Portsmouth city, Virginia Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Portsmouth city is located in Virginia with a total population of 97,299. It is the 20th most populous county out of 133 in Virginia. The county encompasses 1 Census-designated place.

Age Demographics

The median age in Portsmouth city is 35.8 years. This is 8% lower than the state median of 38.8 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Portsmouth city is $58,972. This is 35% lower than the state median of $90,974. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 25% lower. The poverty rate stands at 17.6%. This is 77% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.9%. The unemployment rate is 6.6%. This is 54% higher than the state rate of 4.3%. The median home value is $229,400. Housing costs are 36% lower than the state median of $360,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.9x. 56.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 15% lower than the state average of 67.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Portsmouth city is Black or African American, making up 51.2% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 35.9%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (51.2% vs 18.4%). The Hispanic or Latino population (5.1%) is well below the state average of 10.7%. The Asian population (1.4%) is well below the state average of 6.8%.

Education

23.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 44% lower than the state rate of 41.5%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 89.2%.