What it's like to live in Portsmouth
Portsmouth is a smaller city in Virginia with home prices that remain within reach and schools with smaller class sizes than the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Portsmouth deals with household incomes below the national average, crime rates above the national average, a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, and a car-dependent commute, with few people using transit.
The good
- Affordable home prices
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- Crime above national average
- High rent burden for renters
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Portsmouth compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Portsmouth
Based on Portsmouth's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,600
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $52,000 a year
- 56% of Portsmouth renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$49,380
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $24,690
- Homes cost 4.1× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,300/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,300 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $246,900. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $246,900 · 56% of renters cost-burdened
Job marketNear US average
4.3% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.3%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 135% above US
773 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is a real factor here, with violent rates significantly above the national average. That doesn't make the whole city a write-off, but it does mean specific neighborhoods deserve real research before signing a lease.
Property crime 3264/100k · Portsmouth Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
24 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 23.7 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 9% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 86°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 36°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
2 hospitals
There are 2 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 3.0 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 32% below US
24% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 24%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
23 public schools inside the boundary
There are 23 public schools inside the boundary and 10 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Fort Monroe National Monument (11 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Portsmouth's strongest point is home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are household incomes below the national average and crime rates above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,300/mo) equals 26% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Portsmouth
All Virginia guides →Moving to Chesapeake →
13 mi away · pop. 252,583
Rent $1,586/mo · Income $95,373
Compare with Portsmouth →Moving to Hampton →
14 mi away · pop. 137,557
Rent $1,427/mo · Income $69,621
Compare with Portsmouth →Not sure Portsmouth is the one?
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