Population 97,190 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Portsmouth
Household size in Portsmouth
| Period | Portsmouth | Virginia Beach area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.50 | 2.64 | 2.63 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.55 | 2.66 | 2.68 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.53 | 2.61 | 2.68 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.40 | 2.54 | 2.62 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.10 | −0.10 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Portsmouth run small, averaging 2.40 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.50, a much bigger shift than nationally. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the northwest.
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 | Virginia Beach area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.4 | 37.0 | 38.2 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 37.2 | 37.6 | 39.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 37.7 | 38.6 | 40.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 37.4 | 39.2 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.0 | +2.2 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Portsmouth is 37.4 years old, a few years younger than the national median of 40.1. The youngest areas are in the southeast, the oldest in the southwest. Portsmouth is younger than at least four in five Virginia cities.
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 | Virginia Beach area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.0% | 13.7% | 11.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 18.2% | 13.6% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 15.5% | 12.9% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 18.8% | 12.9% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.2 pts | −0.7 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are common in Portsmouth: 18.8% of all households, against 11.6% nationally. Of the 243 Virginia cities with 5,000+ people, only 11 have a higher share of single-parent households.
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 | Virginia Beach area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.5% | 35.1% | 31.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 44.2% | 37.6% | 33.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 45.0% | 38.4% | 33.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 42.1% | 36.6% | 32.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +3.6 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is more common in Portsmouth than nationally: 42.1% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% for the U.S. About three in ten owners (29.5%) have paid off their mortgages, well below the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the east and least common in the west. The renter share is up 3.6 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 | Virginia Beach area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.2% | 9.1% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.5% | 9.7% | 10.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 11.6% | 9.5% | 9.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.8% | 7.6% | 8.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.4 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Portsmouth: 7.8% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. The picture is much the same across the Virginia Beach area. Vacancy has fallen 2.4 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 | Virginia Beach area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1963 | 1977 | 1978 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1966 | 1979 | 1980 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1967 | 1980 | 1981 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1968 | 1982 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +5 | +5 | +6 |
Portsmouth is a place of older homes: half were built before 1968, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. The median year built has moved up from 1963 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Only 11 of the 243 Virginia cities with 5,000+ people have older homes.
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 | Virginia Beach area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $934 | $1,107 | $1,143 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,079 | $1,232 | $1,238 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,123 | $1,358 | $1,436 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,420 | $1,647 | $1,743 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$487 | +$540 | +$600 | +$606 |
Rent in Portsmouth runs $1,420 a month at the median, utilities included, below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $487 a month since 2006–10, up 52%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 35.0% of the typical renter's income, 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 Portsmouth
Bachelor's degrees in Portsmouth
| Period | Portsmouth | Virginia Beach area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.2% | 27.5% | 35.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 18.9% | 28.9% | 36.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 21.7% | 32.0% | 39.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 24.0% | 35.4% | 42.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.8 pts | +7.9 pts | +7.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Portsmouth have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 24.0%, against 35.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 5.8 points, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the north and least in the southeast.
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 | Virginia Beach area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 81.5% | 88.9% | 86.8% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 82.4% | 90.0% | 88.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 88.1% | 91.5% | 89.9% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 88.8% | 92.8% | 91.6% | 89.3% |
| Change | +7.2 pts | +3.9 pts | +4.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Portsmouth is close to the national rate: 88.8% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The rate is lower than in the wider Virginia Beach area (92.8%). The share with a diploma is up 7.2 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 | Virginia Beach area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.6% | 6.5% | 6.0% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 11.0% | 8.2% | 7.0% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.8% | 5.6% | 4.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.8% | 4.9% | 4.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.9 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment runs high in Portsmouth: 6.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Only 15 of the 243 Virginia cities with 5,000+ people have higher unemployment. 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 | 2.40 | 37.4 | 18.8% | 42.1% | 7.8% | 1968 | $1,420 | 24.0% | 88.8% | 6.8% |
| Chesapeake | 2.73 | 38.9 | 12.8% | 25.7% | 4.7% | 1989 | $1,814 | 36.7% | 94.2% | 4.7% |
| Norfolk | 2.40 | 35.2 | 15.5% | 53.8% | 9.1% | 1967 | $1,451 | 32.4% | 90.8% | 6.2% |
| Suffolk | 2.64 | 39.4 | 13.3% | 29.3% | 7.6% | 1992 | $1,673 | 33.5% | 91.3% | 5.1% |
| Carrollton | 2.60 | 39.2 | 7.8% | 27.3% | 6.0% | 2002 | $1,686 | 37.9% | 91.2% | 9.0% |
| Virginia Beach area | 2.54 | 39.2 | 12.9% | 36.6% | 7.6% | 1982 | $1,647 | 35.4% | 92.8% | 4.9% |
| Longview | 2.36 | 51.5 | 4.2% | 10.5% | 10.0% | 1994 | $1,260 | 18.6% | 88.3% | 1.8% |
| Everets | 2.26 | 50.9 | 6.2% | 17.3% | 16.4% | 1986 | $1,257 | 23.4% | 96.2% | 1.1% |
| Smithfield | 2.58 | 45.6 | 5.9% | 14.4% | 7.0% | 1992 | $1,217 | 35.0% | 94.0% | 2.3% |
| Isle of Wight | 2.38 | 51.1 | 4.4% | 14.3% | 7.8% | 1994 | $1,275 | 13.2% | 81.3% | 6.1% |
| Orbit | 2.61 | 42.0 | 13.1% | 25.9% | 9.7% | 1993 | $1,060 | 20.6% | 94.5% | 3.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Sunrise, FL · Suffolk, VA · Sunrise Manor, NV · Sunnyvale, CA · Salisbury, NC · Salem, OR · San Francisco, CA · Santa Maria, CA · Slidell, LA · Santa Monica, CA
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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