Property taxes in Hampton Roads vary more than most people expect, and that difference can add up to thousands of dollars a year depending on which city you buy in. I bring this up with every buyer I work with because the purchase price only tells part of the story — your actual monthly cost depends heavily on where that house sits.
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How property taxes in Hampton Roads work
Virginia is an independent city state, which means each city in Hampton Roads sets its own tax rate and conducts its own property assessments. There’s no county layer adding taxes on top. Your property tax bill is calculated by multiplying your home’s assessed value by the city’s tax rate (expressed per $100 of assessed value). Assessments happen annually in most Hampton Roads cities, and the notices typically go out between January and April.
Here’s why this matters for homebuyers: two homes at the exact same price in different cities will have different annual tax bills. Sometimes the gap is over $1,000 per year. On a 30-year mortgage, that’s a real number.
2026 property tax rates by city
Here’s a breakdown of the current real estate tax rates across the major Hampton Roads cities. I’ve included what you’d actually pay annually on a $375,000 home (close to the regional median) so you can see the dollar impact.
| City | Tax Rate (per $100) | Annual Tax on $375K Home |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach | $0.97 | $3,638 |
| Chesapeake | $1.01 | $3,788 |
| Suffolk | $1.07 | $4,013 |
| Hampton | $1.16 | $4,350 |
| Newport News | $1.18 | $4,425 |
| Norfolk | $1.25 | $4,688 |
Look at the spread there. On the same $375,000 home, you’d pay $3,638 in Virginia Beach versus $4,688 in Norfolk. That’s a $1,050 difference per year — roughly $88 per month. Over a 30-year mortgage, that adds up to over $31,000 in additional taxes.
Why lower tax rates don’t always mean lower taxes
Here’s where it gets tricky. A city can lower its tax rate and you can still end up paying more in taxes than the previous year. How? Because assessed values went up. If your home’s assessed value increases by 8% and the city drops the rate by 2%, your bill still goes up.
This is exactly what’s been happening across Hampton Roads. Home values have appreciated significantly since 2020, and while some cities have adjusted rates downward, the net effect for most homeowners is a higher annual bill. According to 13News Now’s reporting on 2026 assessments, several Hampton Roads cities are dealing with this exact situation — lower rates, higher assessments, higher bills.
When I pull comps for buyers, I always check the assessed value against the sale price. If you’re buying a home for $400,000 that’s currently assessed at $320,000, expect your assessment to jump up at the next reassessment cycle, and your taxes along with it.
Property taxes and your monthly mortgage payment
Your lender collects property taxes through your escrow account as part of your monthly payment. This is the number that surprises a lot of first-time buyers — they see a low interest rate and a manageable principal and interest payment, then discover that taxes and insurance add $400-$600 per month on top.
For military buyers using a VA loan, this is especially important to budget for. Your VA loan covers the purchase with zero down payment, but it doesn’t exempt you from property taxes. An E-5 with dependents in the Norfolk MHA (VA298) receives $2,430 per month in BAH. If you’re buying a $375,000 home in Norfolk, your monthly tax escrow alone would be about $391. Add principal, interest, and insurance, and you’re looking at a total monthly cost that pushes right up against that BAH number.
The same home in Virginia Beach at the lower tax rate saves you about $88 per month on taxes — which could be the difference between comfortable and tight.
How to appeal your property tax assessment
If you think your assessment is too high, you can appeal. Every Hampton Roads city has a process for this, and the timelines matter:
- Norfolk: Assessment notices mailed by April 1. Informal appeal deadline: May 8. Board of Review deadline: June 1.
- Virginia Beach: Notices mailed by March 1. Informal appeals: March through April 30. Board of Equalization: through June 30.
- Chesapeake: Notices generally mailed by March 1. Check the Chesapeake Real Estate Assessor site for current deadlines.
I’ve helped clients appeal assessments before, and the key is having comparable sales data that supports a lower value. If the city has your home assessed at $400K but similar homes on your street sold for $370K, you have a case. Start with the informal appeal — it’s a conversation with the assessor’s office, and it often resolves things without going to a formal hearing.
Tax exemptions for veterans and military
Virginia offers a property tax exemption for 100% service-connected disabled veterans. If you qualify, your primary residence is completely exempt from real estate taxes. That’s significant — on a $375,000 home in Norfolk, you’re saving $4,688 per year. The application goes through the Virginia Department of Veterans Services.
There are also exemptions for surviving spouses and for elderly or disabled homeowners meeting certain income thresholds. Each city administers these locally, so the specific income limits and application deadlines vary.
Bottom line on property taxes in Hampton Roads
When you’re comparing homes across different cities — and in Hampton Roads, you’re almost always cross-shopping between at least two or three cities — factor in the property tax rate. A home that looks $20,000 cheaper in Norfolk might actually cost you more per month than a slightly pricier home in Chesapeake or Virginia Beach once taxes are in the equation.
I run these numbers for every buyer I work with so there are no surprises at closing. If you want to see exactly what your monthly cost would look like in different Hampton Roads cities, let’s talk — I’ll break it down for you.