In short: As of August 2026, median sale prices in Hampton Roads range from about $293,000 in Portsmouth and $300,000 in Hampton to $335,000 in Norfolk, $431,000 in Virginia Beach, and $447,000 in Chesapeake, according to Redfin. Your home's actual value depends on its condition, updates, lot, flood zone, and the most recent comparable sales on your street, which online estimates can't fully see. A comparative market analysis (CMA) from a local agent is the most accurate way to price a specific home.
"How much is my house worth?" is the single most common question homeowners ask before selling, and the first answer most people find is an automated estimate. Those numbers are a useful starting point, but in Hampton Roads they can miss by tens of thousands of dollars. Here's what homes are actually selling for in each city right now, why online estimates often disagree, and how to get a number you can plan around.
Hampton Roads home values by city (2026)
| City | Median sale price | Change vs. last year |
|---|---|---|
| Chesapeake | $447,000 | +5.7% |
| Virginia Beach | $431,000 | +7.7% |
| Norfolk | $335,000 | +0.3% |
| Hampton | $300,000 | +3.4% |
| Portsmouth | $293,000 | +8.4% |
Redfin median sale prices, three months ending August 2026.
Prices are still rising across most of the region, led by Portsmouth and Virginia Beach. Homes are also moving quickly: Norfolk homes went under contract in about 27 days in mid-2026, and Hampton homes sold at about 99.5% of list price.
Why your Zestimate and your neighbor's sale don't match
If you've checked a few websites, you've probably gotten a few different numbers. For example, in August 2026:
| City | Redfin median sale price | Zillow typical home value | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norfolk | $335,000 | $312,422 | about $22,600 |
| Chesapeake | $447,000 | $425,375 | about $21,600 |
| Portsmouth | $293,000 | $268,436 | about $24,600 |
Neither number is wrong. They measure different things: the median sale price reflects homes that actually sold, while Zillow's typical value estimates all homes, including ones that haven't sold in years. But the gap shows why a citywide average, or an algorithm, can't tell you what your home is worth.
In Hampton Roads specifically, automated estimates tend to miss:
- Flood zones and elevation. Two similar homes a few blocks apart can sell very differently depending on flood insurance requirements.
- Waterfront and water access. Deep-water, marsh-front, and water-view homes vary widely, and there are fewer comparable sales.
- Older homes in historic neighborhoods like Ghent, Larchmont, and Colonial Place, where renovations and original details drive price more than square footage.
- Updates and condition. A new roof, HVAC, or kitchen doesn't show up in public records.
- Distance to bases and commute routes. Military buyers often search tightly around Naval Station Norfolk, NAS Oceana, and JEB Little Creek–Fort Story.
- An assumable VA or FHA loan. A low-rate mortgage a buyer can take over can make your home stand out, which no valuation tool accounts for.
Three ways to estimate your home's value
- Online estimates (Zillow, Redfin, Realtor.com). They're free and instant, and useful for tracking trends over time. Treat them as a ballpark, not a list price.
- A comparative market analysis (CMA). A local agent compares your home to recent sales, active competition, and pending listings nearby, then adjusts for condition and features. It's free and is what most homes are priced from.
- A professional appraisal. A licensed appraiser gives a formal opinion of value, which is useful for divorces, estates, or refinancing. It usually costs a few hundred dollars and isn't needed just to list.
What you'll actually walk away with
Your home's value isn't the same as your check at closing. To estimate your net, start with the likely sale price and subtract:
- Your mortgage payoff and any other liens
- Agent commissions (negotiable)
- Virginia's grantor tax ($1 per $1,000 of the sale price)
- Settlement and title fees
- Any repairs or closing-cost help you agree to give the buyer
We walk through a full example on a typical Norfolk home, and compare it with a cash offer, in Sell to a "We Buy Houses" Company or List With an Agent?
Pricing mistakes that cost Hampton Roads sellers money
- Pricing off the highest online estimate. Overpriced homes sit, and homes that sit usually end up with price cuts.
- Using last spring's numbers. Values and buyer activity shift with the season and with PCS cycles.
- Comparing to the wrong neighborhood. Across a single ZIP code in Norfolk or Virginia Beach, values can vary widely.
Get a free home value and equity check
We'll prepare a free home value and equity check using recent sales on your street, not a citywide average, and show you exactly how much equity you have and what you'd walk away with after costs. If you have a VA or FHA loan, we'll also tell you whether it's assumable and how that could help your sale.
Sources: Redfin housing market data for Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, and Hampton (three months ending August 2026); Zillow home values for Norfolk, Chesapeake, and Portsmouth (August 2026); Virginia grantor tax per Va. Code § 58.1-802. Market figures change monthly; your home's value depends on its specific features and condition.
Frequently asked questions
It depends on your city and your home's features. As of August 2026, Redfin's median sale prices were about $447,000 in Chesapeake, $431,000 in Virginia Beach, $335,000 in Norfolk, $300,000 in Hampton, and $293,000 in Portsmouth. For your specific home, a free home value and equity check from a local agent, based on a comparative market analysis (CMA), is the most accurate starting point.
Treat it as a ballpark. Automated estimates can't see your home's condition, updates, flood zone, or water access, all of which matter a lot here. In August 2026, Zillow's typical home values in Norfolk, Chesapeake, and Portsmouth ran about $22,000 to $25,000 below Redfin's median sale prices, which shows how much the numbers can vary.
Up in most cities. For the three months ending August 2026, median sale prices rose 8.4% in Portsmouth, 7.7% in Virginia Beach, 5.7% in Chesapeake, 3.4% in Hampton, and 0.3% in Norfolk compared with a year earlier.
Not its appraised value, but it can affect how attractive your home is. If your VA or FHA loan is assumable and has a low rate, a buyer may be willing to pay more or move faster to take it over. Understand how an assumption affects your VA entitlement before agreeing to one.
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