Seaford, York County, Virginia
Seaford is a York County waterfront community (ZIP 23696, Seaford mailing address) between Chisman Creek and Back Creek, where one in three residential parcels is on the water. Homes are mostly detached, built from the 1960s on, and all are zoned to Seaford Elementary, Yorktown Middle and York High.
Seaford at a glance
Seaford is a waterfront community in York County on the old Crab Neck peninsula, with Chisman Creek on one side and Back Creek, a York River tributary, on the other. It has its own post office (2300 Seaford Road) and ZIP code, 23696, and Seaford is the mailing city. York County parcel data (queried October 2026) counts 1,503 improved residential parcels in 23696, and 501 of them, one in three, are coded waterfront. All of Seaford is zoned to Seaford Elementary, Yorktown Middle and York High.
The trade-off is water. About 68% of residential parcels in 23696 touch a FEMA high-risk flood zone, and nearly every parcel is in hurricane evacuation zone A. Flood zone, elevation and insurance cost belong at the top of any Seaford checklist.
Where is Seaford, and how did it get its name?
The state historical marker quoted in York County's comprehensive plan says settlement began in 1636, when John Chisman patented 600 acres on Crab Neck, "a peninsula bounded by Chisman Creek and Back Creek." A Crab Neck post office opened in 1889, and its name was changed to Seaford in 1910. The Virginia Department of Historic Resources has found a Seaford Historic District along Seaford Road eligible for the historic registers, and the Seaford Yacht Club is also on the state's inventory of historic resources.
Seaford Road is the spine of the community, with York Point Road, Shirley Road, Back Creek Road, Wildey Road and Presson Road running out toward the water. Goodwin Neck Road leads to Back Creek Park and to the separate Goodwin Neck area, locally called Dandy. Route 17 and the Grafton area are a few miles west.
What are the homes like in Seaford?
From York County's assessment data for ZIP 23696 (2026 values):
| Measure | ZIP 23696 |
|---|---|
| Improved residential parcels | 1,503 |
| Single-family detached (non-waterfront) | 1,002 |
| Waterfront parcels | 501 |
| Median year built | 1973 (middle half 1965–1996) |
| Median detached lot | 0.50 acre |
| Median detached living area | 2,134 sq ft |
| Most common styles | Ranch, transitional, colonial |
Seaford is almost entirely detached single-family housing; the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2020–2024) estimates that 98% of homes in the ZIP are single-family detached. County assessment data for the ZIP shows no townhouse or condominium parcels.
Seaford neighborhoods
Names below are from York County parcel records and the county's election-district subdivision lists.
| Neighborhood | Approx. parcels | Notes from county data |
|---|---|---|
| Heritage Hamlet | 152 | 56 waterfront parcels |
| Sommerville | 142 | Built 1992–2001 |
| Seaford Shores Estates | 85 | 65 waterfront parcels |
| Cheadle Heights | 74 | |
| York Point | 71 | Coded waterfront throughout |
| Yorkshire Park | 54 | |
| Port Myers | 46 | Built 2001–2019 |
| Evergreen Shores | 45 | |
| Robanna Shores | 34 |
Smaller sections include Chisman Landing, Chismans Point, Chisman Woods, Osborn Landing (built 2017–2021), Calamar Acres and Goose Creek Farm.
Price context
York County reassesses every two years, with values effective January 1 of even years (Real Estate Assessment). On the 2026 assessment, the median detached home in 23696 is assessed at $456,200 (middle half about $354,000 to $580,000), and the median improved waterfront parcel at $592,400. The American Community Survey puts the median owner-estimated home value in ZIP 23696 at $427,100, with a wide margin of error because the ZIP is small. For waterfront homes, comparables should match water frontage, pier and depth, and elevation, not just square footage.
Is there an HOA in Seaford?
Seaford has no community-wide homeowners association. Whether a specific home is in an association depends on its subdivision's recorded documents, so check the deed and title work. If there is an association, Virginia's Resale Disclosure Act requires the seller to provide a resale certificate, and a buyer who receives it after ratification generally has three days to cancel.
Boating and public amenities
- Back Creek Park, 3000 Goodwin Neck Road: 27 acres on Back Creek with a free public boat launch, a kayak launch with rentals, a crabbing pier, 12 lighted pickleball courts, a dog park and picnic areas (county page)
- Private marinas in the ZIP listed in county records: Seaford Marina (Wildey Road), Thomas Marina (Presson Road) and Mills Marina (Back Creek Road)
- Chisman Creek Park, 1314 Wolf Trap Road: two lighted softball fields on a reclaimed fly ash site, where "fly ash and petroleum coke once polluted well water"; it opened in 1991 after a cleanup by Virginia Power, York County and the EPA (county page)
- Wolf Trap Park, 1009 Wolf Trap Road: 28 acres with four soccer fields and two ponds on another reclaimed fly ash site, opened in 1992 (county page)
For a guide to buying on the creeks and rivers of the upper Peninsula, see York River waterfront homes and the York River waterfront buyer questions.
Which schools serve Seaford?
All 1,503 residential parcels in 23696 are zoned to Seaford Elementary (1105 Seaford Road), Yorktown Middle and York High (9300 George Washington Memorial Highway), according to York County's parcel records. Confirm any address with YCSD's Find Your School page, which links to the county map, or the county's zone maps. School data is on Virginia's School Quality Profiles, and the York County school assignment guide covers the process.
