Portsmouth, VA
Demographics And Statistics

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-25

Living In Portsmouth, Virginia Summary

Life in Portsmouth research summary. HomeSnacks has been using Saturday Night Science to research the quality of life in Portsmouth over the past nine years using Census, FBI, Zillow, and other primary data sources. Based on the most recently available data, we found the following about life in Portsmouth:

  • The population in Portsmouth is 97,299.

  • The median home value in Portsmouth is $255,719.

  • The median income in Portsmouth is $58,972.

  • The cost of living in Portsmouth is 103 which is 1.0x higher than the national average.

  • The median rent in Portsmouth is $1,266.

  • The unemployment rate in Portsmouth is 6.6%.

  • The poverty rate in Portsmouth is 17.6%.

  • The average high in Portsmouth is 69.7° and the average low is 51.5°.

Portsmouth SnackAbility

5
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
6/10
Housing
8
Affordability
5
Diversity
9
Safety
3
Amenities
9
Education
7
Commute
8

Portsmouth, VA Crime Report

Crime in Portsmouth summary. We use data from the FBI to determine the crime rates in Portsmouth. Key points include:

  • There were 4,482 total crimes in Portsmouth in the last reporting year.

  • The overall crime rate per 100,000 people in Portsmouth is 4,613.2 / 100k people.

  • The violent crime rate per 100,000 people in Portsmouth is 752.4 / 100k people.

  • The property crime rate per 100,000 people in Portsmouth is 3,860.8 / 100k people.

  • Overall, crime in Portsmouth is 117.68% above the national average.

4,482
Total Crimes
117.68%
Above National Average

Crime In Portsmouth Comparison Table

Statistic Count
Raw
Portsmouth
/ 100k People
Virginia
/ 100k People
National
/ 100k People
Total Crimes Per 100K 4,482 4,613.2 1,787.6 2,119.2
Violent Crime 731 752.4 217.9 359.0
Murder 36 37.1 4.8 5.0
Robbery 163 167.8 33.1 61.0
Aggravated Assault 497 511.5 152.2 256.0
Property Crime 3,751 3,860.8 1,569.7 1,760.0
Burglary 412 424.1 108.7 229.0
Larceny 2,837 2,920.0 1,315.9 1,272.0
Car Theft 502 516.7 145.1 259.0

Portsmouth, VA Cost Of Living

Cost of living in Portsmouth summary. We use data on the cost of living to determine how expensive it is to live in Portsmouth. Real estate prices drive most of the variance in cost of living around Virginia. Key points include:

  • The cost of living in Portsmouth is 103 with 100 being average.

  • The cost of living in Portsmouth is 1.0x higher than the national average.

  • The median home value in Portsmouth is $255,719.

  • The median income in Portsmouth is $58,972.

103
Portsmouth's Overall Cost Of Living
1.0x
Higher Than The National Average

Cost Of Living In Portsmouth Comparison Table

Living Expense Portsmouth Virginia National Average
Overall 103 110 100
Services 99 101 100
Groceries 101 99 100
Health 98 98 100
Housing 101 130 100
Transportation 101 94 100
Utilities 106 104 100

Portsmouth, VA Weather

  • The average high in Portsmouth is 69.7° and the average low is 51.5°.

  • There are 74.7 days of precipitation each year.

  • Expect an average of 47.0 inches of precipitation each year with 4.7 inches of snow.

StatPortsmouth
Average Annual High69.7
Average Annual Low51.5
Annual Precipitation Days74.7
Average Annual Precipitation47.0
Average Annual Snowfall4.7
69.7°
Average High
74.7
Days of Rain

Portsmouth, VA Photos

Us Navy N B Tug Boats Guide Uss Harry S
Source: Public Domain
Historical Collections Of Virginia  Portsmouth
Source: Public Domain
Portsmouthvirginialightship
Source: Wikipedia User MamaGeek at en.wikipedia | GFDL

8 Reviews & Comments About Portsmouth

Overall User Rating
3.8
/5

Charles Jones - None

I live in Portsmouth. It's that city the Norfolk Naval Shipyard is actually in, but they never mention on NCIS.


Pawsn' Doodles - None

um excuse meh i live in portsmouth myself and it's fine thanks!


Kaveon Matthews - None

I live in portsmouth and I don't got no problems with it


joker hart - None

I live in portsmouth there is shooter ready to gun you down


Johnathan_365 - None

I live in Portsmouth but I don't think it's that bad


4real Rell - None

Bro I live in Portsmouth Virginia it is not that bad


HomeSnacks User - 2019-03-02 04:20:06.977041

Most of portsmouth is safe. A few bad neighborhoods that you stay out of. We are an old city with architecture. I can walk the downtown area at night. A lot of police and military around. A navy and coast guard town. Right on the elizabeth river. Close to norfolk and va beach. Has some problems with bad city management but improving.

Commodore theatre the still children's museum courthouse gosport tavern train museum and shipyard museum. War of 1812 won here. Monitor merrimac battle here.


HomeSnacks User - None

I don't believe all I read and hear. We have lived in Portsmouth 75 years and love living here.

Review Where You Live

Rankings for Portsmouth in Virginia

Locations Around Portsmouth

Map Of Portsmouth, VA

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2

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3

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4

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5

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6

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7

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8

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Portsmouth Demographics And Statistics

Population over time in Portsmouth

The current population in Portsmouth is 97,299. The population has increased 0.5% from 2010.

