Ocean, bay and farm country, all in one city. We help buyers find the part of Virginia Beach that fits how they live.
Virginia Beach · Southside
Overview
Virginia Beach is an independent city on the Atlantic coast and Chesapeake Bay in Southside Hampton Roads. Buyers choose it for its beaches, a wide range of neighborhoods, Virginia Beach City Public Schools, and short drives to NAS Oceana and JEB Little Creek–Fort Story. The general real estate tax rate is $0.97 per $100 of assessed value.
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Neighborhoods
The resort area along the Atlantic, home to the Boardwalk, the ViBe Creative District and condos, cottages and older beach homes.
A residential stretch of the Oceanfront north of the resort strip, with single-family homes a short walk from the beach.
An established area between Shore Drive and Laskin Road with tree-lined streets and many homes near Broad Bay and Linkhorn Bay.
The bayside corridor along Shore Drive, near First Landing State Park and the Lesner Bridge, with condos and homes close to Chesapeake Bay beaches.
A central, largely suburban part of the city with established subdivisions, golf, and easy access to I-264 and Norfolk.
A family-oriented area in the southeastern part of the city, close to Dam Neck Annex and Ocean Lakes High.
A quiet beach community in the city’s southern end, next to Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, with its own special service district tax rate.
The rural southern part of Virginia Beach, known for farms, larger lots and the annual strawberry festival.
Schools
| School | Virginia rank |
|---|---|
| Floyd Kellam High | 19th of 331 |
| Frank W. Cox High | 27th of 331 |
| Salem High | 38th of 331 |
| Kempsville High | 59th of 331 |
| Princess Anne High | 65th of 331 |
| Ocean Lakes High | 69th of 331 |
| Princess Anne Middle | 17th of 416 |
| Old Donation School | 20th of 416 |
| Great Neck Middle | 28th of 416 |
| Salem Middle | 84th of 416 |
| Plaza Middle | 108th of 416 |
| Virginia Beach Middle | 116th of 416 |
SchoolDigger 2026 statewide rankings (source). Zones follow addresses; confirm with Virginia Beach City Public Schools.
Commute
| To | Off-peak |
|---|---|
| NAS Oceana | ~10–15 min |
| JEB Little Creek–Fort Story | ~20 min |
| Dam Neck Annex | ~20 min |
| Naval Station Norfolk | ~25–30 min |
| Downtown Norfolk | ~20–25 min |
| Norfolk International Airport | ~20 min |
| Yorktown (via I-64 / HRBT) | ~50–60 min |
Approximate off-peak drive times; rush hour and tunnel traffic add time. PCSing? See our military relocation guide.
Living here
Virginia’s most-visited state park, with about 20 miles of trails and 1.5 miles of Chesapeake Bay beach.
Walk or bike the Boardwalk, then grab dinner in the ViBe Creative District.
Hands-on marine science exhibits that are a go-to for families on rainy days.
A historic lighthouse at Fort Story near where the Chesapeake Bay meets the Atlantic.
Kayak Back Bay or hike and bike out toward the primitive beaches of False Cape State Park.
A quieter beach for a slow summer day, away from the resort crowds.
Get a value based on what actually sold near you this season, from a local team that knows the neighborhoods.
Questions
Virginia Beach is an independent city. Like all Virginia cities, it is not part of any county. Taxes, schools and services all run through the City of Virginia Beach.
Virginia Beach City Public Schools serves the whole city. On SchoolDigger’s 2026 Virginia rankings, Floyd Kellam High ranked 19th and Frank W. Cox High ranked 27th of 331 high schools. Attendance zones depend on the address, so check the exact home before you buy.
The general real estate tax rate is $0.97 per $100 of assessed value. On a home assessed at $400,000, that works out to about $3,880 a year, or roughly $323 a month. Some areas, like Sandbridge, sit in special service districts with a higher rate.
From central Virginia Beach, NAS Oceana is usually about 10 to 15 minutes away and JEB Little Creek–Fort Story about 20 minutes. Naval Station Norfolk is closer to 25 to 30 minutes. Rush hour on I-264 can add time.
Lenders generally require flood insurance on homes in FEMA high-risk flood zones, and many homes near the bays and ocean fall in those zones. You can look up a property’s zone with the city’s Find My Flood Zone tool. Virginia Beach is a Class 7 community in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which gives eligible NFIP policyholders a 15% premium discount.
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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