The Oceanfront is Virginia Beach's resort district along the Atlantic, centered on the roughly three-mile boardwalk from Rudee Inlet north toward 40th Street. Homes near it range from beach cottages and duplexes in Old Beach and Shadow Lawn to oceanfront and bayside condos. Most addresses are zoned for Virginia Beach Middle School.
| Analysis area | within 1.25 mi of the Resort Area near Atlantic Avenue and 25th Street |
|---|---|
| Residential parcels | about 1,972 |
| Home mix (parcels) | 79% single-family/duplex · 10% townhouse |
| Main ZIP codes | 23451 |
| Elementary zones | W.T. Cooke Elementary (68%) · Linkhorn Park Elementary (20%) · Seatack Elementary (11%) |
| Middle zones | Virginia Beach Middle (100%) |
| High zones | First Colonial High (80%) · Frank W. Cox High (20%) |
| In FEMA flood hazard area | about 3% of residential parcels |
| In NAS Oceana noise zone | all of residential parcels |
| To Town Center / Oceanfront | 8.7 mi / 0.4 mi (straight line) |
Where is Oceanfront in Virginia Beach?
The Oceanfront runs along Atlantic and Pacific Avenues from Rudee Inlet in the south to roughly 40th Street, where the North End begins. Interstate 264 ends here, turning into 21st and 22nd Streets, so the resort strip is the eastern terminus of the city's main east-west highway. West of Pacific Avenue the grid gives way to older residential pockets such as Old Beach, Shadow Lawn and the streets around Linkhorn Bay and Bay Colony.
What is it like to live in Oceanfront?
Daily life here revolves around the beach and the boardwalk, which carries walkers, runners and a separate bike path. Neptune's Park and the King Neptune statue sit at 31st Street, and the Old Coast Guard Station museum is at 24th Street. The ViBe Creative District, the city's arts district near 17th Street, and the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) on Parks Avenue are a short walk inland. The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center is just south of Rudee Inlet on General Booth Boulevard. Expect seasonal traffic and events from spring through fall, which matters if you are comparing a year-round home with a second home or rental.
What kinds of homes are in Oceanfront?
Housing near the resort strip is mixed: older single-family cottages and duplexes on small lots, newer infill homes, townhomes, and condominium towers facing the ocean or the bay. Because some buildings are condos with association fees and rental rules, read the association documents early, especially if you plan to rent the property short-term. The city regulates short-term rentals by zoning district, so confirm what is allowed for a specific address with the City of Virginia Beach Planning Department before you buy.
The largest residential subdivisions in city property records within the analysis area are Shadow Lawn, Bay Colony, Seabridge Square, Bean Garden/Woodland, Ocean Hills/Holly Dunes and Birdneck Point.
Prices change too fast to print here. For current asking prices, days on market and new listings, use the live Oceanfront home search, which covers about 1 mile around the area and lists the newest homes first.
Which schools serve Oceanfront?
I overlaid City of Virginia Beach parcel records on VBCPS's 2026–27 attendance zones. These are the shares of residential parcels in the Oceanfront analysis area that fall in each zone:
| Level | School | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Elementary | W.T. Cooke Elementary | 68% |
| Elementary | Linkhorn Park Elementary | 20% |
| Elementary | Seatack Elementary | 11% |
| Middle | Virginia Beach Middle | 100% |
| High | First Colonial High | 80% |
| High | Frank W. Cox High | 20% |
Zones follow streets, so always confirm a specific address in the VBCPS School Locator. Old Donation School, the division's gifted school for grades 3–8, is citywide and admits by application, so it is not tied to any neighborhood (Old Donation School guide).
Private early-childhood programs near Oceanfront covered on this site: Beach Day School.
Is Oceanfront in a flood zone or jet noise zone?
Flood zones: about 3% of residential parcels in the area have a building the city maps in a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area (zones A, AE or VE). Some other buildings are listed under more than one flood designation, so check each address. If a building is in a Special Flood Hazard Area, lenders on federally backed mortgages require flood insurance.
Jet noise: all of residential parcels fall within an NAS Oceana Air Installation Compatible Use Zone (AICUZ) noise contour of 65 dB DNL or higher, including about 8% in the highest band above 75 dB DNL.
Virginia law (Va. Code § 55.1-704) requires sellers in Virginia Beach to disclose a property's noise zone or accident potential zone. You can look up any address on the city's AICUZ page, floodplain management page and property search.
What parks and amenities are near Oceanfront?
