Norfolk, VA Senior Living

Senior living in Norfolk, Virginia Norfolk is a major city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is the second most populous city in Virginia after the city of Virginia Beach. Norfolk is located at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, and is shielded from the open Atlantic Ocean by the land on which Virginia Beach sits. The city is an important center of education, commerce, and culture in Virginia, and serves as a busy international port. There are brand new amenities in Norfolk such as light rail and an Amtrak stop that are helping to reinvigorate the city and establish Norfolk as a great place to settle. Senior living in Norfolk offers historical exploration, arts and cultural opportunities, and great outdoor exploration.

The Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean provide terrific opportunities for water sports such as boating and fishing. Norfolk also has great beaches, the beautiful Norfolk Botanical Garden, many walking and biking paths, and the Virginia Zoo. It is the annual host of the impressive Virginia Arts Festival, and the local Chrysler Arts Museum was lauded as one of the best in the state by a 1999 article in The New York Times. Norfolk is also notable for having the largest naval station in the world, and there are many historical and cultural attractions in the city connected with this significant institution.

Population

At the time of the 2011 US Census, the population of the city of Norfolk, Virginia was 242,915 residents. The median age of the residents of Norfolk was 29.7 years, which is quite a bit younger than the Virginia median age of 43.4 years. In 2011, 10.9 percent of the people living in Norfolk were 65 years of age or older.

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Norfolk is very close to the national average. As of March 2012, the cost of living index for Norfolk is 98.8, compared to the US average of 100. The cost of living for Virginia is generally a bit higher, with an average cost of living index of 109. *City-Data.com

Cost of Assisted Living in Norfolk

Home values in Norfolk are lower than the Virginia average, although still somewhat higher than the national average. In 2009, the median value of a house or condo in Norfolk was $215,100, compared to the Virginia median of $252,600 and the national median of just below $180,000. Assisted living accommodations in Norfolk begin at $2,400 per month for a one bedroom unit, and range as high as $4,925 per month. *City-Data.com

Crime Rates

In 2010, the city property crime rate for Norfolk was 141.54 percent higher than the state property crime rate, and 91.07 percent higher than the national property crime rate. The Norfolk violent crime rate was 189.03 percent higher than the state violent crime rate, and 52.92 percent higher than the national violent crime rate. *CityRating.com

Medical Facilities

There are three hospitals and medical centers in Norfolk that provide emergency and acute care services. These facilities are the Bon Secours – DePaul Medical Center, the Sentara Leigh Hospital, and the Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. *City-Data.com

Transportation

The major airport serving the region is the Norfolk International Airport. Public transportation inside the city in the form of bus, paratransit, and light rail is available through Hampton Roads Transit (HRT.) HRT also provides ferry service to Old Town Portsmouth.