Homefactsby IDLookupNew search

Neighborhood report

Portsmouth, VA

Founded 1752Elev. 6 m
Population
97,299
Median home
$229,400
Disaster risk
Relatively Low
Public schools
24
Sex offenders
16

Overview

About Portsmouth

With about 97,299 residents, Portsmouth is one of Virginia's notable places. Portsmouth was founded in 1752. The median age is 35.8 and the median household income is $58,972. Homes carry a median value of $229,400, and about 57% of residents own where they live. Black residents make up the largest share of the population (51.2%). Around 23% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the typical commute runs about 23 minutes.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (5-year).

Look up anyone in Portsmouth, VA
Search Portsmouth residents by name — addresses, phone numbers, relatives, criminal & public records.
Search people →

Who lives here

Demographics

Population
97,299
Median age
35.8
Median household income
$58,972
Per-capita income
$32,915
Poverty rate
17.6%
High-school grad or higher
89.2%
Bachelor's degree or higher
23.2%
Unemployment
6.6%
Avg. commute
23 min
Work from home
7.9%
Residents by race & ethnicity
White35.9%
Hispanic or Latino5.1%
Black51.2%
Asian1.4%
Workforce by occupation
Management, business, science & arts35%
Sales & office20.9%
Service18.6%
Production, transportation & material moving15.6%
Natural resources, construction & maintenance9.9%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (5-year).

Housing

Property report

Median home value
$229,400
Median gross rent
$1,266/mo
Owner-occupied
56.9%
Median year built
1966
Households
39,678
Avg. household size
2.38

Area-level figures. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS (5-year). Parcel-level records coming next.

Education

Schools

Schools: Average

Portsmouth has 24 public schools — 13 elementary, 3 middle, 3 high.

Student proficiency · grade 8, 3 schools
Reading60%
Math69%

% of students at or above proficient on state assessments.

CHURCHLAND HIGHHighGrades 9–12
I.C. NORCOM HIGHHighGrades 9–12
MANOR HIGHHighGrades 9–12
CHURCHLAND MIDDLEMiddleGrades 7–8
CRADOCK MIDDLEMiddleGrades 7–8
William E. Waters MiddleMiddleGrades 7–8
Brighton ElementaryElementary
Churchland Academy ElementaryElementary
Churchland ElementaryElementary
CHURCHLAND PRIMARY & INTERMEDIATEElementary
Cradock ElementaryElementary
Douglass Park ElementaryElementary
Hodges Manor ElementaryElementary
Lakeview ElementaryElementary

Public schools + grade-8 proficiency. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education (NCES directory + EDFacts assessments), via Urban Institute.

Safety

Crime

violent crime116% above national
Portsmouth833
Virginia243
United States386
↓ 12% lower than 2019
2019–2023
property crime141% above national
Portsmouth4,701
Virginia1,686
United States1,952
↓ 20% lower than 2019
2019–2023

Rate per 100,000 residents/year, Portsmouth Police Department, 2023. Source: FBI UCR/NIBRS (Crime Data Explorer).

Environment

Environmental hazards

Toxic-release sites and regulated facilities in and around Portsmouth.

Data source being added: U.S. EPA — Toxics Release Inventory (public). We show real, sourced figures only — never estimates.

Risk

Natural disaster risk

Relatively Low
Top hazards · Portsmouth County
Coastal floodingRelatively Moderate
HurricaneRelatively Moderate
LightningRelatively Moderate
Winter weatherRelatively Moderate
Cold waveRelatively Low
EarthquakeRelatively Low

County-level natural-hazard risk. Source: FEMA National Risk Index.

Context

Neighborhood info

Portsmouth is in Portsmouth County — see county-wide risk, demographics, and registry.

Portsmouth was founded in 1752. Elevation ~6 m.

Population trend
98K95K97,29920102024
Map of Portsmouth
Portsmouth, VA
Where Portsmouth is
Virginia BeachChesapeakeNorfolkRichmondNewport NewsAlexandriaPortsmouth
Historic places

16 on the National Register of Historic Places, incl. 2 National Historic Landmarks.

