The Town FilesPortsmouth, Ohio
City in Scioto County · population 18,252 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $103,300
- Household income
- $34,713
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 7 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 39.0
Portsmouth is a city of 18,252 people in Scioto County, Ohio. The median home is worth $103,300, below the typical Ohio town ($171,100). It ranks better for cycling than 96% of Ohio towns, more walkable than 92% of Ohio towns, more vibrant than 89% of Ohio towns.
How Portsmouth ranks
Percentile among Ohio towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Ohio towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Portsmouth is worth $103,300, below the typical Ohio town ($171,100). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $34,713, which is more affordable than 30% of Ohio towns. Median rent is $747 a month. 48.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Portsmouth | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $103,300 | $171,100 |
| Median rent | $747 | $914 |
| Median household income | $34,713 | $67,019 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.6× |
| Homeownership | 48.1% | 71.7% |
| Median year built | 1946 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Portsmouth
| People | Portsmouth | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.0 | 40.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.9% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.4% | 21.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 35.4% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 6.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.3% | — |
| Work from home | 4.8% | 8.6% |
| Average commute | 20.6 min | 23.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.1% | 90.9% |
Weather in Portsmouth
July highs average 86.7°F and January lows 22.9°F. About 43.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 6.6 inches of snow (typical Ohio town: 23.8 in). Expect about 26 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 106 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Portsmouth since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Ohio town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on April 23, 1968 about 8.9 miles from the town center and killed 7. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 7 deaths and 81 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 9, 2000.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 30 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 5, 1996.
Severe weather in Scioto County since 1996
Scioto County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 31, 2020 | Biological | DR-4507: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3457: Covid-19 |
| April 8, 2019 | Flood | DR-4424: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Landslides |
| April 17, 2018 | Flood | DR-4360: Severe Storms, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| June 30, 2012 | Severe Storm | EM-3346: Severe Storms |
Jobs and pay in Scioto County
Scioto County had 25,148 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,418 a year. Unemployment was 4.8% in 2023; in Portsmouth itself the ACS puts it at 8.2%.
Public schools in Portsmouth
6 public schools with 2,382 students, about 11.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portsmouth Elementary | PK-6 | 761 | 13.6 |
| Portsmouth Junior High School/Portsmouth High School | 7-12 | 626 | 12.3 |
| Sciotoville Community School (charter) | K-12 | 389 | 10.8 |
| Clay Elementary School | PK-5 | 316 | 15.0 |
| Clay Middle School | 6-8 | 148 | 7.0 |
| Clay High School | 9-12 | 142 | 6.2 |
Towns near Portsmouth
- West Portsmouth, OH5.0 mi · 2,928 people · home $115,500
- Wheelersburg, OH5.7 mi · 6,531 people · home $210,000
- Flatwoods, KY19.8 mi · 7,325 people · home $114,600
- Ironton, OH21.1 mi · 10,571 people · home $106,700
- Russell, KY21.5 mi · 3,744 people · home $211,900
- Westwood, KY23.9 mi · 4,387 people · home $92,200
- Waverly, OH25.8 mi · 4,165 people · home $168,900
- Jackson, OH25.9 mi · 6,252 people · home $153,600
Portsmouth questions
Is Portsmouth, Ohio a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Portsmouth scores better for retirees than 5% of Ohio towns and quieter than 7%. 18.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.0).
How much does a house cost in Portsmouth?
The median owner-occupied home in Portsmouth is valued at $103,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $34,713, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $747 a month.
What is the weather like in Portsmouth?
July highs average 86.7°F and January lows 22.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.1 inches of precipitation a year and 6.6 inches of snow.
Does Portsmouth get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Portsmouth since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on April 23, 1968. The typical Ohio town has had 16.
- 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)