At a Glance
Median Income
$35,319
$23,758 per capita
Home Value
$95,000
Zillow: $86,395
Median Rent
$758/mo
32.3% of income on rent
Violent Crime
172/100K
2,888/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
18.0%
85.7% high school+
Unemployment
4.8%
32.2% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
48.7%
26.0% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
55°F
293 sunny days/yr
How Portsmouth Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Portsmouth's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Portsmouth a Good Place to Live?
C+
2.6 / 5.0 — Fair
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Portsmouth residents earn a median household income of $35,319 , which is 53% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $23,758. The unemployment rate stands at 4.8% (33% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 32.2% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 1,502 business establishments, including 139 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Portsmouth is $95,000 , 66% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $86,395. Median rent is $758/month, with 32.3% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 92.8 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1947.
Safety & Crime
Portsmouth reports 172 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 55% below the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 2,888/100K.
Education
18.0% of adults in Portsmouth hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(47% below the national average).
85.7% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.5/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Portsmouth has an average annual temperature of 55°F (13°C).
Winters average 32°F in January while summers reach 76°F in July. The area gets 293 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 43.1 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 43.
Data Overview
People
Population17,919
Median Age37.1 yrs
Density1,670/mi²
Male / Female47% / 53%
Foreign Born13.6%
Veterans7.0%
Economy
C
Median Income$35,319
Per Capita$23,758
Unemployment4.8%
Poverty32.2%
County GDP$3,482M
Avg Weekly Wage$950
Housing
A+
Home Value$95,000
Rent$758
Ownership46.8%
Zillow$86,395
Housing Units8,510
Rent Burden32.3%
Crime
F
Violent172/100K
Property2,888/100K
Health
Obesity48.7%
Diabetes15.7%
Smoking26.0%
Heart Disease8.7%
Premature Death16,720/100K
Climate
Avg Temp55°F
Sunny Days293/yr
Rain43.1 in/yr
AQI43 (Good)
Elevation963 ft
Education
C
Bachelor's+18.0%
High School+85.7%
Graduate+5.1%
School Score5.5/10
Community
2024 VoteR 74% / D 26%
Commute20 min
Broadband83.8%
Internet Speed111 Mbps
EV Stations3
Libraries6
Did You Know?
Portsmouth was founded in 1803.
The median home in Portsmouth was built in 1947.
The nearest airport is Greater Portsmouth Regional (8 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.470 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
25.5% of the population has a disability.
13.6% of residents are foreign-born.
Average internet download speed is 111 Mbps.
There are 139 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 9 fatal vehicle crashes.
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