United States › Virginia › Portsmouth CITY · 1990 CENSUS
Portsmouth Virginia · 103,907 residents · 33.3 sq mi
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The short version
Portsmouth is a city of 103,907 people in Virginia. About 12% of adults have finished a four-year degree. That trails the Virginia median by roughly 26%. 56% of homes are owner-occupied. The typical home is worth $66,600. 17.7% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $30,130
Mid-age
median age 31.9
US median: 33.0
Less educated
12% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 20%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $93,722
Section 01
Population & growth vs 34.5 in 2000
US average: 33.0
Population, 1990 – 2024
94K 97K 100K 102K 105K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Portsmouth Age distribution, 1990
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $24,601
−4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $33,742 in 2000
US average: $30,130
vs $16,507 in 2000
US average: $14,340
vs 16.2% in 2000
US average: 13.2%
$66,600
+8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $81,000 in 2000
US average: $93,722
$416
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $540 in 2000
US average: $450
vs 58.6% in 2000
44.1% rent
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 45.1%(45,403)
Hispanic / Latino 1.7%(1,748)
1990
White, non-Hispanic 51.4%(53,408)
Hispanic / Latino 1.4%(1,427)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.
Hispanic origin
+ 4 more hispanic origin groups with data Asian origin
+ 2 more asian origin groups with data Ancestry
+ 40 more ancestry groups with data vs 13.8% in 2000
US average: 20.3%
High school or higher
vs 75.2% in 2000
US average: 75.2%
vs 4.7% in 2000
US average: 7.1%
Section 06
Commute & transportation vs 14.9 min in 2000
US average: 21.9
Section 07
Work & employment No data for the years selected.
Section 08
People & community No data for the years selected.
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 43.5%(16,032)
Women 15+
Never married 37.6%(15,490)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).
from 13.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 48.5% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 10.7% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 18.4% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 22.5% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 5.0% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 64.3% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 40.5% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 44.8%(4,064)
Gulf War (1990s) 32.1%(2,916)
Share of the 9,074 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Drill deeper
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Portsmouth, Virginia? Portsmouth, Virginia has about 103,907 residents according to the 1990 Census.
What is the median household income in Portsmouth, Virginia? The typical household in Portsmouth, Virginia earns about $24,601 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Portsmouth, Virginia expensive? In Portsmouth, Virginia, the median home is worth about $66,600, and the typical rent is about $416 a month.
How educated are people in Portsmouth, Virginia? About 11.6% of adults age 25 and over in Portsmouth, Virginia hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Portsmouth, Virginia? About 17.7% of people in Portsmouth, Virginia live below the federal poverty line.
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