Ghent, Norfolk: Historic Homes, The Hague and Colley Avenue at Your Door
Ghent is Norfolk’s best-known historic neighborhood (ZIPs 23507 and 23517): a walkable mix of 1890s–1910s homes, condos and townhomes around The Hague, a short walk from the Chrysler Museum and the shops and restaurants of Colley Avenue and 21st Street.
This guide covers what the homes are like, what they’re selling for, what to watch for in a 100-year-old house, the schools, and how Ghent works for commuters and military families.
| Location | Northwest of downtown Norfolk, between the Elizabeth River and Monticello Avenue; ZIPs 23507 and 23517 |
|---|---|
| Lot sizes | Mostly small city lots on a historic street grid [Chris: add typical range from your CMA] |
| Homes | Queen Anne, Colonial Revival and Shingle-style houses from about 1890 to the 1910s, plus condos, townhomes and newer homes in Ghent Square |
| HOA | Usually none for houses; condos and many townhomes have associations |
| Median sale price | About $289,919 for Ghent (Sept. 2026, condo-heavy); about $566,803 for West Ghent (June 2026) |
| Median days on market | 58 days (Ghent, Sept. 2026) |
| Schools | Many addresses: W. H. Taylor Elementary, Blair Middle, Maury High (by address); Ghent School K-8 is a choice school |
| Parks & water | The Hague and its waterfront, Stockley Gardens, the Chrysler Museum of Art |
Market figures: Redfin neighborhood pages for Ghent (September 2026), West Ghent and Ghent Square (June 2026), viewed October 16, 2026. Updated October 2026.
On this page: Why people choose it · Homes · Market · Location · Things to do · Schools · FAQ
Why People Choose Ghent
People choose Ghent to walk to dinner, live in a house with real history, and be five minutes from downtown, the hospitals and the base road.
- A neighborhood you can walk. Colley Avenue and 21st Street are lined with restaurants, coffee shops, boutiques and the Naro, a 1936 movie house that still shows independent films.
- Architecture you can’t build today. Wide porches, turrets, tall windows and tree-lined streets laid out around the water at The Hague.
- Close to work. Downtown Norfolk, Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, the Eastern Virginia Medical School campus and Old Dominion University are all nearby.
- Recognized nationally. In 2018 the American Planning Association named Ghent one of its five Great Neighborhoods in America.
Ghent also has range. You can buy a condo in a converted building, a townhome in Ghent Square or a three-story Victorian on Mowbray Arch, all in the same neighborhood.
The Homes in Ghent
Expect historic single-family houses built mostly between 1890 and the 1910s, along with condos, townhomes and some newer homes, especially in Ghent Square.
Ghent was laid out in the 1890s as Norfolk’s first planned suburb, with water, sewer and gas lines, concentric tree-lined streets and landscaped open spaces around Smith’s Creek, which its developers renamed The Hague. Queen Anne, Colonial Revival and Shingle styles dominate the older blocks. Ghent Square, rebuilt during urban renewal, has newer townhomes and houses designed to fit the historic look.
What I check on an 1890s–1910s home
My background is in commercial and industrial construction, so I walk century-old homes differently. On a Ghent house I look closely at:
- Wiring: leftover knob-and-tube or ungrounded circuits, and how well past electrical updates were done.
- Plumbing: old galvanized or cast-iron pipes and the main sewer line to the street. A camera inspection of the sewer line is money well spent.
- The foundation, brick piers and crawlspace or basement: moisture, settling and past termite damage, especially on lower ground near The Hague.
- Roofs, chimneys and flashing: unlined chimneys, worn flashing and slate or older roofs that need a specialist’s eye.
- Heating and cooling: old boilers, radiators, signs of a former heating-oil tank, and how ductwork was squeezed into a house built without it.
- Lead paint, which is expected in homes built before 1978, and whether past additions and conversions were permitted.
Historic district design rules can affect windows, siding, porches and additions, so I check those before you plan a renovation. For sellers, the same eye tells me which repairs buyers will flag at inspection and which updates actually move the price.
Ghent Home Prices and Market
Redfin’s Ghent median sale price was about $289,919 in September 2026, with homes selling in a median of 58 days, but that number blends condos and houses, and single-family homes typically sell for much more.
- Ghent median sale price: about $289,919 in September 2026 (Redfin shows it down 39.7% year over year, a swing that reflects a heavy month of condo sales)
- Ghent homes sold in September 2026: 21
- Ghent median days on market: 58; sale-to-list: about 99.2%; 23.8% sold above list
- West Ghent median sale price: about $566,803 in June 2026, with a median of 20 days on market
- Ghent Square median sale price: about $517,320 in June 2026, with a median of 39 days on market
With so few sales each month, Ghent’s medians jump around. The home type (condo, townhome or house), the block, the condition of a century-old house and how close it sits to The Hague matter far more than any neighborhood average.
Source: Redfin neighborhood pages for Ghent (September 2026), West Ghent and Ghent Square (June 2026), viewed October 16, 2026. Market data changes quickly. Call or text me for today’s numbers or a value on your home.
Location: Downtown, the Hospitals and the Base Road
Ghent sits just northwest of downtown Norfolk, with Brambleton Avenue to the south and Hampton Boulevard running north toward Old Dominion University and Naval Station Norfolk.
- Downtown: Downtown Norfolk, the waterfront and the Harrison Opera House are minutes away.
- Medical: Sentara Norfolk General Hospital and the Eastern Virginia Medical School campus are next door, which makes Ghent popular with hospital staff.
- Military: Hampton Boulevard leads to Naval Station Norfolk. Norfolk Naval Shipyard (Portsmouth) and JEB Little Creek are a short drive or tunnel ride away; NAS Oceana is a longer commute on I-264.