Year Population % Change
2023 97,299 -0.1%
2022 97,384 -0.1%
2021 97,454 2.6%
2020 94,961 -0.1%
2019 95,097 -0.2%
2018 95,311 -0.2%
2017 95,536 -0.6%
2016 96,071 -0.1%
2015 96,135 0.1%
2014 96,007 0.1%
2013 95,901 0.1%
2012 95,786 -0.3%
2011 96,066 -0.7%
2010 96,785 -

Race / Ethnicity in Portsmouth

White
35.9% (34,957)
African American
51.2% (49,782)
American Indian
0.1% (140)
Asian
1.4% (1,404)
Hawaiian
0.0% (26)
Other
0.5% (487)
Two Or More
5.7% (5,561)
Hispanic
5.1% (4,942)

Portsmouth is:

  • 35.9% White with 34,957 White residents.

  • 51.2% African American with 49,782 African American residents.

  • 0.1% American Indian with 140 American Indian residents.

  • 1.4% Asian with 1,404 Asian residents.

  • 0.0% Hawaiian with 26 Hawaiian residents.

  • 0.5% Other with 487 Other residents.

  • 5.7% Two Or More with 5,561 Two Or More residents.

  • 5.1% Hispanic with 4,942 Hispanic residents.

Race Portsmouth VA USA
White 35.9% 59.0% 58.2%
African American 51.2% 18.4% 12.0%
American Indian 0.1% 0.1% 0.5%
Asian 1.4% 6.8% 5.7%
Hawaiian 0.0% 0.1% 0.2%
Other 0.5% 0.5% 0.5%
Two Or More 5.7% 4.3% 3.9%
Hispanic 5.1% 10.7% 19.0%

Gender in Portsmouth

Female
52.0% (50,594)
Male
48.0% (46,704)
  • Portsmouth is 52.0% female with 50,594 female residents.

  • Portsmouth is 48.0% male with 46,704 male residents.

Gender Portsmouth VA USA
Female 52.0% 50.6% 50.5%
Male 48.0% 49.4% 49.5%

Highest level of educational attainment in Portsmouth for adults over 25

  • 2.0% of adults in Portsmouth completed < 9th grade.

  • 8.0% of adults in Portsmouth completed 9-12th grade.

  • 32.0% of adults in Portsmouth completed high school / ged.

  • 25.0% of adults in Portsmouth completed some college.

  • 9.0% of adults in Portsmouth completed associate's degree.

  • 15.0% of adults in Portsmouth completed bachelor's degree.

  • 7.0% of adults in Portsmouth completed master's degree.

  • 1.0% of adults in Portsmouth completed professional degree.

  • 1.0% of adults in Portsmouth completed doctorate degree.

< 9th Grade
2.0% (1,945)
9-12th Grade
8.0% (7,783)
High School / GED
32.0% (31,135)
Some College
25.0% (24,324)
Associate's Degree
9.0% (8,756)
Bachelor's Degree
15.0% (14,594)
Master's Degree
7.0% (6,810)
Professional Degree
1.0% (972)
Doctorate Degree
1.0% (972)
Education Portsmouth VA USA
< 9th Grade 2.0% 4.0% 5.0%
9-12th Grade 8.0% 5.0% 6.0%
High School / GED 32.0% 24.0% 26.0%
Some College 25.0% 18.0% 19.0%
Associate's Degree 9.0% 8.0% 9.0%
Bachelor's Degree 15.0% 23.0% 21.0%
Master's Degree 7.0% 13.0% 10.0%
Professional Degree 1.0% 3.0% 2.0%
Doctorate Degree 1.0% 2.0% 2.0%

Household Income For Portsmouth, Virginia

  • 7.9% of households in Portsmouth earn Less than $10,000.

  • 4.9% of households in Portsmouth earn $10,000 to $14,999.

  • 8.3% of households in Portsmouth earn $15,000 to $24,999.

  • 9.1% of households in Portsmouth earn $25,000 to $34,999.

  • 12.9% of households in Portsmouth earn $35,000 to $49,999.

  • 19.3% of households in Portsmouth earn $50,000 to $74,999.

  • 11.0% of households in Portsmouth earn $75,000 to $99,999.

  • 15.5% of households in Portsmouth earn $100,000 to $149,999.

  • 6.7% of households in Portsmouth earn $150,000 to $199,999.

  • 4.4% of households in Portsmouth earn $200,000 or more.

Less than $10,000
7.9% (764,355)
$10,000 to $14,999
4.9% (474,503)
$15,000 to $24,999
8.3% (811,192)
$25,000 to $34,999
9.1% (881,816)
$35,000 to $49,999
12.9% (1,256,269)
$50,000 to $74,999
19.3% (1,881,830)
$75,000 to $99,999
11.0% (1,074,560)
$100,000 to $149,999
15.5% (1,507,131)
$150,000 to $199,999
6.7% (648,610)
$200,000 or more
4.4% (429,628)
Income Portsmouth VA USA
Less than $10,000 7.9% 4.2% 4.9%
$10,000 to $14,999 4.9% 2.9% 3.6%
$15,000 to $24,999 8.3% 5.5% 6.6%
$25,000 to $34,999 9.1% 5.9% 6.8%
$35,000 to $49,999 12.9% 9.1% 10.4%
$50,000 to $74,999 19.3% 14.6% 15.7%
$75,000 to $99,999 11.0% 12.1% 12.7%
$100,000 to $149,999 15.5% 18.2% 17.4%
$150,000 to $199,999 6.7% 10.7% 9.3%
$200,000 or more 4.4% 16.9% 12.6%

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