Virginia Coastal Living - Regional Profile

Watch now to learn more about the Hampton Roads area

Sentara is proud to provide healthcare in America's first region. Located in southeast Virginia, Hampton Roads is ranked the 31st largest Metropolitan area in the United States. Recognized by a recent study as one of the nation's most diverse regions, Hampton Roads is home to just over one and a half million people and includes the cities of Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Poquoson, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Virginia Beach and Williamsburg. It also includes the counties of Gloucester, Isle of Wight, James City, Mathews, Southampton, Sussex, Surry and York; and Gates and Currituck in North Carolina.

Sentara Healthcare has long been an integral part of the Hampton Roads community. But just what is this region all about? Hampton Roads has it all, from 29 miles of Atlantic Ocean beaches to historical early-American culture. Lush waterways and state parks. Safe neighborhoods. Thriving, prosperous economy. The reasons more than 1.6 million people call Hampton Roads home are endless.

This vibrant community offers:

Affordable living and low unemployment

Safe cities with low and decreasing crime rates

Excellent public and private education systems

Myriad of higher education options

Oceanfront, bay front, riverside, lakeside, rural, suburban or city living

Totally integrated transportation network of highway, air, rail and sea services

Four mild and distinctive seasons with moderate temperatures

Endless recreational activities

Abounding cultural and historical enrichment

Home of the largest naval base in the world

Environmentally conscious communities

Ready to Relocate?
Use the Relocation Guide to learn more about Hampton Roads and start planning your new home.

Nationally Recognized Communities & Statistics

Hampton Roads ranked 15th in the nation for the highest proportion of white-collar employees. 49.4% of the region’s adults are in a white-collar profession, putting Hampton Roads among the top 15 metro markets in the country (U.S. average is 45.7%). Half of the region’s market is comprised of executives, managers or professionals who are affluent and active consumers.

The second largest per capita concentration of scientists and engineers in the U.S. can be found in Hampton Roads.

Hampton Roads has the largest naval base in the world with 104,465 personnel in uniform and a total annual payroll of $5.4 billion. Recent pay raises add more than $2 million per day to the region’s economy.

Hampton Roads July 2004 unemployment rate is 4.3% while the U.S. rate is at 5.7%.

USA Today placed Hampton Roads in the "Top 10 Booming Downtowns" category. The area is one of the top 10 markets in the country as named by Business Relocation & Expansion.

79.6% of Hampton Roads adults own their home, which nationally ranks the area 3rd for home ownership.

USA Today ranked the city of Hampton 7th in the country for quality of life and in the top 50 cities for retirees.