Portsmouth, VA Local Data & Statistics

State: VA

Total population: 97,190 Household income: $60,491 Rent: $1,300

Overview

Total population

97,190

Rent

$1,300

Year built

1967

Household income

$60,491

Per capita income

$33,568

Poverty rate

17.3%

Unemployment rate

3.7%

Household size

2.3 persons

Rent over 30% of income

55.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Virginia

Total population

97,190

Adults over 25

65,901

Total households

40,288

Household size

2.3 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$60,491

Per capita income

$33,568

Poverty rate

17.3%

Unemployment rate

3.7%

Rent over 30% of income

55.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,300

Year built

1967

Households that rent

42.1%

Households that own

57.9%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.7

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

36.2%

Black

50.6%

Asian

1.7%

Two or more races

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

5.4%

Not Hispanic or Latino

94.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

91.3%

Commute time to work

24 mins

Work from home

8.7%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

33.1%

High school graduate or GED

30.9%

Some college or associate degree

11.7%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

24.3%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Portsmouth, VA with: Virginia United States

Portsmouth, VA

Total population97,190

Rent$1,300

Year built1967

Household income$60,491

Per capita income$33,568

Poverty rate17.3%

Unemployment rate3.7%

Virginia State

Total population8,705,170

Rent$1,579

Year built1984

Household income$93,170

Per capita income$50,666

Poverty rate9.9%

Unemployment rate2.8%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityPortsmouth, VA	StateVirginia	CountryUnited States
Total population	97,190	8,705,170	334,922,499
Rent	$1,300	$1,579	$1,413
Year built	1967	1984	1980
Household income	$60,491	$93,170	$80,734
Per capita income	$33,568	$50,666	$44,673
Poverty rate	17.3%	9.9%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	3.7%	2.8%	4%

View the complete comparison of Portsmouth, VA, Virginia and United States →

Summary for Portsmouth, VA

Portsmouth is located in Virginia.

Rent & Income

In Portsmouth, the typical monthly rent is $1,300 and the typical household income is $60,491. Rent here is lower than in both Virginia and the U.S., and household income is also lower than in both. The estimated poverty rate is 17.3%, which is higher than in both Virginia and national.

Housing & Affordability

This area is primarily owner-occupied, with renters accounting for about 42.1% of households. About 55.6% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is moderate, with about 24.3% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 3.7%, which is higher than Virginia and lower than the national rate.

Portsmouth, VA — Rent vs Household Income

Portsmouth, VA — Poverty vs Unemployment

How Portsmouth, VA compares in Virginia (24 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$1,300	7 / 24	from lower rent	$996 – $2,089
Household income	$60,491	19 / 24	from higher income	$55,378 – $119,681
Poverty rate	17.3%	15 / 24	from lower poverty	7.9% – 25.7%
Unemployment rate	3.7%	23 / 24	from lower unemployment	2.2% – 3.7%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in Virginia with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for Portsmouth, VA

Rent

Portsmouth ranks 7th out of 24 large places in Virginia for rent. Statewide rents range from $996 in Roanoke, VA to $2,089 in Alexandria, VA.

Household income

In terms of household income, Portsmouth comes in 19th among 24 major places. Across Virginia, income levels vary from $55,378 in Roanoke, VA to $119,681 in Alexandria, VA.

Poverty rate

Looking at poverty, Portsmouth ranks 15th out of 24 large places. Statewide poverty rates range from 7.9% in Alexandria, VA to 25.7% in Harrisonburg, VA.

Unemployment rate

In terms of unemployment, Portsmouth is ranked 23rd out of 24 major areas. Across Virginia, rates go from 2.2% in Alexandria, VA up to 3.7% in Portsmouth, VA.

💰 Rent in Portsmouth, VA (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,300 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Portsmouth, VA

Annual Household Income: $60,491

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Portsmouth, VA

Estimated Rate: 17.3%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Portsmouth, VA

In Portsmouth, VA, households that rent: 16,944 (42.1%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	16,944	42.1%
Owner-Occupied	23,344	57.9%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Portsmouth, VA

In Portsmouth, VA, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 9,428 (55.6%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	9,428	55.6%
Other renter households	7,516	44.4%
Total renter households	16,944	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Portsmouth, VA

Less than High School: 21,794 people (33.1%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 20,386 people (30.9%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 7,695 people (11.7%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 16,026 people (24.3%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 65,901

📊 Unemployment Rate in Portsmouth, VA

Estimated Rate: 3.7%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

Fayetteville, AR97,227 Orem, UT97,048 Conroe, TX96,976 Beaverton, OR97,502 Yakima, WA96,810 Suffolk, VA96,638 Sunrise, FL96,633 Yuma, AZ98,461 Vista, CA98,646 Roanoke, VA98,677

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.