The largest city park properties within the analysis area:
- Beach Garden Park (about 18 acres), community park
- Norfolk Ave Trail (about 10 acres), linear park
- Old Beach Park, neighborhood park
- 24th Street Park, town green
- Seabridge Square Park, neighborhood park
- Laskin Gateway Park, special use gateway park
- Neptune's Park, town green
Other public facilities and landmarks nearby, with straight-line distance from the anchor point: Old Coast Guard Station (museum / historic site, 0.1 mi), King Neptune Statue (landmark, 0.5 mi), Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art (museum / historic site, 0.6 mi), Oceanfront Area Library (library, 0.7 mi), DeWitt Cottage/Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum (museum / historic site, 0.9 mi), Princess Anne Country Club (golf course, 1.1 mi), 7th Street Oceanfront Stage (entertainment, 1.2 mi), Rudees Inlet Station Marina (marina / boat ramp, 1.5 mi), Cavalier Golf Course & Yacht Club (golf course, 1.6 mi) and Seatack Recreation Center (recreation center, 1.7 mi).
Details and programs: Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation.
How do you get around from Oceanfront?
I-264 connects the Oceanfront to Town Center and Norfolk. Laskin Road and Virginia Beach Boulevard are the main surface routes west, and Pacific Avenue/General Booth Boulevard run south toward Rudee Inlet, the aquarium and Dam Neck. Pacific Avenue and Atlantic Avenue carry most resort traffic in summer.
| Destination | Distance |
|---|---|
| Town Center | 8.7 mi |
| the Oceanfront (Atlantic Ave at 17th St) | 0.4 mi |
| NAS Oceana | 3.8 mi |
| JEB Little Creek | 11.4 mi |
| JEB Fort Story | 5.4 mi |
| NAS Dam Neck Annex | 5.3 mi |
| Downtown Norfolk | 17.0 mi |
How do I start a home search in Oceanfront?
Begin with the Oceanfront home search. Once you have a few favorites, send them to me and I'll check the school zone, flood zone, noise zone and recent comparable sales for each address. If you are relocating or on military orders, I can set up a video tour. Call or text (757) 919-8874, or use the form below.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Oceanfront in Virginia Beach?
The Oceanfront is Virginia Beach's resort district along the Atlantic, centered on the roughly three-mile boardwalk from Rudee Inlet north toward 40th Street.
What schools serve Oceanfront?
In my analysis of 2026–27 VBCPS zones, most homes in the Oceanfront area are zoned for W.T. Cooke Elementary and Linkhorn Park Elementary at the elementary level, Virginia Beach Middle for middle school and First Colonial High and Frank W. Cox High for high school. Confirm each address with the VBCPS School Locator.
What types of homes are in Oceanfront?
About 79% of residential parcels in the analysis area are single-family or duplex and 10% are townhouses, according to City of Virginia Beach land-use data.
How much do homes cost in Oceanfront?
Prices change week to week and vary a lot by street, size and water access, so I don't publish a single number. Use the live search on this page for current listings, or ask me for a comparable-sales report on a specific home.
How far is Oceanfront from Town Center and the Oceanfront?
In a straight line, the anchor point is about 8.7 miles from Town Center and 0.4 miles from the Oceanfront at 17th Street. Driving distances are longer.
Can I rent out a home or condo at the Oceanfront short-term?
It depends on the zoning district and, for condos, the association's rules. The City of Virginia Beach regulates short-term rentals by location, and some areas require a permit or do not allow them. Check the specific address with the city's Planning Department and read the condo documents before you write an offer.
Is the Oceanfront under the jet noise zone?
Yes. In the city's parcel data, all of the residential parcels within 1.25 miles of 25th Street fall inside an NAS Oceana noise zone, most in the 65–70 or 70–75 dB DNL bands. Sellers must disclose the zone under Virginia law.
Sources
- City of Virginia Beach parcel and land-use data (Property Information map service)
- VBCPS 2026–27 attendance zones (ArcGIS)
- VBCPS School Locator
- City of Virginia Beach AICUZ
- City of Virginia Beach Floodplain Management
- Va. Code § 55.1-704 (military air installation disclosure)
- Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation
- City of Virginia Beach Points of Interest map service
How I built this page: Neighborhood names in Virginia Beach don't have official boundaries, so the numbers on this page describe City of Virginia Beach parcel records (October 2026 extract) within 1.25 miles of the Resort Area near Atlantic Avenue and 25th Street. Percentages count parcels, not people, and are approximate. Always verify a specific property.