South of the harbor you will find oceanfront Virginia Beach, urban Norfolk, suburban Chesapeake and the more open country of Suffolk and Isle of Wight. We can help you weigh commute, schools and price across all of them.
Southside Hampton Roads · 6 communities
Overview
Southside Hampton Roads is the part of the region south of the Hampton Roads harbor, centered on the cities of Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Portsmouth and Suffolk; we also cover Smithfield and Isle of Wight County to the west. It is home to Naval Station Norfolk, the world’s largest naval station, along with NAS Oceana and Norfolk Naval Shipyard, so many buyers are military families and civilian defense workers, alongside people drawn to the beaches and Bay.
Communities
More space, strong schools and easy drives to Norfolk, Virginia Beach and the shipyard.
Walkable historic neighborhoods, Chesapeake Bay beaches and minutes to Naval Station Norfolk.
Historic river city with a short walk or ferry ride to the water and the shipyard.
Small-town Main Street living, just over the James River Bridge from Newport News.
Virginia’s largest city by land, with room to spread out and a short hop to the Peninsula.
Oceanfront, bayfront and quiet country roads, plus quick access to NAS Oceana and Little Creek.
Compare
| Community | Best for | Schools | Property tax | Nearest bases |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chesapeake | Families wanting space and strong schools | Chesapeake Public Schools | $1.01 per $100 | Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Naval Station Norfolk, Northwest Annex |
| Norfolk | Walkable historic neighborhoods, Navy families, bay beaches | Norfolk Public Schools | $1.23 per $100 | Naval Station Norfolk, Little Creek |
| Portsmouth | Historic homes and short Navy commutes | Portsmouth Public Schools | $1.24 per $100 | NNSY & Naval Medical Center in city |
| Smithfield & Isle of Wight County | Small-town feel and lower taxes near the Peninsula | Isle of Wight County Schools | $0.81 per $100 (county) + $0.16 per $100 (Town of Smithfield) | NN Shipbuilding & Fort Eustis via JRB |
| Suffolk | Space, new construction and rural acreage | Suffolk Public Schools | $1.06 per $100 | Suffolk Joint DoD complex; NNSY ~30 min |
| Virginia Beach | Beach lovers, Navy families, wide range of budgets | Virginia Beach City Public Schools | $0.97 per $100 | NAS Oceana, Dam Neck, Little Creek–Fort Story |
Tax rates per $100 of assessed value; see each community guide for the period and a worked example.
Military
The world’s largest naval station, headquarters of Fleet Forces Command, with about 75 ships along 14 piers.
The Navy’s East Coast master jet base in Virginia Beach, home to all East Coast strike-fighter squadrons.
Virginia Beach base formed in 2009 from Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek and Fort Story at Cape Henry.
Founded in 1767 in Portsmouth, it is the Navy’s oldest and largest industrial facility.
The oldest continuously running hospital in the Navy medical system, opened in 1830.
A Navy installation in southern Chesapeake on the North Carolina line, home to the Naval Consolidated Brig.
For sale now
Get a value based on what actually sold near you this season, from a local team.
Questions
The core cities are Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Portsmouth and Suffolk. We also serve Smithfield and Isle of Wight County, west of Suffolk along US 258 and the James River.
It depends on the duty station. Many people at Naval Station Norfolk look in Norfolk, Virginia Beach or Chesapeake, Oceana and Little Creek families often stay in Virginia Beach, and shipyard and medical center staff often consider Portsmouth, Chesapeake and Suffolk.
The main crossings are the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel on I-64 and the Monitor-Merrimac Bridge-Tunnel on I-664. Commute times swing a lot with tunnel traffic, so test the drive at rush hour.
In some neighborhoods, yes. Low-lying parts of Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Portsmouth and Chesapeake can see tidal or storm flooding, so check the FEMA flood zone and ask about insurance costs before you make an offer.
Yes. We are based in Yorktown and help buyers and sellers across Southside Hampton Roads, including many military families relocating between duty stations.
More in the Southside
Key Areas
Figures were checked in October 2026. Tax rates, school rankings and drive times change; confirm them for a specific address before you buy.
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