Population 17,171 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Portsmouth
Household size in Portsmouth
| Period | Portsmouth | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.45 | 2.53 | 2.52 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.47 | 2.54 | 2.52 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.39 | 2.53 | 2.53 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.34 | 2.49 | 2.49 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.11 | −0.05 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in Portsmouth are small: just 2.34 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.45, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 Portsmouth
| Period | Portsmouth | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 45.4 | 39.5 | 39.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 46.0 | 40.5 | 40.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 47.1 | 41.4 | 41.4 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 47.7 | 41.7 | 41.6 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.2 | +2.2 | +2.2 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 47.7, Portsmouth is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. The median age has climbed from 45.4 in 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Portsmouth
| Period | Portsmouth | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.9% | 12.5% | 12.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.0% | 12.4% | 12.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.4% | 11.9% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.7% | 12.1% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −3.1 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.7 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 5.7% of households in Portsmouth, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has fallen 3.1 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Portsmouth has a lower share of single-parent households than the great majority of Rhode Island cities.
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 Portsmouth
Renters in Portsmouth
| Period | Portsmouth | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.7% | 37.0% | 37.5% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 25.5% | 39.0% | 39.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 22.8% | 38.6% | 39.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 19.5% | 36.8% | 36.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | −6.2 pts | −0.1 pts | −1.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Portsmouth is largely a place of homeowners: only 19.5% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Just over a third of owners (35.4%) have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is down 6.2 points from 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
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 Portsmouth
| Period | Portsmouth | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.8% | 10.3% | 11.1% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.2% | 10.5% | 11.4% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 15.6% | 10.7% | 12.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 10.9% | 7.9% | 9.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | +2.0 pts | −2.4 pts | −1.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Portsmouth is close to the national rate: 10.9% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. The rate is higher than in the Providence area as a whole (7.9%). Vacancy has risen 2.0 points since 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
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 Portsmouth
| Period | Portsmouth | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1971 | 1959 | 1957 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1971 | 1959 | 1958 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1975 | 1960 | 1959 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1973 | 1962 | 1961 | 1980 |
| Change | +2 | +3 | +4 | +6 |
Homes in Portsmouth run older than the national norm, with a median build year of 1973 against 1980. Still, homes here are newer than in the Providence area as a whole, where the median home dates to 1962. Newer construction is concentrated in the southwest, while the northeast has the oldest housing.
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 Portsmouth
| Period | Portsmouth | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,181 | $928 | $941 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,241 | $974 | $988 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,526 | $1,103 | $1,123 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,819 | $1,439 | $1,448 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$639 | +$511 | +$507 | +$606 |
Rent in Portsmouth runs $1,819 a month at the median, utilities included, above the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents are up $639 a month from 2006–10, a 54% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 33.8% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the west; the highest are in the southeast.
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 Portsmouth
Bachelor's degrees in Portsmouth
| Period | Portsmouth | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 47.8% | 28.5% | 30.4% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 46.4% | 29.6% | 31.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 53.3% | 32.4% | 34.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 61.6% | 35.2% | 37.8% | 35.6% |
| Change | +13.8 pts | +6.7 pts | +7.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Portsmouth: 61.6% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher, against 35.6% nationally. Education tends to track local incomes and the kinds of jobs nearby. The share with a degree is up 13.8 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Portsmouth
| Period | Portsmouth | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 93.1% | 82.1% | 83.2% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 93.6% | 83.9% | 84.9% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 95.3% | 87.5% | 88.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.8% | 88.3% | 89.4% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.8 pts | +6.2 pts | +6.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Portsmouth: 96.8% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 3.8 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Portsmouth has a higher share of high school graduates than the great majority of Rhode Island cities.
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 Portsmouth
| Period | Portsmouth | Providence area | Rhode Island | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.8% | 8.5% | 8.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.5% | 10.0% | 9.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.0% | 5.5% | 5.5% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.9% | 5.8% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.9 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Portsmouth has been strong: just 2.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 2.9 points, mirroring the country. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current 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).
Portsmouth compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portsmouth | 2.34 | 47.7 | 5.7% | 19.5% | 10.9% | 1973 | $1,819 | 61.6% | 96.8% | 2.9% |
| Prudence Park | 2.00 | 71.5 | 0.1% | 0.0% | 77.5% | 1938 | $1,504 | 74.4% | 100.0% | 0.0% |
| Prudence Island | 2.00 | 71.5 | 0.1% | 0.0% | 77.5% | 1938 | $1,504 | 74.4% | 100.0% | 0.0% |
| Middletown | 2.70 | 44.7 | 6.1% | 27.6% | 17.6% | 1974 | $1,981 | 58.9% | 95.6% | 2.0% |
| Tiverton | 2.34 | 50.8 | 3.2% | 19.5% | 11.1% | 1974 | $1,292 | 39.3% | 92.7% | 5.1% |
| Newport East | 2.13 | 46.7 | 10.3% | 47.6% | 9.3% | 1968 | $1,990 | 44.0% | 95.3% | 7.5% |
| Bristol | 2.20 | 44.1 | 6.3% | 34.1% | 9.0% | 1964 | $1,673 | 48.4% | 93.0% | 2.8% |
| Little Compton | 2.45 | 55.9 | 4.6% | 6.4% | 24.8% | 1974 | $1,993 | 55.9% | 95.1% | 2.5% |
| Newport | 2.05 | 40.3 | 10.3% | 50.2% | 17.7% | 1948 | $1,797 | 57.8% | 96.4% | 8.5% |
| Westport | 2.46 | 51.6 | 7.5% | 16.3% | 15.2% | 1982 | $1,442 | 32.5% | 92.9% | 2.8% |
| Jamestown | 2.18 | 56.3 | 1.6% | 14.2% | 18.8% | 1964 | $1,868 | 70.8% | 98.5% | 4.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Spearfish, SD · Firestone, CO · Scott, LA · Selma, NC · Senoia, GA · Smithfield, VA · Somerset, MA · South Hadley, MA · South Ogden, UT · South River, NJ
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 Portsmouth. 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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