 | $52,385 | $57,720 | $60,593 | $66,994 | $68,259 | $69,493 | $74,037 | $80,964 | $83,967 |
| Median NonFamily Income | $33,289 | $33,598 | $33,987 | $33,459 | $34,269 | $34,176 | $34,148 | $35,967 | $33,942 | $39,801 | $40,772 | $40,521 | $42,246 |
| Median Male Income | $38,093 | $37,778 | $40,755 | $40,791 | $40,724 | $40,398 | $42,372 | $42,162 | $47,759 | $47,569 | $50,551 | $52,170 | $55,769 |
| Median Female Income | $28,680 | $28,735 | $28,635 | $30,457 | $30,694 | $30,590 | $31,507 | $32,467 | $31,759 | $32,333 | $35,759 | $41,089 | $41,690 |
| Employed: | 10,078 | 65.00% |
| Unemployed: | 634 | 4.09% |
| Not In Labor Force: | 4,792 | 30.91% |
| Total: | 15,504 | 100% |
| Management, business, science, and arts: | 3,348 | 33.22% |
| Service: | 2,231 | 22.14% |
| Sales and Office: | 2,136 | 21.19% |
| Natural resources, construction, and maintenance: | 970 | 9.62% |
| Production, transportation, and material moving: | 1,393 | 13.82% |
| Total Civilian Employed Population: | 10,078 | 100% |
In 2023, the median home value is $244,800, which is much lower than the state median ($360,700), is up $44,400 (22.16%) since 2011 and above its 2019 pre-pandemic level by $51,600. The median gross rent is $1,335, which is falls short of the state median ($1,514), is up $352 (35.81%) since 2011 and above its 2019 pre-pandemic level by $151. Of occupied housing, owners make up 48.09% (73.48% with a mortgage, 26.52% free-and-clear) and renters 51.91% - making this ZIP Code less home ownership than the state and higher than national rental averages. The vacancy rate is 5.45%, which is far lower than the national rate (10.43%).
Explore More: Compare Home Value Home Value Over Time Rent & Over Time Housing Occupancy
| Group | 2011 | 2102 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $200,400 | $202,600 | $199,200 | $194,900 | $193,200 | $193,400 | $189,600 | $191,900 | $193,200 | $198,600 | $207,400 | $242,000 | $244,800 |
| Less than $500: | 227 | 5.23% |
| $500 to $999: | 876 | 20.19% |
| $1,000 to $1,499: | 1,522 | 35.09% |
| $1,500 to $1,999: | 1,189 | 27.41% |
| $2,000 to $2,499: | 379 | 8.74% |
| $2,500 to $2,999: | 21 | 0.48% |
| $3,000 or more: | 16 | 0.37% |
| No Rent: | 108 | 2.49% |
| Total: | 4,338 | 100% |
| Group | 2011 | 2102 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median Rent | $983 | $1,020 | $1,051 | $1,046 | $1,049 | $1,089 | $1,126 | $1,176 | $1,184 | $1,179 | $1,158 | $1,238 | $1,335 |
| Owner Occupied (with mortgage): | 2,953 | 35.34% |
| Owner Occupied (free and clear, no mortgage): | 1,066 | 12.76% |
| Renter Occupied: | 4,338 | 51.91% |
| Total Occupied Housing Units: | 8,357 | 100% |
| Occupied Housing Units: | 8,357 | 94.55% |
| Vacant Housing Units (not graphed): | 482 | 5.45% |
| Total Housing Units: | 8,839 | 100% |
| Single-Family Units: | 5,896 | 66.70% |
| Multi-Family Units: | 2,754 | 31.16% |
| Other Units: | 189 | 2.14% |
| Total Housing Units: | 8,839 | 100% |
In 2023, 24.40% of adults (25+) have a bachelor's degree or higher, which is markedly below the state rate (41.50%). High school or higher is 88.50%, which is generally lower than the state rate (91.30%). The uninsured rate is 10.80%, which is markedly above the state rate (7.10%). Public coverage is 42.90%, which is notably higher than the state rate (32.60%). The share of people in poverty is 12.50%, which is markedly above the state rate (6.80%), up 5.90 percentage points since 2011 and above its 2019 pre-pandemic level by 6.60 percentage points. This signals a sharp increase in hardship - a shrinking consumer base, heavy pressure on public services, and job-market contraction risks. Among residents ages 3+, the largest enrollment group is elementary (40.14%). College enrollment is 29.91%, which is comparable to the national rate (26.70%), meaning the community mirrors broader higher-education participation.
