Population 3,149 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in 1st Ward
Household size in 1st Ward
| Period | 1st Ward | Portsmouth | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.00 | 2.29 | 2.51 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.26 | 2.47 | 2.51 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 1.89 | 2.30 | 2.47 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 1.97 | 2.28 | 2.46 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.03 | −0.01 | −0.05 | −0.03 |
1st Ward is a place of small households, averaging 1.97 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in 1st Ward
| Period | 1st Ward | Portsmouth | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.4 | 38.7 | 39.0 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 42.9 | 39.3 | 40.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 39.2 | 38.8 | 40.7 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 46.9 | 41.5 | 40.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +4.4 | +2.7 | +1.8 | +2.3 |
1st Ward skews older: half of its residents are older than 46.9, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 42.4, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in 1st Ward
| Period | 1st Ward | Portsmouth | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.9% | 14.9% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.8% | 15.2% | 11.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 13.7% | 16.0% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 15.3% | 15.5% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +3.4 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head just over one in seven households in 1st Ward (15.3%), well above the national share of 11.6%. That is in line with the rest of Portsmouth.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in 1st Ward
Renters in 1st Ward
| Period | 1st Ward | Portsmouth | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 53.8% | 44.6% | 30.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 59.8% | 44.2% | 33.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 63.0% | 47.9% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 61.5% | 45.7% | 32.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +7.7 pts | +1.1 pts | +2.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renters far outnumber owners in 1st Ward: 61.5% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% nationally. Among homeowners, 69.1% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in 1st Ward
| Period | 1st Ward | Portsmouth | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.4% | 14.0% | 10.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 15.8% | 16.9% | 10.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.8% | 14.1% | 10.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 15.6% | 13.4% | 8.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.2 pts | −0.6 pts | −2.2 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 15.6% of the housing in 1st Ward, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in 1st Ward
| Period | 1st Ward | Portsmouth | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1951 | 1951 | 1968 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1947 | 1949 | 1969 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1952 | 1952 | 1970 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1949 | 1954 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Change | −2 | +3 | +4 | +6 |
1st Ward is a place of older homes: half were built before 1949, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in 1st Ward
| Period | 1st Ward | Portsmouth | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $502 | $539 | $765 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $524 | $570 | $814 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $535 | $629 | $901 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $759 | $755 | $1,142 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$257 | +$216 | +$377 | +$606 |
A typical rental in 1st Ward costs $759 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. That is in line with the rest of Portsmouth. The typical renter here spends 36.5% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in 1st Ward
Bachelor's degrees in 1st Ward
| Period | 1st Ward | Portsmouth | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.4% | 16.1% | 25.4% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 22.1% | 15.5% | 26.5% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 23.2% | 14.6% | 28.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 21.6% | 16.7% | 31.9% | 35.6% |
| Change | +3.2 pts | +0.6 pts | +6.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in 1st Ward have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 21.6%, against 35.6% nationally. Locally, though, the share is higher than in Portsmouth as a whole (16.7%).
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in 1st Ward
| Period | 1st Ward | Portsmouth | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 81.7% | 79.3% | 87.7% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 80.5% | 80.8% | 88.9% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 82.7% | 84.1% | 90.4% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 91.1% | 86.2% | 91.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +9.4 pts | +6.9 pts | +4.0 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in 1st Ward is a bit above the national rate: 91.1% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in 1st Ward
| Period | 1st Ward | Portsmouth | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.7% | 13.4% | 8.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 11.8% | 12.0% | 9.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 12.2% | 11.0% | 5.5% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.9% | 7.4% | 4.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.7 pts | −6.0 pts | −3.8 pts | −2.7 pts |
Finding work has been harder in 1st Ward: 8.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well above the national rate of 5.4%. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
1st Ward compared with nearby neighborhoods
| Neighborhood | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Ward | 1.97 | 46.9 | 15.3% | 61.5% | 15.6% | 1949 | $759 | 21.6% | 91.1% | 8.9% |
| 3rd Ward | 2.43 | 42.9 | 13.5% | 43.0% | 18.9% | 1952 | $751 | 24.5% | 87.4% | 4.6% |
| 4th Ward | 2.51 | 40.3 | 23.0% | 57.7% | 14.5% | 1942 | $614 | 7.9% | 70.7% | 13.0% |
| 6th Ward | 2.38 | 36.1 | 15.7% | 46.1% | 15.0% | 1949 | $818 | 11.6% | 89.2% | 8.6% |
| Rankin Historic District | 2.31 | 38.0 | 21.3% | 49.6% | 16.3% | 1942 | $805 | 21.5% | 89.7% | 12.3% |
| West Huntington | 2.23 | 42.5 | 19.0% | 47.3% | 16.7% | 1949 | $807 | 21.7% | 87.6% | 10.8% |
| Southside | 1.97 | 37.7 | 7.0% | 52.7% | 13.1% | 1946 | $916 | 47.8% | 93.2% | 8.5% |
| Summerside | 2.20 | 42.6 | 12.3% | 34.8% | 4.6% | 1985 | $1,168 | 27.9% | 91.2% | 4.2% |
| Cherry Grove | 2.89 | 38.5 | 10.1% | 9.6% | 4.5% | 1972 | $1,450 | 58.5% | 99.0% | 3.4% |
| West Side | 1.97 | 40.6 | 13.2% | 59.9% | 28.2% | 1938 | $756 | 16.9% | 92.4% | 8.5% |
| Mount Washington | 2.10 | 38.8 | 8.2% | 40.2% | 3.8% | 1967 | $1,120 | 50.1% | 94.3% | 4.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: City in the Hills, Bakersfield, CA · Evergreen Meadows, Evergreen, CO · Agua Dulce, El Paso, TX · North Lake Waco, Waco, TX · Downtown Geneva, Geneva, OH · Lincoln, San Rafael, CA · The Palisades, Washington, DC · Old Town, Beaumont, TX · Feasterville, Feasterville-Trevose, PA · Signature Lakes, Horizon West, FL
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up 1st Ward. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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