Hampton Housing Market Analysis

Current market conditions, demographic trends, and the affordability crisis shaping Hampton's housing landscape

Market Snapshot

Population & Demographics

Population (city proper)~130,000
Median Age36 years
Race/Ethnicity
Black or African American49.03%
White37.5%
Asian & Other13.47%
Median Household Income$67,758

Housing Stock & Tenure

Total Occupied Units57,740
Ownership Status
Owner-Occupied55.6%
Renter-Occupied44.4%
Vacant Units7.6%
Employment (Professional)76%

Critical Market Challenges

69%
Inventory Collapse

Resale home inventory declined 69% since 2015 (from 10,000 to 3,100 homes). Severe supply constraint limiting buyer options.

27%
Rental Escalation

Average rent jumped from $1,162 to $1,474 over 5 years. Affordability crisis for renter households.

13%
Poverty Rate

13% of population lives below poverty line (17,400 people), higher than national average (12.4%).

20.8%
Child Poverty

20.8% of children live below poverty line, indicating systemic challenges for working families.

Pricing & Market Activity

Median Sales Price

$295,000

Current median, up 7.84% YoY (Jan-Nov 2024)

Regional context: Hampton Roads median is $317,777 (2023), showing Hampton is below-region average

Market Activity

Days on Market
~29 days
Avg Offers per Home
1 offer

Affordability Metrics

Median Rent
$1,474/mo
Severe Housing Problems
18.3%

Economic Drivers & Military Dependency

Regional Military Presence

Naval Station Norfolk: World's largest naval base with 64 ships, 187 aircraft, 46,000 active-duty + 21,000 civilian personnel

Regional Impact: ~83,000 active-duty military personnel in Hampton Roads (nearly 1/4 of U.S. active-duty)

Economic Share: Military accounts for 45.6% of all regional economic activity with $28B in direct DOD spending (2023)

Economic Diversification Strategy

Hampton Roads is actively shifting away from military-only dependence toward:

  • • Shipping & Port Operations
  • • Defense-related Manufacturing
  • • Technology & Modeling/Simulation
  • • Tourism & Hospitality
  • • Healthcare & Education

Strategic Implication for Housing: Military housing benefits and base payroll are major drivers of demand. Any military downsizing or budget constraints would significantly impact Hampton's housing market stability.

See How Hampton Compares Regionally

Understand Hampton's competitive position relative to peer cities in the Hampton Roads region

View Competitive Analysis →