The Town FilesPortsmouth, Virginia
City in Portsmouth city · population 97,915 (2020 Census)
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- Median home
- $246,900
- Household income
- $60,491
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 28
- Median age
- 35.9
Portsmouth is a city of 97,915 people in Portsmouth city, Virginia. The median home is worth $246,900, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks more seaside character than 95% of Virginia towns, more walkable than 92% of Virginia towns, better for cycling than 85% of Virginia towns.
How Portsmouth ranks
Percentile among Virginia towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Virginia towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Portsmouth is worth $246,900, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 4.1 times the median household income of $60,491, which is more affordable than 37% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $1,300 a month. 57.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Portsmouth | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $246,900 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $1,300 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $60,491 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.1× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 57.9% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1967 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.3% | — |
Who lives in Portsmouth
| People | Portsmouth | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.9 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.5% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.3% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.3% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 12.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.3% | — |
| Work from home | 8.7% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 23.7 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.0% | 91.8% |
Weather in Portsmouth
July highs average 88.0°F and January lows 32.2°F. About 53.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.0 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 35 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 51 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Portsmouth since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 28, 2008 about 3.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 31, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 87 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 9, 2009.
Severe weather in Portsmouth city since 1996
Portsmouth city has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, freezing, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3631: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 2, 2020 | Biological | DR-4512: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3448: Covid-19 |
| September 11, 2018 | Hurricane | EM-3403: Hurricane Florence |
| November 2, 2016 | Hurricane | DR-4291: Hurricane Matthew |
Jobs and pay in Portsmouth city
Portsmouth city had 43,620 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $67,867 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Portsmouth itself the ACS puts it at 6.6%.
Public schools in Portsmouth
25 public schools with 14,726 students, about 14.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Churchland High | 9-12 | 1,452 | 15.4 |
| Manor High | 9-12 | 1,167 | 13.0 |
| I.C. Norcom High | 9-12 | 1,027 | 13.7 |
| Churchland Middle | 7-8 | 840 | 14.0 |
| Northern Shores Elementary | PK-5 | 837 | 18.2 |
| Churchland Elementary | K-6 | 760 | 16.9 |
| Colonel Fred Cherry Middle | 6-8 | 728 | 12.1 |
| Waterview Elementary | K-6 | 614 | 16.2 |
| Simonsdale Elementary | K-6 | 609 | 12.4 |
| Cradock Elementary | K-6 | 606 | 14.4 |
| Churchland Academy Elementary | K-6 | 600 | 15.8 |
| Victory Elementary | K-6 | 570 | 16.3 |
Towns near Portsmouth
- Norfolk, VA7.6 mi · 238,005 people · home $289,900
- Carrollton, VA10.7 mi · 7,498 people · home $423,900
- Chesapeake, VA12.8 mi · 249,422 people · home $378,400
- Hampton, VA13.4 mi · 137,148 people · home $245,700
- Smithfield, VA16.2 mi · 8,533 people · home $374,900
- Bethel Manor, VA16.9 mi · 4,540 people · home —
- Newport News, VA17.5 mi · 186,247 people · home $260,600
- Poquoson, VA18.8 mi · 12,460 people · home $400,300
Portsmouth questions
Is Portsmouth, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Portsmouth scores better for retirees than 5% of Virginia towns and quieter than 14%. 15.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.9).
How much does a house cost in Portsmouth?
The median owner-occupied home in Portsmouth is valued at $246,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,491, so homes cost about 4.1 times income. Median rent is $1,300 a month.
What is the weather like in Portsmouth?
July highs average 88.0°F and January lows 32.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 53.3 inches of precipitation a year and 3.0 inches of snow.
Does Portsmouth get tornadoes?
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Portsmouth since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on April 28, 2008. The typical Virginia town has had 11.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)