CensusEasy
COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Portsmouth

Virginia · 97,915 residents · 33.301 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the Virginia Beach metro area
Compare
The short version

Portsmouth has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $53,213. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 21% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 33%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $174,200. Households here earn about 30% less than the Virginia median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 37.0
US median: 38.8
Less educated
21% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 43%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
97,915
−3%since 2000
from 100,565 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
2,940 / sq mi
−3%since 2000
from 3,020 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
37.0
+7%since 2000
from 34.5 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
94K97K100K102K105K1990201020202024Portsmouth
202497K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$53,213
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $33,742 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$27,276
+65%since 2000
from $16,507 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
31.9%
+8.6 ptssince 2009
from 23.3% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
15.7%
−0.4 ptssince 2000
from 16.2% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information12.4%
US avg: 11.1%
Retail trade11.5%
US avg: 10%
Wholesale trade6.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance5.6%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical5%
US avg: 4.7%
Other services3.9%
US avg: 6.6%
Transportation & warehousing2.7%
US avg: 2.5%
Public administration2.3%
US avg: 4.7%
Arts, entertainment, food1.4%
US avg: 2%
Education & health services0.6%
US avg: 0.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.2%
US avg: 1.7%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.5%
Construction0.1%
US avg: 1.2%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$174,200
+43%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $81,000 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,083
+33%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $540 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
54.2%
−4.3 ptssince 2000
from 58.6% in 2000
45.8% rent
Afford Score
3.3
+36%since 2000
from 2.4 in 2000
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Portsmouth on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic45.1%(45,403)
Black50.3%(50,569)
Hispanic / Latino1.7%(1,748)
Asian0.8%(762)
Other0%
Diversity Score65.4%(65,796)
Segregation Score0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic35.7%(34,912)
Black52.7%(51,586)
Hispanic / Latino4.5%(4,413)
Asian1.3%(1,244)
Other4.8%(4,698)
Diversity Score72.7%(71,207)
Segregation Score45.9%(44,961)
Diversity Score
73
+11%since 2000
from 65 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
46
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
20.8%
+6.9 ptssince 2000
from 13.8% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
89.3%
+14.2 ptssince 2000
from 75.2% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
7.7%
+2.9 ptssince 2000
from 4.7% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.2 min
+56%since 2000
from 14.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
77.6%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 77.8% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
11.1%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 10.1% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.3%
−2.0 ptssince 2011
from 8.2% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
63.5%
−1.8 ptssince 2011
from 65.3% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
30.9%
−32.5 ptssince 2009
from 63.4% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.3%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 48.4% in 2009
Female
51.7%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 51.6% in 2009
Foreign born
3.4%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 2.7% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
9.4%
−77.2 ptssince 2013
from 86.6% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Portsmouth

Lauderdale County
Pop 97,135
Macon County
Pop 99,300
Cullman County
Pop 94,009
Marshall County
Pop 103,537
Places similar to Portsmouth
Head to head

Compare Portsmouth to nearby counties

PORTSMOUTH VS
Norfolk
Income$66,109+24%
Home value$289,900+66%
Population231,013+139%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PORTSMOUTH VS
Chesapeake
Income$95,373+79%
Home value$378,400+117%
Population255,332+164%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PORTSMOUTH VS
Hampton
Income$69,621+31%
Home value$245,700+41%
Population137,315+42%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PORTSMOUTH VS
Newport News
Income$69,634+31%
Home value$260,600+50%
Population183,230+89%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Portsmouth, Virginia?

Portsmouth, Virginia has about 97,915 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Portsmouth, Virginia?

The typical household in Portsmouth, Virginia earns about $53,213 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 $174,200, and the typical rent is about $1,083 a month.

How educated are people in Portsmouth, Virginia?

About 20.8% 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 15.7% of people in Portsmouth, Virginia live below the federal poverty line.

Has Portsmouth, Virginia grown since 1990?

Yes, Portsmouth, Virginia has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 5,992 residents, a change of about -6 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

31 census tracts (top 20 by population)
Census Tract 2131.03Census Tract 2131.01Census Tract 2130.01Census Tract 2127.01Census Tract 2129Census Tract 2128.01Census Tract 2123Census Tract 2130.02Census Tract 2124Census Tract 2131.04Census Tract 2116Census Tract 2109Census Tract 2117Census Tract 2118Census Tract 2127.02Census Tract 2125Census Tract 2103Census Tract 2132Census Tract 2128.02Census Tract 2120
7 ZIP codes
ZIP 23703ZIP 23701ZIP 23704ZIP 23707ZIP 23702ZIP 23709ZIP 23708
Up the hierarchy
All counties in Virginia
Rankings
Highest income countiesLowest poverty counties

DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →