The Town Files

Portsmouth city, Virginia

97,190 people. The median home is worth $246,900 (typical Virginia town: $298,050) and the median household earns $60,491.

Towns in Portsmouth city

Towns in Portsmouth city

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Portsmouth97,915$246,900$60,49135.9

People and housing

Portsmouth cityTypical Virginia town
Median home value$246,900$298,050
Median rent$1,300$1,254
Median household income$60,491$78,595
Median age35.939.8
Bachelor's degree or higher24.3%31.2%
Below the poverty line17.3%8.8%

Jobs and pay

43,620 jobs in 2024, average pay $67,867 a year.

Largest industries in Portsmouth cityHealth care & social assistan…5,926 jobs · $56,229Administrative & support3,125 jobs · $52,230Retail2,741 jobs · $32,928Hotels & restaurants2,335 jobs · $22,130Construction1,960 jobs · $73,758Transportation & warehousing1,794 jobs · $80,531
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Portsmouth city0%2%4%6%8%10%2000200420082012201620202023 3.7%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 150 storm events in Portsmouth city from 1996 to 2026.

Storm events in Portsmouth city by type since 1996Hail25Flood8Tornado2Lightning4Heavy Rain30Waterspout1Flash Flood30Funnel Cloud1Thunderstorm Wind49
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Portsmouth city has been included in 18 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
January 23, 2026Winter StormEM-3631: Severe Winter Storm
April 2, 2020BiologicalDR-4512: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3448: Covid-19
September 11, 2018HurricaneEM-3403: Hurricane Florence
November 2, 2016HurricaneDR-4291: Hurricane Matthew
October 29, 2012HurricaneEM-3359: Hurricane Sandy
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).