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Norfolk, VA is the urban heart of coastal Hampton Roads, a mid-sized port city where Old Dominion University brings a big student presence to the west side. Campus sits among residential neighborhoods, with student life spilling into nearby Larchmont, Lambert's Point, and the Colley Avenue stretch of Ghent, the city's walkable historic district. Downtown along the Elizabeth River holds the waterfront, the Chrysler Museum of Art, the Nauticus maritime center, and the battleship Wisconsin, plus a working Navy harbor. Ocean View beaches sit at the city's north edge on the Chesapeake Bay. The vibe blends college-town energy near ODU with a real city's museums, parks, and waterfront, and the rest of Hampton Roads is a short drive across the bridges.
Sits right next to campus, the closest walk-to-class option and heavy on student houses. It is the go-to for being steps from the academic buildings.
Centered on Colley Avenue, this is the most walkable district in the city, with historic apartments, restaurants, and an easy bike to campus. It blends nightlife and convenience.
Just south along the river, Larchmont is leafy and well-regarded for quieter streets and a family-friendly feel. It suits students who want calm near campus.
Here's what you need to know about getting around Norfolk.
Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) runs city buses across Norfolk, and The Tide light rail links downtown, the medical complex, and the east side. The Tide doesn't reach ODU directly, so most students bus, bike, or drive to campus. Transit slows down after evening, so plan around the schedule for late trips. If you live near a route, the bus covers daily essentials.
The neighborhoods right around ODU and Ghent are walkable and bike-friendly. Flat terrain makes cycling easy year-round across the west side. If you live within walking distance of campus or along Colley Avenue, you can get by car-free for daily classes. Biking between Ghent and campus is a common student commute.
A car helps a lot once you want the Ocean View beaches, the rest of Hampton Roads, or late-night trips. Plan around bridge and tunnel traffic for anything regional. Parking near campus exists but a vehicle is mainly worth it for trips beyond the immediate area. Day to day near campus you can often leave it parked.
Common questions from students searching for housing.
It runs higher than smaller Virginia college towns because Norfolk is a real city. Shared houses near ODU often work out to roughly $600 to $900 per person, while one-bedroom apartments in Ghent or near downtown can run $1,400 to $2,000 a month. Splitting a house with roommates in Lambert's Point is usually the cheapest way in.
Browse student housing near each Norfolk-area university.