Norwich is situated next to an industrial area of Roanoke.
Mill neighborhood turned industrial hub that maintains original housing
Norwich was founded in the late 1800s as a neighborhood for mill workers. From its onset to the mid-20th century, manufacturing plants like the Harris Hardwood Company lumber yard and the Norwich Twine Mill supported the community. Workers lived in modest, single-story homes, many of which can still be seen along Roanoke and Russell avenues and Penn Street. Larger two-story residences housed managers of the mills and other nearby industrial plants, and some of these properties remain on Buford Street. In the mid-20th-century, the neighborhood succumbed to floods and fire, and since the 1960s, the area has remained largely unchanged, aside from industrial infill along its southern and eastern perimeters. There isn’t much of a commercial presence in Norwich, and despite its location near the river, no large parks provide direct contact with the water. However, located about 3 miles from downtown and bordering the active neighborhood of Raleigh Court, the community maintains access to everyday conveniences and recreational activities, like the historic Grandin Theatre and the Roanoke River Greenway.
Many homes in Norwich feature covered front porches.
Worker’s cottages
Most of Norwich’s housing stock consists of original residences from the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. These former workers’ homes – shotgun, Cape Cod, bungalow, and American Foursquare properties – sit on a small grid between the Roanoke River and Mountain View Terrace. Because of its location along the bottomland of the river, the neighborhood is flatter than most of Roanoke, making it conducive to walking or biking. Elevation rises along Mountain View Terrace’s wooded bluff, encompassing the neighborhood’s southern border. Norwich hasn’t had much new construction since its founding, and the neighborhood looks like the former mill town it is. “It feels like a neighborhood stuck in time,” says Bailey Jenkins, Roanoke local and REALTOR® with MKB REALTORS®. Norwich’s streets were originally dirt; many lack curbs or sidewalks even though they’re now paved. Some houses have driveways, while others have cars parked in front of them. Potential homebuyers can find a property in Norwich for between $140,000 and $300,000, depending on size, age and condition. There are also a few houses that cost under $100,000, but they require renovations.
Residents of Norwich attend the Grandin Village Farmer's Market on Saturdays.
Weekends in nearby Raleigh Court
There isn’t a large commercial presence in Norwich. Smiley’s Jamaican Spot is the neighborhood’s sole restaurant. Its interior is painted yellow, green and black, representing the country whose food it serves. Residents can, however, choose from plenty of dining options in the neighboring community of Raleigh Court, particularly around where Grandin Road and Memorial Avenue intersect. These restaurants surround the historic Grandin Theatre, whose retro marquee lights up the street when the sun sets. After a movie, locals can share a pizza at Grace’s Place Pizzeria, grab something sweet from Pop’s Ice Cream & Soda Bar or sip drinks at the Community Inn or Spike’s. Norwich’s closest grocery store, Roanoke Co+op, is in the same area. This member-owned grocery store focuses on sustainable environmental practices and providing Roanokers with local, healthy foods. In terms of shopping, the Black Dog Salvage has a second location in Norwich. Locals might recognize this architectural salvage spot from its television show on the DIY Network. The store has since become a Roanoke staple. “It’s a huge warehouse,” Jenkins says. “They have eclectic, artsy pieces. People can have a booth and sell furniture or just browse through – they have so much cool stuff.”
Norwich Park is a great place for children to play and enjoy the new playground.
Norwich Park and the Roanoke River Greenway
Norwich Park sits in the southwestern corner of the neighborhood and is within walking distance of some homes. Pink flowering dogwood trees line paved paths that lead to a playground, a baseball field and a basketball court. A segment of the Roanoke River Greenway also runs through the neighborhood and leads east to Wasena Park. This paved portion doesn’t directly contour the water. Instead, it meanders past long grass and mature trees, with scattered benches alongside the path. Locals can access the greenway via the parking lot on Bridge Street.
Patrick Henry High School faithfully serves the community of Norwich.
Roanoke City Public Schools
Students are zoned for Roanoke City Public Schools. They can attend Virginia Heights Elementary School, which receives a B-minus from Niche, before Woodrow Wilson Middle School, which gets a C-plus. They can finish their public education at Patrick Henry High School, which gets a B from Niche and offers dual enrollment with Virginia Western Community College. “Virginia Western is one of the best community colleges out there,” says Scott Avis, Roanoke local and REALTOR® with MKB REALTORS®. “That’s a huge attribute for Roanoke itself.”
Getting around Norwich
Norwich is about 3 miles west of downtown Roanoke. Locals can get there using the Valley Metro buses that run along Mountain View Terrace. In case of emergency, Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, one of the city’s largest employers, is about 3 miles southeast. When it’s time to fly, the Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport is about 5 miles north.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
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On average, homes in Norwich, Roanoke sell after 87 days on the market compared to the national average of 47 days. The average sale price for homes in Norwich, Roanoke over the last 12 months is $230,000, up 40% from the average home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Home Trends
Median Price (12 Mo)
$230,000
Median Single Family Price
$230,000
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$203
Last 12 months Home Sales
2
Median List Price
$229,997
Median Discount From 1st List Price
0%
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
20%
Home Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
114
Median Year Built
1910
Avg. Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,024
Significantly below the national average
1,935
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
4,791
Distribution of Home Values
Source: Public Records
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Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
452
Median Age
37
Population Density
3 ppl/acre
Population under 18
27%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
13.1%
Below the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$26,161
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$29,051
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
80.3%
Below the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
0%
Advanced Degrees
0%
% Population in Labor Force
82.1%
Above the national average
65.1%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
43''
Average Winter Low Temperature
29°F
Average Summer High Temperature
88°F
Annual Snowfall
1''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
39/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
39/ 100
Some Transit
Transit Score®
26/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
