Hampton, VA Relocation Guide (2026)
Cost of living, housing, and income data for Hampton, sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Salary needed to live in Hampton →
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Last updated July 2026.
Population in Hampton, Virginia runs approximately 137,217. Median household income sits at $64,430, landing below the benchmark median we track across cities (-11%).
For renters and buyers alike, Hampton offers a median home value of $219,800 (below the tracked median, -33%) and median rent of $1,255 monthly. Local property taxes and current mortgage rates will shape the real cost of buying.
With home values running about 3.4× median income, Hampton lands on the affordable side of the housing-cost spectrum. Home values near Hampton rose 5.58% in the past year, a pace most would call steady rather than hot. Climate and natural-hazard risk in Hampton runs on the lower side, per FEMA's Relatively Low rating.
Personal Affordability Check
Renting at $1,255/mo in Hampton would take 23.4% of your income.
$356/mo under the 30% guideline.
Buying the median home ($219,800) would take 21.9% of your income toward principal & interest.
$330/mo under the 28% guideline.
Cost of housing in Hampton
Median home value is $219,800 and median gross rent is $1,255/month. For buyers, monthly costs depend heavily on current mortgage rates — worth checking before you commit.
FHFA's county-level home price index for Hampton City rose 5.58% over the past year (as of 2025).
HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom unit in the surrounding county is $1,713/month.
Climate & home insurance
FEMA rates Hampton's overall natural-hazard risk as Relatively Low. Risk level is a major driver of home insurance premiums.
Safety
Hampton reported a violent crime rate of 277.5 per 100,000 residents in 2025, per FBI data.
Moving to Hampton
Planning a move to Hampton? Compare licensed movers and get quotes based on your origin and move date.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Hampton, VA?
- Hampton's key cost-of-living figures: $219,800 median home value, $1,255 median monthly rent, and $64,430 median household income, per the US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022).
- How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Hampton?
- Using the standard 30%-of-income rule of thumb, affording Hampton's median rent of $1,255/month takes an income of roughly $50,200 a year. See the full salary breakdown (renting and buying) for Hampton.
- Is it better to rent or buy in Hampton?
- Hampton's median rent of $1,255/month translates to about $50,200 a year needed to rent comfortably, versus roughly $50,289 a year for principal and interest on the $219,800 median home (20% down, 30-year fixed, today's rates). How long you'll stay is usually the deciding factor.
- Is Hampton safe?
- Hampton's violent crime rate, per FBI reporting for 2025, stands at 277.5 per 100,000 residents.
See the full salary breakdown for Hampton →
Cities with a similar cost of living
Matched on median rent and household income within 15% of Hampton's.