The first time I was sent to Norfolk area was 92, and the Enterprise was still deep in ROH, so I always lived in the Newport News or Hampton areas. Once the ship moved back over to the base, I just drove the bridge tunnels every day. I bought a cheap motorcycle while the ship was in NNSYDDCO, and that cut down my walking commute a LOT. But, one or two close calls in the tunnel on the motorcycle cured me of that. Hampton and Newport news are, well, splotchy. Anything well away from the shipyard in Newport News, up around J Clyde Morris, is OK to live in. And the Mariner's Museum park is very nice to have close by. Hampton, though... There are some nice areas, and a block or two away are areas you don't even want to drive through. You have to look around, and get a feel before signing a lease. Another idea.. When we moved here to Emporia, KS, we were looking around, and saw a couple bike cops, so asked them for advice on living areas. They pretty much drew us a map, outlining areas to avoid.