John King · Realtor · Berkshire Hathaway RW Towne Realty · Virginia Beach, VA · 23454 · Great Neck · (757) 270-3994
Great Neck,
Virginia Beach
The complete neighborhood guide & market update for Virginia Beach's most coveted peninsula — where Broad Bay, the Lynnhaven River, and the region's best schools meet on a single strip of land.
Virginia Beach's most coveted peninsula — and the neighborhood people never leave
If you've spent any time in Virginia Beach real estate, you've heard some version of this story: buyer comes in looking at Kempsville or Hilltop, agent drives them through Great Neck once, and suddenly the entire search changes. It's one of the most common things I see. The peninsula has that effect on people.
Great Neck occupies a privileged geography that no amount of development can replicate — a wooded, waterfront peninsula jutting into Broad Bay and the Lynnhaven River, just south of Shore Drive and minutes from the Chesapeake Bay. Homes here sit on mature, established lots with the kind of landscape that takes decades to grow. Neighbors who moved here 30 years ago are still here. This is one of those neighborhoods defined by legacy owners — people who arrived, discovered the combination of water access, top-tier schools, and seclusion-in-the-city, and simply never had a reason to leave.
What sets Great Neck apart is the combination it delivers simultaneously: boat docks in the backyard, some of Virginia Beach's best public high schools within minutes, a grocery corridor that includes Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, and Fresh Market all within two miles, and First Landing State Park essentially right out the back door. It's the kind of neighborhood where the more you look, the more you find — and the harder it becomes to justify living anywhere else.
Where is Great Neck and how do you get around?
Great Neck Road is the spine of the peninsula, running north from I-264 directly up to Shore Drive and the Chesapeake Bay beach access. The drive from Hilltop at the base to Shore Drive at the top is about 10 minutes — and along the way you pass grocery stores, restaurants, the recreation center, Cox and First Colonial High Schools, Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital, and the kind of established neighborhood fabric that makes it one of the most self-contained communities in the city.
The peninsula is bounded by Broad Bay to the east and the Eastern Branch of the Lynnhaven River to the west, with Linkhorn Bay at the southern point. This geography means nearly every sub-neighborhood within Great Neck has at least some waterfront property within walking distance. Deep-water lots connect through canal systems to the Chesapeake Bay via the Lynnhaven Inlet under the Lesner Bridge.
Great Neck real estate: what to expect
Great Neck is a fully developed peninsula — there are no open fields for a developer to come in and build hundreds of new homes. That structural constraint, combined with the school zone and water access, keeps demand consistently higher than supply. Homes average about 28 days on market and the corridor regularly sees multiple offers in the core price ranges.
The housing stock is predominantly brick ranch homes, split-levels, and Craftsman-inspired Colonial Revivals, most built between the 1960s and 1990s on large, established lots. The mix runs from condos and townhomes starting in the $185K–$400K range all the way to waterfront estates exceeding $3M with private docks, boat lifts, and direct Bay access. Browse current Great Neck listings here.
Price ranges by property type
| Property Type | Typical Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Condos & townhomes | $185K – $400K | Great Neck Landing, Great Neck Grove, Great Neck Villas; entry point into the corridor |
| Mid-range single-family | $400K – $650K | Brick ranches, colonials, established lots; most active segment |
| Updated/larger homes | $650K – $1.1M | Renovated ranches, larger lots, water views, boat-accessible canals |
| Waterfront estates | $1M – $3M+ | Deep-water dock access to Broad Bay, Lynnhaven, Linkhorn Bay; private beachfront |
| Rental range | $1,800 – $4,500+/mo | Strong demand from Little Creek/Oceana personnel and hospital staff |
Great Neck is one of the best corridors in Virginia Beach for a wide range of military buyers. The condo entry point around $185K–$314K makes it accessible on E-7 and lower O-grade BAH. The mid-range single-family segment at $400K–$650K is the sweet spot for O-3 through O-5 families. And the upper waterfront tier serves senior officers and civilian executives who want the best Virginia Beach has to offer. Call me and I'll show you exactly which segment fits your situation.
Schools serving Great Neck
Great Neck feeds into what many consider the best public high school pipeline in Virginia Beach — Cox High School and First Colonial High School are consistently ranked among the top in the state, and the middle and elementary schools are A-rated across the board.
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Living in Great Neck: water, parks, and community
Great Neck is the kind of neighborhood where the lifestyle sells itself. Boating access, 70+ acres of community parkland, an 83,000-square-foot recreation center, First Landing State Park at the top of the road, and some of the most active neighborhood civic leagues and associations in Virginia Beach — it adds up to a way of living that's genuinely hard to replicate.
What to do in and around Great Neck
Great Neck residents live between the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean — and both are within easy reach. Here's how people actually spend their time here.
Restaurants in and around Great Neck
Great Neck is surrounded by some of Virginia Beach's best dining — from the Hilltop corridor's upscale restaurants to the waterfront spots along Shore Drive. The peninsula itself is food-rich in every direction.
Two markets worth knowing
The Shore Drive Farm Market at Lynnhaven Square is the closest farmers market option for Great Neck residents — a year-round Saturday morning market with local produce, artisan vendors, and the relaxed Shore Drive community vibe. Great Neck Road leads directly to Shore Drive, making it an easy Saturday morning run.
The Virginia Beach Farmers Market at Dam Neck is open every day of the year — fresh local produce, a full-service butcher, dairy, organic grocer, florist, bakery, candy shop, and a restaurant open from 7am. Live Hoedown country music Friday evenings April through October. Special events monthly March through December.
Who calls Great Neck home?
Great Neck is Virginia Beach's "high rent district" — the phrase locals use without irony to mean the neighborhood where people end up when they can afford to make the deliberate choice for the best combination of schools, water, and lifestyle the city offers. The average household income runs around $108,000, reflecting a community of established professionals, senior military officers, executives, and longtime residents who bought in decades ago and have no intention of leaving.
The neighborhood draws a mix of legacy owners — people who've lived there for 20–30 years — and aspirational buyers who make Great Neck the goal of their Virginia Beach real estate journey. Military families in the O-3 to O-6 range are a consistent buyer pool, attracted by the school pipeline, the multi-base commute flexibility, and the recognition that the equity they build in Great Neck translates well when PCS orders come through. Healthcare professionals at Sentara round out the buyer pool along with retired military families who planted roots here and stayed.
The result is a community with unusually deep social roots — active civic leagues, neighborhood traditions measured in decades, and that increasingly rare sense of actually knowing your neighbors.
Frequently asked questions
What zip code is Great Neck, Virginia Beach?
Great Neck is primarily in zip code 23454 in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Some portions of the sub-neighborhoods near the base of the peninsula may be in 23455 or 23451. When targeting a specific neighborhood within Great Neck, verify the exact zip code with your agent.
How much do homes cost in Great Neck?
Great Neck homes range from approximately $185,000 for condos in communities like Great Neck Landing and Great Neck Villas to $3M+ for waterfront estates on Broad Bay with private docks. The median sale price is approximately $433,000 with an average around $550,000. The wide range reflects the spectrum from entry-level condos to luxury waterfront properties. Homes near water or with dock access command meaningful premiums over comparable inland homes.
What schools serve Great Neck?
Great Neck feeds into Virginia Beach City Public Schools with John B. Dey Elementary or Thoroughgood Elementary (PK–5), Great Neck Middle School (6–8, Niche A), and Frank W. Cox High School or First Colonial High School (9–12) depending on exact address. Cox and First Colonial are consistently ranked among the best public high schools in Virginia Beach. Cape Henry Collegiate School (PK–12), a highly regarded private independent school, is located within the Great Neck corridor adjacent to First Colonial High School.
Is Great Neck good for military families?
It's one of the best. JEB Little Creek–Fort Story is approximately 15–20 minutes east via Shore Drive — no tunnel, straight shot. NAS Oceana is about 15 minutes south. Naval Station Norfolk is 20–25 minutes west via I-264. The multi-base flexibility is a genuine differentiator. O-3 through O-5 families consistently target Great Neck because the school pipeline, water access, and commute combination is hard to match. As a Navy veteran, I know what the commute calculus looks like — call me and I'll walk you through exactly what your BAH buys here in 2026.
What is First Landing State Park?
First Landing State Park is Virginia's most visited state park — 2,888 acres of cypress swamp, live oak forest, and Chesapeake Bay beach right off Shore Drive at the top of Great Neck Road. The site where English settlers first landed in 1607 before reaching Jamestown. 20 miles of hiking and biking trails, 1.5 miles of Bay beach, kayaking, fishing, cabins, and camping. Great Neck residents have direct access without any significant drive — it's the kind of backyard amenity that would be a destination feature in any other city.
