Almost half of Hampton Roads residents say their neighborhood is unaffordable, survey finds

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Residents’ perception of the economy of Hampton Roads has improved over the past year, but people are still greatly concerned about the cost of housing, according to a new report from Old Dominion University.

The findings were detailed in ODU’s 2025 Life in Hampton Roads survey , a poll of more than 700 residents taken in July and released this week.

Compared with 2024, a higher portion of those surveyed think the economy of Hampton Roads is good or fair — about 86% to 77%.

However, almost half of those surveyed said the neighborhood they live in is either “somewhat unaffordable” or “very unaffordable” for people with similar household incomes.

Participants were asked about multiple aspects of life in the region, including the economy, he