Portsmouth, VA
Demographics And Statistics

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2023-12-15

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 97,384.

  • The median home value in Portsmouth is $238,266.

  • The median income in Portsmouth is $57,154.

  • The cost of living in Portsmouth is 100 which is 1.0x lower than the national average.

  • The median rent in Portsmouth is $1,225.

  • The unemployment rate in Portsmouth is 6.6%.

  • The poverty rate in Portsmouth is 17.4%.

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

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Portsmouth SnackAbility

5
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
6/10
Housing
8
Affordability
5
Diversity
9
Safety
3
Amenities
9
Education
7
Commute
8
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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 5,642 total crimes in Portsmouth in the last reporting year.

  • The overall crime rate per 100,000 people in Portsmouth is 5,757.0 / 100k people.

  • The violent crime rate per 100,000 people in Portsmouth is 875.5 / 100k people.

  • The property crime rate per 100,000 people in Portsmouth is 4,881.5 / 100k people.

  • Overall, crime in Portsmouth is 147.70% above the national average.

5,642
Total Crimes
147.70%
Above National Average

Crime In Portsmouth Comparison Table

Statistic Count
Raw
Portsmouth
/ 100k People
Virginia
/ 100k People
National
/ 100k People
Total Crimes Per 100K 5,642 5,757.0 1,665.1 2,324.2
Violent Crime 858 875.5 208.7 369.8
Murder 47 48.0 6.1 6.3
Robbery 209 213.3 34.3 66.1
Aggravated Assault 554 565.3 141.7 268.2
Property Crime 4,784 4,881.5 1,456.4 1,954.4
Burglary 421 429.6 133.5 269.8
Larceny 3,940 4,020.3 1,196.6 1,401.9
Car Theft 423 431.6 126.3 282.7

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 100 with 100 being average.

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

  • The median home value in Portsmouth is $238,266.

  • The median income in Portsmouth is $57,154.

100
Portsmouth's Overall Cost Of Living
1.0x
Lower Than The National Average

Cost Of Living In Portsmouth Comparison Table

Living Expense Portsmouth Virginia National Average
Overall 100 102 100
Services 104 102 100
Groceries 92 98 100
Health 104 102 100
Housing 93 107 100
Transportation 94 95 100
Utilities 105 102 100

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
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Charles Jones -

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


Pawsn' Doodles -

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


Kaveon Matthews -

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


joker hart -

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


Johnathan_365 -

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


4real Rell -

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 -

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

Best Places Around Portsmouth

1

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Population 12,479

2

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Population 457,900

3

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Population 8,625

4

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Population 249,377

5

Suffolk, VA
Population 94,856

6

Hampton, VA
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7

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8

Norfolk, VA
Population 236,973

Portsmouth Demographics And Statistics

Population over time in Portsmouth

The current population in Portsmouth is 97,384. The population has increased 0.6% from 2010.

Year Population % Change
2022 97,384 2.2%
2021 95,311 -0.2%
2020 95,536 -0.6%
2019 96,071 -0.1%
2018 96,135 0.1%
2017 96,007 0.1%
2016 95,901 0.1%
2015 95,786 -0.3%
2014 96,066 -0.7%
2013 96,785 -

Race / Ethnicity in Portsmouth

White
36.4% (35,463)
African American
51.0% (49,647)
American Indian
0.3% (278)
Asian
1.4% (1,335)
Hawaiian
0.0% (29)
Other
0.5% (487)
Two Or More
5.4% (5,266)
Hispanic
5.0% (4,879)

Portsmouth is:

  • 36.4% White with 35,463 White residents.

  • 51.0% African American with 49,647 African American residents.

  • 0.3% American Indian with 278 American Indian residents.

  • 1.4% Asian with 1,335 Asian residents.

  • 0.0% Hawaiian with 29 Hawaiian residents.

  • 0.5% Other with 487 Other residents.

  • 5.4% Two Or More with 5,266 Two Or More residents.

  • 5.0% Hispanic with 4,879 Hispanic residents.

Race Portsmouth VA USA
White 36.4% 60.0% 58.9%
African American 51.0% 18.6% 12.1%
American Indian 0.3% 0.1% 0.6%
Asian 1.4% 6.8% 5.7%
Hawaiian 0.0% 0.1% 0.2%
Other 0.5% 0.5% 0.4%
Two Or More 5.4% 4.0% 3.5%
Hispanic 5.0% 10.0% 18.7%

Gender in Portsmouth

Female
51.9% (50,504)
Male
48.1% (46,879)
  • Portsmouth is 51.9% female with 50,504 female residents.

  • Portsmouth is 48.1% male with 46,879 male residents.

Gender Portsmouth VA USA
Female 51.9% 50.5% 50.4%
Male 48.1% 49.5% 49.6%

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.

  • 27.0% of adults in Portsmouth completed some college.

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

  • 14.0% of adults in Portsmouth completed bachelor's degree.

  • 6.0% 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% (1,947)
9-12th Grade
8.0% (7,790)
High School / GED
32.0% (31,162)
Some College
27.0% (26,293)
Associate's Degree
9.0% (8,764)
Bachelor's Degree
14.0% (13,633)
Master's Degree
6.0% (5,843)
Professional Degree
1.0% (973)
Doctorate Degree
1.0% (973)
Education Portsmouth VA USA
< 9th Grade 2.0% 4.0% 4.0%
9-12th Grade 8.0% 5.0% 6.0%
High School / GED 32.0% 24.0% 26.0%
Some College 27.0% 18.0% 20.0%
Associate's Degree 9.0% 8.0% 9.0%
Bachelor's Degree 14.0% 23.0% 21.0%
Master's Degree 6.0% 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

  • 8.5% of households in Portsmouth earn Less than $10,000.

  • 4.5% of households in Portsmouth earn $10,000 to $14,999.

  • 9.0% of households in Portsmouth earn $15,000 to $24,999.

  • 9.4% of households in Portsmouth earn $25,000 to $34,999.

  • 13.7% of households in Portsmouth earn $35,000 to $49,999.

  • 18.8% of households in Portsmouth earn $50,000 to $74,999.

  • 12.3% of households in Portsmouth earn $75,000 to $99,999.

  • 14.3% of households in Portsmouth earn $100,000 to $149,999.

  • 5.5% of households in Portsmouth earn $150,000 to $199,999.

  • 4.0% of households in Portsmouth earn $200,000 or more.

Less than $10,000
8.5% (823,822)
$10,000 to $14,999
4.5% (435,906)
$15,000 to $24,999
9.0% (881,060)
$25,000 to $34,999
9.4% (916,552)
$35,000 to $49,999
13.7% (1,333,212)
$50,000 to $74,999
18.8% (1,831,355)
$75,000 to $99,999
12.3% (1,197,991)
$100,000 to $149,999
14.3% (1,389,200)
$150,000 to $199,999
5.5% (537,134)
$200,000 or more
4.0% (392,165)
Income Portsmouth VA USA
Less than $10,000 8.5% 4.2% 4.9%
$10,000 to $14,999 4.5% 3.0% 3.8%
$15,000 to $24,999 9.0% 5.8% 7.0%
$25,000 to $34,999 9.4% 6.3% 7.4%
$35,000 to $49,999 13.7% 9.4% 10.7%
$50,000 to $74,999 18.8% 15.0% 16.1%
$75,000 to $99,999 12.3% 12.3% 12.8%
$100,000 to $149,999 14.3% 18.1% 17.1%
$150,000 to $199,999 5.5% 10.4% 8.8%
$200,000 or more 4.0% 15.6% 11.4%

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