Explore More: Educational Attainment Health Insurance Poverty Over Time School Enrollment
| Less than 9th grade: | 681 | 4.77% |
| 9th to 12th grade, no diploma: | 961 | 6.73% |
| High school graduate (includes equivalency): | 4,371 | 30.59% |
| Some college, no degree: | 3,286 | 23.00% |
| Associate's degree: | 1,499 | 10.49% |
| Bachelor's degree: | 2,066 | 14.46% |
| Graduate or professional degree: | 1,424 | 9.97% |
| Total: | 14,288 | 100% |
| High school or higher: | 12,646 | 88.51% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher: | 3,490 | 24.43% |
| Private Insurance: | 11,478 | 53.31% |
| Public Insurance: | 8,037 | 37.33% |
| No Insurance: | 2,015 | 9.36% |
| Total: | 21,530 | 100% |
| Has Health Insurance: | 19,515 | 90.64% |
| Group | 2011 | 2102 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| % of People in Poverty | 6.6% | 8.9% | 11.2% | 12.1% | 11.9% | 11.0% | 10.0% | 7.5% | 5.9% | 8.4% | 10.6% | 12.1% | 12.5% |
Note: Counts of Families & People in poverty are not published at the ZIP Code level due to small sample sizes. Percentages shown are survey estimates from the American Community Survey (ACS). They may differ from official poverty statistics. The U.S. Census Bureau defines poverty status by comparing a family's or individual's total income with federal poverty thresholds that vary by family size and composition.
| Nursery School, Preschool: | 224 | 5.14% |
| Kindergarten: | 306 | 7.02% |
| Elementary school (grades 1-8): | 1,750 | 40.14% |
| High school (grades 9-12): | 776 | 17.80% |
| College or graduate school: | 1,304 | 29.91% |
| Total: | 4,360 | 100% |
| Early Childhood: | 530 | 12.16% |
| K-12 (Primary & Secondary School): | 2,832 | 64.95% |
ZIP Code 23502 supports both business and residential activity. According to the Business Census (2023), there are 1,154 business establishments, employing about 32,050 people with an annual payroll of $2,072,726,000. USPS data shows 9,263 residential mailboxes and 1,382 business mailboxes, reflecting local delivery coverage.
| # Residential Mailboxes: | 9,263Source: USPS |
| # Business Mailboxes: | 1,382Source: USPS |
| Total Delivery Receptacles: | 10,596Source: USPS |
| Single Family Delivery Units: | 6,766Source: USPS |
| Multi Family Delivery Units: | 805Source: USPS |
| # of Businesses: | 1,154Source: CBP |
| 1st Quarter Payroll: | $537,943,000Source: CBP |
| Annual Payroll: | $2,072,726,000Source: CBP |
| # of Employees: | 32,050Source: CBP |
ZIP Code 23502 is located in Norfolk City County, Virginia, within the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC Metropolitan Statistical Area (CBSA 47260) and Virginia's 2nd and 3rd Congressional Districts. This Metro area has a population of 1,782,590 people, about 1.15% of whom live in ZIP Code 23502. It covers 9.906 sq mi of land and a water area of 0.989 sq mi.
| CBSA Name: | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NCSource: Census |
| CBSA Number: | 47260Source: Census |
| CBSA Type: | MetroSource: Census |
| CBSA Division: | --Source: Census |
| CBSA Population: | 1,782,590Source: Census |
| MSA: | Norfolk-Virginia Beach-Newport News, VA-NCSource: Census |
| Land Area: | 9.906 sq miSource: Census |
| Water Area: | 0.989 sq miSource: Census |
| Congressional District: | 02,03Source: USPS |
| Congressional Land Area: | 991.68, 947.1 sq miSource: Census |
| PMSA: | --Source: Census |
| Intro Date: | < 2004-10Source: ZIP-Codes.com |
| Place FIPS Code: | 5157000Source: Census |
| Place Name: | Norfolk city; VirginiaSource: Census |
ZIP Code 23502 is in the Norfolk City Public Schools, which serves grades Pre-Kindergarten thru 12th. There are 10 public schools and 5 private school(s) in this ZIP Code. It also has 6 colleges, universities or post secondary education institutions nearby which would be a short commute to.
Our sources include trusted federal and licensed data from the United States Postal Service, U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Geological Survey, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and the National Center for Education Statistics, along with proprietary datasets created by ZIP-Codes.com. Data last updated on October 1, 2025.