What are the schools like in Portsmouth, VA?

Portsmouth is served primarily by Portsmouth City Public Schools. The district operates 13 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 3 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.7:1.

What is the median household income in Portsmouth?

The median household income in Portsmouth, VA is $57,154 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 6.6%.

What is the weather like in Portsmouth, VA?

Portsmouth has an average high temperature of 48.8°F in January and 88.0°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 50.0 inches and annual snowfall averages 3.0 inches.

Portsmouth, VA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Portsmouth, VA affordable or expensive?

Portsmouth's cost of living index is 97, where 100 represents the national average. This means Portsmouth is 3% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $213,300 and the median rent is $1,225 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Portsmouth, VA?

Portsmouth has a violent crime rate of 752.4 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 3860.8 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Portsmouth, VA a Good Place to Live?

Portsmouth is a mid-sized city of 97,384 in Virginia, with a median household income of $57,154 and a 6.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 97 (US average = 100), which is 3% below the national average.

Strengths: Portsmouth stands out for below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Portsmouth is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Portsmouth city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 97.4

Portsmouth's overall cost of living index is 97.4, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Portsmouth costs roughly 3% less than the average American city.

Metric	Portsmouth, VA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$213,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,225	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	56.1%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$57,154	$74,755

Crime & Safety

High Crime

Portsmouth's violent crime rate is 752.4 per 100,000 residents — 98% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

752.4 /100k

Property Crime

3860.8 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Portsmouth is served primarily by Portsmouth City Public Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.7:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Portsmouth, VA	National Avg
School District	Portsmouth City Public Schools	—
Elementary Schools	13	—
Middle Schools	3	—
High Schools	3	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.7:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	21.2%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	89.5%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Portsmouth sees average highs of 48.8°F in January and 88.0°F in July, with 50.0 inches of annual precipitation and 3.0 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Portsmouth, VA
Average High — January	48.8°F
Average High — July	88.0°F
Annual Precipitation	50.0"
Annual Snowfall	3.0"

Demographics

Metric	Portsmouth, VA	National Avg
Population	97,384	—
Median Age	35.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	6.6%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	23.2 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	37.7%	59.3%
Black or African American	51.4%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	3.4%	18.9%
Asian	1.4%	6.3%
Under 18	23.1%	22.2%
65 and over	15.1%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Norfolk, VA 8 mi Carrollton, VA 11 mi Chesapeake, VA 13 mi Hampton, VA 13 mi Benns Church, VA 14 mi

ZIP Codes in Portsmouth

Portsmouth, VA is covered by 7 ZIP codes:

23703 23701 23704 23707 23702 23709 23708

Portsmouth vs Other Cities

Portsmouth, VA vs Norfolk, VA Portsmouth, VA vs Carrollton, VA Portsmouth, VA vs Chesapeake, VA Portsmouth, VA vs Hampton, VA Portsmouth, VA vs Benns Church, VA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Portsmouth, VA affordable or expensive?

Portsmouth's cost of living index is 97, where 100 is the national average. That makes Portsmouth roughly 3% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $213,300 and median rent is $1,225/month.

What is the crime rate in Portsmouth, VA?

Portsmouth's violent crime rate is 752.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3860.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Portsmouth?

Public schools in Portsmouth are operated by Portsmouth City Public Schools. The district has 13 elementary, 3 middle, and 3 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.7:1. 21.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Portsmouth, VA a good place to live?

Portsmouth, VA has a population of 97,384, a median household income of $57,154, and an unemployment rate of 6.6%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Portsmouth?

Portsmouth averages 48.8°F in January and 88.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 50.0 inches with about 3.0 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Portsmouth?

Portsmouth, VA is covered by 7 ZIP codes: 23703, 23701, 23704, 23707, 23702, 23709, 23708.

What is the population of Portsmouth?

The population of Portsmouth, Virginia is 97,384 with a median age of 35.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Portsmouth?

Key numbers for living in Portsmouth: cost of living index 97 (100 = US average), median home $213,300, median household income $57,154, crime index 192 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Portsmouth side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.