Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Portsmouth, VA
VS
Richmond, VA
🏆 Richmond leads 13 of 23 categories
Portsmouth
Virginia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,154
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
97,384
Richmond
Virginia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$59,606 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
227,171 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Portsmouth, VA
Pros
Homes cost $95k less ($213,300 vs $308,300)
Cons
Violent crime (752.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3860.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Richmond, VA
Pros
55% less violent crime than Portsmouth
More college-educated — 44.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (6.1%)
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $308,300
Property crime (3179.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Portsmouth
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Portsmouth
Median Home Value
$95k less
$213,300 vs $308,300
Richmond
Median Income
$2,452
$59,606 vs $57,154/yr
Richmond
Violent Crime
55% lower
336.9 vs 752.4 per 100k
Richmond
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
6.1% vs 6.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Portsmouth, VA | Richmond, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 98.0 |
| Median Home Value | $213,300 ✓ Lower | $308,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,225 ✓ Lower | $1,227 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,154 | $59,606 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.2 min | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 14.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 192⚠ High | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 184⚠ High | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.7:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.2% | 44.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.5% ✓ Higher | 88.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Portsmouth City Public Schools | Richmond City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.8°F ✓ Warmer | 47.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F | 89.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.0" | 47.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.0" ✓ Less | 8.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,384 | 227,171 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.1% ✓ Higher | 43.2% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 17.1% |
| Over 65 | 15.1% ✓ More | 13.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Portsmouth's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Richmond's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Portsmouth is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Richmond leads 13 of 23 categories. Portsmouth wins 10 and Richmond wins 13. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Portsmouth to Richmond or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,300 vs $308,300 median home), income ($57,154 vs $59,606), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Portsmouth, VA and Richmond, VA are about 77 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.