City · Virginia
Portsmouth, Virginia
Portsmouth, city, in Portsmouth city, Virginia. Portsmouth had 96,777 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 1.2% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 97,915 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 97,190 (controlled total). GEOID 5164000.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
96,777
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 97,915 · ACS 2020-2024: 97,190
Median household income
$60,491
±$1,948 (90% margin)
Virginia: $93,170
Median home value
$246,900
±$5,361 (90% margin)
Virginia: $383,700
Median gross rent
$1,300
±$26 (90% margin)
Virginia: $1,579
Where is Portsmouth and what county is it in?
Portsmouth is a city in Portsmouth city, Virginia. It covers 33.3 square miles of land, 2,940 residents per square mile in 2020.
Portsmouth is in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 18 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Portsmouth covers the same area as Portsmouth city: the city and the county are one area, so the county's figures are Portsmouth's; the county page lists its census tracts.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Portsmouth, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 96,777 people lived in Portsmouth on July 1, 2025, down 1.2% since 2020, while Virginia grew 2.9%. The 2020 Census counted 97,915 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 97,190.
| Measure | Portsmouth | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 97,190 | 8,705,170 | +2,093 |
| Households | 40,288 ±452 | 3,365,732 | +3,918 |
| Average household size | 2.34 ±0.03 | 2.52 | −0.17 |
| Housing units | 43,318 ±67 | 3,684,756 | +2,411 |
Portsmouth's population since 2000
From 100,565 in 2000 to 96,777 in 2025: down 3.8%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Portsmouth as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Portsmouth?
The median resident of Portsmouth is 35.9 years old; 23.0% are under 18 and 15.5% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic Black residents at 50.2%, then non-Hispanic white residents at 35.4%. 3.3% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Portsmouth | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.9 ±0.3 | 39.0 | +0.6 |
| Under 18 years | 23.0% ±0.1 pts | 21.7% | – |
| 65 years and over | 15.5% ±0.1 pts | 16.7% | – |
| Male | 47.9% ±0.2 pts | 49.4% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 5.4% | 11.0% | +0.9 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 35.4% ±0.2 pts | 58.4% | −2.3 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 50.2% ±1.0 pts | 18.3% | −2.0 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.6% ±0.2 pts | 6.9% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 6.5% ±1.0 pts | 4.7% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.7% ±0.3 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 3.3% ±0.5 pts | 13.1% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 5.3% ±0.7 pts | 17.4% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 12.8% ±1.0 pts | 9.4% | – |
| With a disability | 17.0% ±1.1 pts | 12.5% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 7.4% ±1.1 pts | 6.9% | −2.6 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 89.0% ±0.9 pts | 91.6% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 24.3% ±1.3 pts | 42.2% | +2.4 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 8.9% ±0.8 pts | 18.5% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 86.3% ±1.4 pts | 86.9% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 3.3% ±0.6 pts | 3.1% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Portsmouth earn?
Half of Portsmouth's 40,288 households earn less than $60,491 a year (±$1,948), against $60,491 in Portsmouth city and $93,170 in Virginia. In 2015-2019 the median was $64,211 in 2024 dollars, so it fell by $3,720 after inflation. 17.3% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Portsmouth | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $60,491 ±$1,948 | $93,170 | −$3,720 |
| Mean household income | $77,856 ±$3,053 | $128,260 | – |
| Per capita income | $33,568 ±$1,291 | $50,666 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 17.3% ±1.7 pts | 9.9% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 24.9% ±4.1 pts | 12.3% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 19.9% ±1.6 pts | 9.1% | – |
| Households with a computer | 94.0% ±1.0 pts | 95.4% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 88.0% ±1.5 pts | 91.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Portsmouth?
Owners occupy 57.9% of Portsmouth's occupied homes and renters 42.1%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $246,900 by its owner (±$5,361). The median renter pays $1,300 a month including utilities, and 50.7% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Portsmouth | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $246,900 ±$5,361 | $383,700 | +$36,574 |
| Median gross rent | $1,300 ±$26 | $1,579 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 50.7% ±3.7 pts | 39.4% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,752 ±$52 | $2,127 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 57.9% ±1.8 pts | 67.3% | +2.9 pts |
| Renter-occupied homes | 42.1% ±1.8 pts | 32.7% | – |
| Housing units | 43,318 ±67 | 3,684,756 | +2,411 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.2% ±0.6 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 3.5% ±1.5 pts | 4.8% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 61.5% ±1.5 pts | 61.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.7% ±0.3 pts | 4.3% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.7% ±0.3 pts | 1.7% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 5.9% ±0.9 pts | 9.9% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 11.9% ±1.2 pts | 7.0% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 12.0% ±1.3 pts | 6.1% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Portsmouth building?
Builders took permits for 179 new housing units in Portsmouth in 2025 (125 in single-family houses), 1.8 per 1,000 residents against 3.7 across Virginia.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Portsmouth work and get to work?
71.1% of Portsmouth's workers drive alone and 8.7% work from home. The average trip to work takes 23.7 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 6.6%.
| Measure | Portsmouth | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 63.8% ±1.5 pts | 65.4% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 6.6% ±0.9 pts | 4.3% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 71.1% ±2.3 pts | 67.6% | – |
| Carpooled | 12.3% ±1.8 pts | 8.0% | – |
| Public transportation | 1.6% ±0.7 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Walked | 3.2% ±0.9 pts | 2.1% | – |
| Worked from home | 8.7% ±1.2 pts | 18.3% | +6.0 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 23.7 min ±0.9 | 27.3 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Portsmouth?
31 census tracts lie mostly in Portsmouth (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $22,544 (Tract 2105) to $108,267 (Tract 2131.04).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 2131.03Portsmouth city | 5,984 | $66,672 |
| Tract 2131.01Portsmouth city | 5,652 | $54,984 |
| Tract 2130.01Portsmouth city | 5,626 | $94,655 |
| Tract 2127.01Portsmouth city | 5,130 | $62,167 |
| Tract 2129Portsmouth city | 4,708 | $70,909 |
| Tract 2128.01Portsmouth city | 4,448 | $42,966 |
| Tract 2123Portsmouth city | 4,389 | $53,654 |
| Tract 2130.02Portsmouth city | 4,279 | $102,315 |
| Tract 2124Portsmouth city | 4,232 | $34,900 |
| Tract 2131.04Portsmouth city | 4,114 | $108,267 |
| Tract 2116Portsmouth city | 4,077 | $63,633 |
| Tract 2109Portsmouth city | 3,650 | $57,880 |
Every census tract in Portsmouth: the tract table of Portsmouth city
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Portsmouth) · Census block assignment files
How does Portsmouth compare with other places in Virginia?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Portsmouth is the 357th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 10th-most populous of 227 in Virginia.
Portsmouth ranks 274th of 365 places in Virginia with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 10th | 227 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 93rd | 139 |
| Residents per square mile | 103rd | 374 |
| Median household income | 274th | 365 |
| Per capita income | 256th | 374 |
| Median home value | 247th | 359 |
| Median gross rent | 184th | 341 |
| Poverty rate | 67th | 263 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 264th | 359 |
| Median age | 281st | 372 |
| Owner-occupied share | 277th | 368 |
| Work from home | 250th | 286 |
| Travel time to work | 242nd | 372 |
Portsmouth's figures with every place in Virginia (CSV)
Every place in Virginia, sortable · Compare Portsmouth with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Portsmouth?
1 of the 57 figures for Portsmouth on this page carries a coefficient of variation over 40% and is marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Portsmouth are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Portsmouth.