What is boating like from Great Neck?
Exceptional. The Lynnhaven River connects to the Chesapeake Bay via the Lynnhaven Inlet under the Lesner Bridge — giving residents direct access to Bay fishing, the Bridge-Tunnel grounds, and Atlantic Ocean approaches. Broad Bay and Linkhorn Bay offer calmer water for kayaking, paddleboarding, and sailing. Deep-water dock lots connect through canal systems throughout the peninsula. Marina Shores Marina and Long Shore Marina provide slip rentals and services for residents without private docks. If you're a boater, Great Neck was built for you.
How far is Great Neck from the Virginia Beach Oceanfront?
The Virginia Beach Oceanfront is approximately 6 miles from the heart of Great Neck — about a 15-minute drive. The Chesapeake Bay beaches along Shore Drive are 5–10 minutes north. Great Neck residents have quick access to both bay and ocean swimming, which is a meaningful quality-of-life differentiator compared to neighborhoods further inland.
Great Neck real estate market — April 2026
Updated April 7, 2026 · Source: Redfin / REIN MLS · Updated the first Monday of every month
Recent Sales
| Address | Specs | Sold Price | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Update from REIN on May 5 | — bed · — bath · — sf | $— | Apr 2026 |
| Update from REIN on May 5 | — bed · — bath · — sf | $— | Mar 2026 |
| Update from REIN on May 5 | — bed · — bath · — sf | $— | Mar 2026 |
| Update from REIN on May 5 | — bed · — bath · — sf | $— | Feb 2026 |
| Update from REIN on May 5 | — bed · — bath · — sf | $— | Feb 2026 |
Currently Available
| Address | Specs | List Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1849 S Woodside Ln | 6 bed · 4.5 bath · 5,441 sf | $1,995,000 | Great Neck Point · waterfront |
| Great Neck Estates | 4 bed · 2 bath · 1-acre lot | $725,000 | All-brick ranch · wooded waterfront |
| 1861 Calash Way | 2 bed · 2 bath · 1,237 sf | $314,900 | Great Neck Villas · condo |
| 2325 Cretan Ct | 2 bed · 2.5 bath · 1,256 sf | $264,900 | Great Neck Grove Condos |
| 2121 Refuge Ct | 2 bed · 2 bath · 1,117 sf | $245,000 | Great Neck Landing |
Source: Redfin / REIN MLS · Data as of April 7, 2026 · View all current listings →
Great Neck enters spring 2026 in a position of consistent, sustained demand — median sale price approximately $433K with an average sale price near $550K across all property types, averaging 28 days on market with 21+ homes sold per month. Active inventory sits around 30 homes at any given time, spanning from entry-level condos in the $185K–$315K range to waterfront estates above $1.5M. The fully developed peninsula structure means no new supply pipeline — inventory stays structurally tight. PCS season is here: if you're a military buyer targeting Great Neck, move early. The best-priced homes in the school zone don't wait.
If you're buying
Great Neck is a permanently supply-constrained market — the peninsula is fully developed and there are no large lots left for new construction. Combined with the school zone reputation that consistently draws buyers from across the city, this means well-priced homes at every tier move quickly and attract competition. Pre-approval before you start searching is essential. If you're on a military timeline, call me before your orders are finalized — I've helped dozens of families get into Great Neck ahead of PCS season and it makes a real difference to move with lead time.
If you're selling
Great Neck sellers are in a genuinely strong position. The buyer pool here is wide and deep — legacy Great Neck families moving up or down, military officers on PCS orders, healthcare professionals at Sentara, and buyers from across Virginia Beach who've been targeting this corridor for years. Waterfront and water-view properties command premiums that can be significant. Well-presented homes in the core $400K–$700K range are moving in under a month. If you're considering a sale this spring, now is the right time to have the conversation about valuation and positioning. Call me for a no-obligation market analysis.
Other Virginia Beach neighborhoods worth knowing
Great Neck buyers often explore the surrounding corridor — these are the neighborhoods most commonly considered alongside it.
Ready to make your move in Great Neck?
John King is a U.S. Navy veteran and top-rated Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices RW Towne Realty — 13+ years experience, 400+ closings, and deep roots in the Hampton Roads market. Whether you're buying, selling, PCSing to the area, or want to know what your Great Neck home is worth today, reach out directly.
Or call directly: (757) 270-3994