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Portsmouth, VA

Full City Profile · Virginia · Portsmouth city County

2.9 /5.0
C+ Fair
97,299 Population 2,922/sq mi density
$58,972 Median Income $32,915 per capita
$229,400 Home Value $256,531 Zillow
$1,266 Median Rent 34.5% income on rent
62°F Avg Temperature 301 sunny days/yr
946 Violent Crime/100K 5,861 property/100K
C+
Overall
2.9 / 5.0
Fair overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
B
Economy
3.4 / 5.0
$58,972 median income, 3.8% unemployment
A
Affordability
4.5 / 5.0
$229,400 home value, $1,266/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
946 violent crimes/100K (149% above avg)
C+
Education
2.9 / 5.0
23.2% bachelor's degree or higher

Portsmouth, VA

At a Glance

Median Income
$58,972
22% below
$32,915 per capita
Home Value
$229,400
19% below
Zillow: $256,531
Median Rent
$1,266/mo
9% above
34.5% of income on rent
Violent Crime
946/100K
149% above
5,861/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
23.2%
31% below
89.2% high school+
Unemployment
3.8%
6% above
14.7% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
40.5%
26% above
16.9% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
62°F
301 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)

Income
78%
Home Value
81%
Rent
109%
Poverty
119%
Bachelor's
69%
Unemployment
106%
Crime
249%
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)

Is Portsmouth a Good Place to Live?

C+
2.9 / 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 $58,972 , which is 22% below the national average of $75,149. Per capita income is $32,915. The unemployment rate stands at 3.8% (6% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 14.7% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 1,876 business establishments, including 171 restaurants.

Housing & Cost of Living

The median home value in Portsmouth is $229,400 , 19% below the national median of $281,900. Zillow estimates the typical home at $256,531. Median rent is $1,266/month, with 34.5% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 101.1 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1966.

Safety & Crime

Portsmouth reports 946 violent crimes per 100,000 residents , which is 149% above the national average of 380/100K. Property crime is 5,861/100K. The murder rate is 17.0/100K.

Education

23.2% of adults in Portsmouth hold a bachelor's degree or higher (31% below the national average). 89.2% have completed high school. Local schools score 4.9/10 in standardized testing.

Climate & Weather

Portsmouth has an average annual temperature of 62°F (17°C). Winters average 48°F in January while summers reach 80°F in July. The area gets 301 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 53.3 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 35.

Data Overview

People

Population97,299
Median Age35.8 yrs
Density2,922/mi²
Male / Female48% / 52%
Foreign Born13.6%
Veterans12.2%

Economy

B
Median Income$58,972
Per Capita$32,915
Unemployment3.8%
Poverty14.7%
County GDP$7,777M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,305

Housing

A
Home Value$229,400
Rent$1,266
Ownership56.9%
Zillow$256,531
Housing Units43,096
Rent Burden34.5%

Crime

F
Violent946/100K
Property5,861/100K
Murder17.0/100K
Assault645/100K
Burglary900/100K

Health

Obesity40.5%
Diabetes14.8%
Smoking16.9%
Heart Disease6.1%
Premature Death15,223/100K

Climate

Avg Temp62°F
Sunny Days301/yr
Rain53.3 in/yr
AQI35 (Good)
Elevation13 ft

Education

C+
Bachelor's+23.2%
High School+89.2%
Graduate+7.7%
School Score4.9/10

Community

2024 VoteR 30% / D 69%
Commute23 min
Broadband87.5%
Internet Speed214 Mbps
EV Stations7
Libraries4

Did You Know?

Portsmouth was founded in 1752.
The median home in Portsmouth was built in 1966.
The nearest airport is Norfolk International (9 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.466 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
14.8% of the population has a disability.
13.6% of residents are foreign-born.
Average internet download speed is 214 Mbps.
There are 171 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 12 fatal vehicle crashes.