How long is the commute from Seaford?
| Destination | Approx. distance | Approx. off-peak drive |
|---|---|---|
| Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Langley (nearest gate) | 12–14 miles | 20–30 min |
| Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Fort Eustis | 11 miles | 20–25 min |
| Naval Weapons Station Yorktown (Gate 3 area, Route 143) | 12 miles | 20–25 min |
| Newport News Shipbuilding (Washington Ave) | 21 miles | 30–40 min |
| Colonial Williamsburg (Merchants Square) | 24 miles | 35–40 min |
These are approximate off-peak estimates from central Seaford, calculated with OpenStreetMap routing as of October 2026. Seaford Road connects to Route 17, and peak-hour traffic adds time. Coast Guard Training Center Yorktown is also on the York County side of the Peninsula; see the Coast Guard Training Center Yorktown guide.
Flood zones and the Chesapeake Bay Act in Seaford
Seaford has far more flood exposure than Tabb or Grafton. In county parcel data for 23696:
| Measure | Share of residential parcels |
|---|---|
| Touches FEMA zone AE or VE | About 68% (55 touch VE) |
| Touches a Resource Protection Area | About 51% |
| In hurricane evacuation zone A | 1,499 of 1,503 |
York County's current flood maps took effect January 16, 2015 (floodplain information). A Resource Protection Area includes a 100-foot vegetated buffer landward of tidal shores and wetlands, and work in it needs county review through Public Works (Bay Act page). A lot that touches a zone may have the house itself outside it, so check the specific property on the county map or the FEMA Flood Map Service Center. For how flood insurance works on the Peninsula, see the Poquoson flood zone guide, which applies to similar low-lying waterfront.
What to know when buying or selling in Seaford
- Get the elevation certificate and a flood insurance quote before you commit, especially in AE or VE zones.
- Check the water, not just the view: pier condition, depth at mean low water, any shoreline permits and the RPA buffer.
- Confirm septic or sewer and well or public water for older homes.
- Know your evacuation zone: nearly all of Seaford is in zone A.
- For sellers: documents that answer buyers' water questions up front (elevation certificate, pier permits, insurance history, any repairs after storms) help a waterfront listing.
How Adam Triplett can help in Seaford
Adam Triplett is Vice President and Senior Partner at Garrett Realty Partners and has been ranked the #1 individual agent by the Virginia Peninsula Association of REALTORS® every year since 2018. Waterfront property and seller representation are among his specialties. Adam's closed-sales record, 2006 through July 2026, includes 9 sales with Seaford addresses (first in 2015, 4 since 2020) at a median of $250,000, with a top sale of $500,000. Counting Yorktown and Seaford addresses together, his York County record is 120 sales.
See the Yorktown and York County guide, Adam's sold record, the waterfront homes hub, and the neighboring communities of Grafton and Tabb.
Homes for sale with a Seaford address
Current REIN listings with the city recorded as Seaford, York County's 23696 ZIP.
Related pages
Yorktown and York County
The county guide: villages, ZIP codes, schools and Adam's York County record.
York River waterfront
Buying and selling on the York River and its creeks.
Grafton
York County's 23692 ZIP along Route 17, west of Seaford.
Tabb
York County's 23693 ZIP, near Langley and Poquoson.
Coast Guard Training Center Yorktown
Housing and commutes for Coast Guard assignments in York County.
Adam's sold record
628 closed sales, 2006 through July 2026.
Questions about Seaford
Is Seaford, Virginia waterfront?
Much of it is. Seaford sits on the old Crab Neck peninsula between Chisman Creek and Back Creek, a York River tributary. York County parcel data codes 501 of the 1,503 improved residential parcels in ZIP 23696 as waterfront. Neighborhoods with many waterfront lots include Seaford Shores Estates, Heritage Hamlet and York Point.
Is Seaford in a flood zone?
A large share is. In York County parcel data, about 68% of residential parcels in ZIP 23696 touch a FEMA high-risk flood zone (AE or VE), about 51% touch a Chesapeake Bay Act Resource Protection Area, and 1,499 of 1,503 are in hurricane evacuation zone A. Touching a zone does not always mean the house is in it, so get the elevation certificate and an insurance quote.
What schools serve Seaford, VA?
According to York County parcel records, every residential parcel in ZIP 23696 is zoned to Seaford Elementary on Seaford Road, Yorktown Middle and York High School. School zones can change, so confirm any address using the York County School Division's Find Your School page, which links to the county's address map.
How far is Seaford from Naval Weapons Station Yorktown?
Central Seaford is about 12 miles from Naval Weapons Station Yorktown's Gate 3 area on Route 143, roughly 20 to 25 minutes off-peak. Fort Eustis is about 11 miles and Langley's nearest gate about 12 to 14 miles. These are approximate estimates calculated with OpenStreetMap routing in October 2026; other gates may be closer depending on your assignment.
Where can I launch a boat in Seaford?
York County's Back Creek Park at 3000 Goodwin Neck Road has a free public boat launch on Back Creek, plus a kayak launch with rentals and a crabbing pier. County records also list three private marinas in the Seaford ZIP: Seaford Marina on Wildey Road, Thomas Marina on Presson Road and Mills Marina on Back Creek Road.
How much do homes in Seaford cost?
On York County's 2026 assessment, the median detached home in ZIP 23696 is assessed at $456,200 and the median improved waterfront parcel at $592,400. The Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey estimates a median owner-estimated value of $427,100 for the ZIP. These are not sale prices; waterfront comparables need to match frontage, pier, depth and elevation.
Buying or selling on the water in Seaford?
Talk with Adam Triplett about flood zones, pier and shoreline questions, and pricing a Seaford waterfront home.
