The Town FilesPortsmouth, Rhode Island
Town in Newport County · population 17,871 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $597,000
- Household income
- $117,467
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 38 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 48.0
Portsmouth is a town of 17,871 people in Newport County, Rhode Island. The median home is worth $597,000, above the typical Rhode Island town ($432,850). It ranks better for retirees than 91% of Rhode Island towns, more upscale than 91% of Rhode Island towns, more seaside character than 90% of Rhode Island towns.
How Portsmouth ranks
Percentile among Rhode Island towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Rhode Island towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Portsmouth is worth $597,000, above the typical Rhode Island town ($432,850). Homes cost about 5.1 times the median household income of $117,467, which is more affordable than 26% of Rhode Island towns. Median rent is $1,719 a month. 80.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Portsmouth | Typical Rhode Island town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $597,000 | $432,850 |
| Median rent | $1,719 | $1,362 |
| Median household income | $117,467 | $102,946 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.1× | 4.3× |
| Homeownership | 80.7% | 75.9% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 8.8% | — |
Who lives in Portsmouth
| People | Portsmouth | Typical Rhode Island town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.0 | 43.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.6% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 62.2% | 40.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.9% | 6.2% |
| Veterans | 11.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.9% | — |
| Work from home | 16.0% | 12.4% |
| Average commute | 23.0 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.8% | 93.3% |
Weather in Portsmouth
July highs average 79.6°F and January lows 24.1°F. About 42.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 38.1 inches of snow (typical Rhode Island town: 36.6 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 98 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Portsmouth since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical Rhode Island town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on July 23, 2008 about 8.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on November 13, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 10 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 24, 2008.
Severe weather in Newport County since 1996
Newport County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for hurricane, snowstorm, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4766: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| May 12, 2022 | Snowstorm | DR-4653: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| August 21, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3563: Hurricane Henri |
| March 30, 2020 | Biological | DR-4505: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3440: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Newport County
Newport County had 42,622 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $68,656 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Portsmouth itself the ACS puts it at 3.1%.
Public schools in Portsmouth
4 public schools with 2,143 students, about 11.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portsmouth High School | 9-12 | 790 | 11.4 |
| Portsmouth Middle School | 5-8 | 622 | 11.7 |
| Howard Hathaway School | K-4 | 401 | 12.5 |
| Melville School | PK-4 | 330 | 12.2 |
Towns near Portsmouth
- Middletown, RI5.0 mi · 17,075 people · home $563,300
- Newport East, RI5.3 mi · 12,337 people · home $485,400
- Tiverton, RI5.3 mi · 16,359 people · home $411,900
- Bristol, RI5.8 mi · 22,493 people · home $485,000
- Tiverton, RI6.1 mi · 7,809 people · home $407,200
- Jamestown, RI6.7 mi · 5,559 people · home $842,400
- Newport, RI8.2 mi · 25,163 people · home $746,900
- Little Compton, RI8.7 mi · 3,616 people · home $783,400
Portsmouth questions
Is Portsmouth, Rhode Island a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Portsmouth scores better for retirees than 91% of Rhode Island towns and quieter than 50%. 26.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.0).
How much does a house cost in Portsmouth?
The median owner-occupied home in Portsmouth is valued at $597,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $117,467, so homes cost about 5.1 times income. Median rent is $1,719 a month.
What is the weather like in Portsmouth?
July highs average 79.6°F and January lows 24.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.2 inches of precipitation a year and 38.1 inches of snow.
Does Portsmouth get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Portsmouth since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on July 23, 2008. The typical Rhode Island town has had 5.
- 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)