- Interstates: I-264 and I-64 connect you to Virginia Beach, Chesapeake and the Peninsula. Tunnels shape commute times here, so drive your route at rush hour.
The Hague, Stockley Gardens and the Chrysler Museum
Ghent’s water, parks and culture are all within a few blocks: The Hague’s waterfront, Stockley Gardens and the Chrysler Museum of Art, where general admission is free.
The Hague
The Hague is the curving inlet at the heart of Ghent. Its developers reshaped the old Smith’s Creek shoreline in the 1890s to echo the canals of Holland, and homes along Mowbray Arch and the surrounding streets face the water.
Stockley Gardens
This neighborhood park hosts the Stockley Gardens Arts Festival every spring and fall, with more than 115 artists and vendors. It benefits the Hope House Foundation, and admission is free.
Arts, dining and shopping
- Chrysler Museum of Art: One Memorial Place, on The Hague. General admission is free.
- Harrison Opera House: Home stage of the Virginia Opera, across from the Chrysler Museum.
- The Naro: Opened in 1936 as the Colley Theater, now an independent film house on Colley Avenue.
- Colley Avenue and 21st Street: The neighborhood’s main shopping and dining streets, with events through the year from the Ghent Business Association.
Details: Virginia Department of Historic Resources, American Planning Association, Chrysler Museum of Art and Ghent Business Association. Hours and event dates change; check before you go.
Schools Serving Ghent
Many Ghent addresses are zoned for William H. Taylor Elementary, Blair Middle and Maury High School in Norfolk Public Schools, with Ghent School offering a K-8 choice option in the neighborhood.
- William H. Taylor Elementary School
- Blair Middle School
- Maury High School (322 Shirley Avenue; opened in 1911)
- Ghent School, K-8 (200 Shirley Avenue; a choice school, so enrollment isn’t automatic by address)
Ghent sits near several school-zone lines, so two homes a few blocks apart can be zoned differently.
School assignments can change. Confirm any address with the Norfolk Public Schools “Find My School” tool before you buy.
Ghent FAQ
Where is Ghent in Norfolk?
Ghent is a historic neighborhood just northwest of downtown Norfolk, roughly between the Elizabeth River and Monticello Avenue, from Brambleton Avenue and The Hague north to about 22nd Street.
- It includes several parts with their own names, including Ghent, North Ghent, West Ghent and Ghent Square.
- Most addresses use ZIP code 23507 or 23517.
Is Ghent a historic district?
Yes. The Ghent Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980, and the North Ghent Historic District followed in 2001.
- Most of the original Ghent houses went up between 1890 and 1905; North Ghent filled in mainly between 1897 and 1912.
- Separate from the National Register, the city uses historic district zoning in parts of Ghent, so exterior changes and new construction may need design review. Check the rules for the exact address before you plan work.
How much do homes cost in Ghent?
It depends a lot on whether you’re buying a condo or a house: Redfin’s Ghent median sale price was about $289,919 in September 2026, a figure pulled down by the neighborhood’s many condos.
- In the separate West Ghent area, the median was about $566,803 in June 2026; in Ghent Square, about $517,320.
- Single-family homes on the best blocks sell well above those medians. Ask for a CMA on the exact street and home type.
How fast do homes sell in Ghent?
Homes in Ghent sold in a median of 58 days in September 2026, at about 99.2% of list price, according to Redfin.
- West Ghent homes moved faster, in a median of 20 days in June 2026.
- Well-priced, updated houses near Colley Avenue and The Hague still draw quick interest.
What schools serve Ghent?
Many Ghent addresses are zoned for William H. Taylor Elementary, Blair Middle and Maury High School in Norfolk Public Schools, but zones are drawn by address.
- Ghent School, at 200 Shirley Avenue, is a K-8 choice school, so attending it isn’t automatic by address.
- Confirm any address with the Norfolk Public Schools “Find My School” tool before you buy.
Does Ghent have an HOA?
Most single-family houses in Ghent have no HOA, but condos and many townhomes have an association with monthly dues.
- For a condo, read the association documents, budget and reserves before your offer is final.
- Historic district design rules can apply even where there’s no HOA.
Is Ghent in a flood zone?
Some Ghent blocks are, especially near The Hague and the Elizabeth River, so check the FEMA flood map for the exact address.
- Tidal and storm flooding around The Hague is a known issue, and the city has flood-resilience projects in the works.
- Get a flood insurance quote during your inspection period, not after. Read more: Flood Zones in Hampton Roads.
Is Ghent good for military families?
Yes, especially for Navy families at Naval Station Norfolk: Hampton Boulevard runs north from the Ghent area past Old Dominion University to the base.
- Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth and JEB Little Creek are a short drive or tunnel ride away; NAS Oceana is a longer commute.
- Drive your route at rush hour before you choose. Read more: Selling or Buying During a PCS Move to Hampton Roads.
Buying or Selling in Ghent?
Get a straight answer on the block, the building and the house itself.
If you’re selling, I’ll tell you what your home is worth in today’s Ghent market and which repairs are worth making first. If you’re buying, I’ll help you compare condos, townhomes and houses, and spot what a century-old home is hiding before you’re under contract.
Chris Faircloth | The Agent Faircloth Team | Swell Realty Co.
Call or text 757.288.0983 · AgentFaircloth@gmail.com · Instagram @AgentFairclothVB
Licensed since 1999 · CDPE, ABR, CMRS, Luxury Home Marketing
More neighborhood guides: All communities · Lakeview Park · Great Neck · Great Bridge (Chesapeake)
Helpful reading: Buyer FAQ · Seller FAQ · Flood Zones in Hampton Roads