Drydock No. 1LIGHTSHIP No. 101, PORTSMOUTHConfederate MonumentQuarters A, B, and C, Norfolk Naval ShipyardTrinity Episcopal ChurchPythian CastlePortsmouth CourthouseSeaboard Coastline Building
Notable people from Portsmouth
Missy ElliottPatton OswaltLaShawn MerrittWanda SykesRadia PerlmanRuth BrownV. C. AndrewsKen BowersoxMae MurrayMike Watt
People searches in Portsmouth
Michael Smith (15)John Smith (13)James Smith (13)David Smith (12)Robert Smith (12)Michael Johnson (12)John Johnson (10)James Johnson (10)Michael Williams (10)William Smith (9)David Johnson (9)Robert Johnson (9)John Williams (9)Michael Brown (9)Michael Jones (9)James Williams (8)David Williams (8)John Brown (8)Robert Williams (8)John Jones (8)William Johnson (7)Mary Smith (7)James Brown (7)James Jones (7)
Nearby cities
Norfolk (8 mi)Chesapeake (13 mi)Hampton (13 mi)Smithfield (16 mi)Newport News (18 mi)Virginia Beach (19 mi)

Registered sex offenders in Portsmouth, VA (16)

Public sex-offender registry records for Portsmouth, Virginia.

Angelo Lee, 64ABSCONDER
Portsmouth · Portsmouth City County · 23704
AKA Angelo Deboris Lee
Edward Carlton Allen Iv, 39ABSCONDER
Portsmouth · Portsmouth City County · 23703
AKA Edward Carlton Allen, Edward C Allen
Kenneth Albert Harris, 63ABSCONDER
Portsmouth · Portsmouth City County · 23703
AKA Kenneth A Harris, Kenneth Harris
Kent Sylvester Taylor, 67
Portsmouth · Wake County · 23703
AKA Kent Sulvester Taylor, Kent S Taylor
Joseph Smith, 34
Portsmouth · Pasquotank County · 23702
AKA Jospeh Smith
Charles Henry Williams Jr, 85ABSCONDER
Portsmouth · Portsmouth City County · 23701
AKA Charles Williams, Charles Henry Williams
Joseph Lee Jackson, 38ABSCONDER
Portsmouth · Portsmouth City County · 23704
Joseph Tyler Smith, 34ABSCONDER
Portsmouth · Portsmouth City County · 23702
AKA Joseph T Smith
Donald Lee Harris, 39ABSCONDER
Portsmouth · Portsmouth City County · 23701
AKA Donald L Harris
Donald Gwynn Hernandez Jr, 59ABSCONDER
Portsmouth · Portsmouth City County · 23707
AKA Donald G Hernande, Donald G Hernandez
Matthew Robert Harris, 45
Portsmouth · Portsmouth City County · 23703
AKA Mathew Harris, Matthew R Harris
Matthew Andrew Williams, 39
Portsmouth · 23704
Brian Keith Green, 62ABSCONDER
Portsmouth · Portsmouth City County · 23702
AKA Brian Koth Green, Brian K Green
Kevin Lorenzo Nelson, 57ABSCONDER
Portsmouth · Portsmouth City County · 23702
AKA Kevin Nelson
Mark Anthony Robinson, 66ABSCONDER
Portsmouth · Portsmouth City County · 23703
AKA Mark A Robinson
Anthony Thompson
Portsmouth · 23704

Source: Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW) and state registries. Public record. This information is provided for public awareness. Using it to harass, threaten, or discriminate against any registrant, or for any purpose prohibited by law, is illegal. Verify against the official registry record before relying on it.

Common questions

Portsmouth — frequently asked

What is the population of Portsmouth, Virginia?
Portsmouth has a population of about 97,299, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year).
What is the average home value in Portsmouth?
The median home value in Portsmouth is $229,400, and the median gross rent is $1,266/month (U.S. Census ACS).
Is Portsmouth safe? What is the crime rate?
Portsmouth Police Department reported a violent-crime rate of about 833 per 100,000 residents in 2023 — higher than the U.S. rate of 386. Source: FBI UCR/NIBRS.
What natural-disaster risks does Portsmouth face?
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Portsmouth County as "Relatively Low" overall, with top hazards including coastal flooding, hurricane, lightning.
How many schools are in Portsmouth?
Portsmouth has 24 public schools (13 elementary, 3 middle, 3 high). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education, NCES.
How many registered sex offenders are in Portsmouth?
Public registry data lists 16 registered sex offenders in or near Portsmouth. This is neighborhood-safety information from the public state registry.
Look up a person in Portsmouth →