Median Age
37 Years
Largest Age Group
30-39 Years
Approximately 15% of Residents
Under 20
26%
Over 65
18%
Portsmouth, VA
Area Guide
Avg Rent
$1,285
Population
96,645
Renter Mix
46% Rent
The geographic heart of the Hampton Roads metro area
Suburban
•
Coastal
•
Military-Friendly
Located in southeastern Virginia, Portsmouth sits along the Elizabeth River as part of the Hampton Roads metropolitan area. The city's Olde Towne Historic District showcases period architecture from the 18th and 19th centuries, making it one of the largest collections of historic buildings between Alexandria and Charleston.
Portsmouth's downtown area reflects its deep maritime heritage, anchored by the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, a cornerstone of the local economy. The tree-lined streets of Olde Towne invite exploration, while the Portsmouth Naval Medical Center serves as a prominent landmark. Rivers Casino Portsmouth provides entertainment options, and the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament brings excitement to the city each April. Established neighborhoods include Park View, with its historic architecture, and Cavalier Manor's residential streets. The 1752 Pass House, where Union forces issued travel permits during the Civil War, stands as one of many preserved historic sites throughout the city.
Explore the City
The Commodore Theatre is luxuriously restored to its 1945 style in Olde Towne Portsmouth.
Get into boating at Freedom Boat Club near Downtown Portsmouth.
The new Jordan Bridge is an all-electronic toll facility into South Portsmouth.
Residents enjoy an afternoon of fishing at the pier in City Park in Midtown Portsmouth.
Colorful and stately Federal style homes in Olde Towne Portsmouth brighten up the neighborhood.
Visit the retired Portsmouth Lightship and see a piece of naval history.
Demographics
Median Household Income
$55,489
Average: $71,767
Education
16,595
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
42,805
Workers Employed
Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.
Housing Distribution
Portsmouth has more homeowners than renters.
Renters
46%
Non-Renters
54%
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
Bachelor's or Higher
14%
Other Education
86%
Rent Trends
As of July 2026, the average apartment rent in Portsmouth, VA is $1,144 for a studio, $1,275 for one bedroom, $1,375 for two bedrooms, and $1,584 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Portsmouth has increased by 3.3% in the past year.
Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,275/month
715 Sq Ft
House
$2,097/month
1,219 Sq Ft
Condo
$1,789/month
1,035 Sq Ft
Townhome
$1,783/month
1,136 Sq Ft
Learn More About Portsmouth
Getting Around
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Portsmouth, VA is for everyday living.
Not Walkable
Walkability
10
/ 100
Exceptionally Drivable
Drivability
90
/ 100
Somewhat Bikeable
Bikeability
30
/ 100
Scores provided by
Schools
Churchland Primary & Intermediate
Public
Grades K-5
541 Students
Public
Grades K-5
767 Students
Public
Grades K-5
767 Students
Public
Grades K-5
463 Students
Public
Grades K-5
463 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
534 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
534 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
890 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
890 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
533 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,435 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,435 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,236 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,043 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,043 Students
School data provided by
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
Points of Interest
Shopping Centers
Parks and Recreation
- Children's Museum of Virginia
- Nauticus
- Fred Heutte Center
- Virginia Zoo
- Norfolk Botanical Garden
Transit / Subway
Commuter Rail
Airports
- Norfolk International
- Newport News/Williamsburg International
Top Apartments in Portsmouth
Houses for Rent in Portsmouth
Search Nearby Rentals
Nearby City Rentals
Nearby Neighborhood Rentals
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Methodology
† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in June 2026.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.