Virginia · GEOID 51740

Portsmouth city

2024 ACS 5-year estimates · population 97,190 · 43,318 housing units

Median household income

$60,491

State $99,933

Median home value

$246,900

State $421,251

Median gross rent

$1,300

State $1,592

Homeownership rate

57.9%

State 67.3%

Renter cost-burden rate

59.7%

≥30% of income

Owner cost-burden rate

34.3%

≥30% of income

Homeowner vacancy

1.2%

Of owner-occupied + for-sale units

Rental vacancy

3.5%

Of renter-occupied + for-rent units

Overall vacancy

7.0%

All housing units

Price-to-income ratio

4.08

Affordable: 2.0–3.0

Section 1

Community Profile

Population, demographics, household composition, and income.

Community Data Summary

	Portsmouth city	Virginia
Population	97,190	8,705,170
Population density (per sq. mi.)	2,918.53	—
Median household income	$60,491	$99,933
HUD Area Median Income (4-person, 100%)	$107,700	—
Households	40,288	—
Average household size	2.34 people	—
Owner-occupied	57.9%	67.3%
Renter-occupied	42.1%	32.7%
Race	36.2% White · 50.6% Black	0.0% White · 0.0% Black

Source: ACS 5-year 2024 (Tables DP05, S1101, DP04, S1901) and Census Gazetteer (land area); HUD FY2026 Income Limits.

Racial composition

Portsmouth city compared with Virginia.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP05.

Educational attainment (population 25+)

24.3% hold a bachelor's degree or higher (state: 42.2%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1501.

Median Household Income by Tenure

Owner-occupied vs. renter-occupied household income, county and state.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25119.

Median Household Income by Age of Householder

Median household income by age group of householder.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B19049.

Median Household Income by Number of Earners

Median household income for families with each earner count.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903.

Household Size

Distribution of households by number of people.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2501.

Income by Number of Earners

Earners	Share	Median income	Attainable monthly housing cost	Attainable home
0 earners	17.6%	$32,756	$819	$90,909
1 earner	38.6%	$54,923	$1,373	$173,423
2 earners	35.9%	$105,810	$2,645	$362,841
3+ earners	7.8%	$139,036	$3,476	$486,520

Attainable monthly housing cost = 30% of gross income ÷ 12. Attainable home price assumes 30% housing budget, 30-yr mortgage at 7%, 5% down.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903; affordability formula derived.

Households

40,288

Average size: 2.34 people

Households with children

10,445

25.9% of households

Per-capita income

$33,568

Poverty rate: 14.8%

Section 2

Residential Market Analysis

Housing stock characteristics — tenure, type, age, size, vacancy, rents.

Tenure

57.9% owner-occupied vs. state average 67.3%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Structure type

Single-family share 70.2% · Missing middle (2–19 units) 22.1%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25024.

Housing stock by decade

67.5% built before 1980 · Median structure age 1,967.00 yrs.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2504.

Housing size mismatch

Compares the share of housing units by bedroom count against the share of households by size — a common diagnostic of housing supply/demand alignment.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Tables B25041 (bedrooms) and S2501 (household size).

Home value distribution

Owner-occupied homes by value bracket. Median: $246,900.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Monthly Housing Costs

Distribution of monthly housing costs across all occupied units.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25104.

Number of Bedrooms

Housing units by number of bedrooms.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25041.

Median rent by bedroom

Overall median gross rent: $1,300.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25031.

Renters by age

Number of renter householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Owners by age

Number of owner householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Vacancy composition

All 3,030 vacant units split into Census's seven categories. Frictional vacancy (units actively on the market) reflects healthy churn. Structural vacancy (seasonal, migrant, other) sits outside the market for year-round residents — high values change how the headline vacancy rate should be read.

Vacant units by type

For sale 9.1% · For rent 20.4% · Seasonal 4.4% · Other 55.5%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Frictional vs structural

40.1% of vacancy is frictional (for sale + for rent + rented/sold not yet occupied); 59.9% is structural (seasonal + migrant + other).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Seasonal / recreational share of all housing

0.3%

133 units of 43,318 total

Housing units held for seasonal or recreational use.

"Other vacant" share of all housing

3.9%

1,682 units of 43,318 total

Census "Other vacant" — units off the market for reasons other than seasonal, migrant, sale, or rental.

Section 3

Workforce Housing Needs Assessment

Affordability, cost burden, and the housing options for households in the workforce income range.

Workforce range — ACS median household income

80% MHI$48,393

100% MHI$60,491

120% MHI$72,589

County-wide median from ACS 5-year estimates. A household at 100% MHI in Portsmouth city should be able to afford a home up to roughly — (30% housing budget, default mortgage terms).

Workforce range — HUD Area Median Income

	1-person	2-person	4-person
80% AMI	$60,350	$68,950	$86,150
100% AMI	$75,390	$86,160	$107,700
120% AMI	$90,450	$103,400	$129,250

HUD FMR Area: Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC HUD Metro FMR Area. 80% AMI uses HUD's published Section 8 Low Income Limits; 100% is HUD MFI; 120% is the standard workforce convention.

Affordability calculator

Follows the standard 30%-of-gross-income affordability rule.

Income basis Household income Interest rate % Down payment % Taxes & insurance / yr

Affordable monthly—

Affordable home price—

Renter cost burden

59.7% of renter households spend ≥30% of income on rent (28.7% spend ≥50%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25070.

Owner cost burden by income

34.3% of homeowners spend ≥30% of income on housing. Bars show counts of cost-burdened owners by income bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25106.

Household income — owners vs renters

Distribution of household income for owner-occupied (navy) and renter-occupied (gold) households.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25118.

Section 4

Industry & Workforce Wages

Employment, average wages, and the housing each industry's typical earner can afford in Portsmouth city.

Covered employment

41,567

Across 18 sectors

Establishments

1,835

QCEW 2024

Avg annual pay (workforce)

$67,317

Employment-weighted across sectors

Top 10 sectors by employment

Annual average employment by NAICS 2-digit sector. Counties with fewer than five covered establishments in a sector may show suppressed totals.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024.

Attainable housing by industry

Industry	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 31-33 Manufacturing NAICS 31-33	9,947	$91,276	$308,741	+$61,841	$2,282
NAICS 62 Health care and social assistance NAICS 62	7,648	$64,649	$209,626	−$37,274	$1,616
NAICS 56 Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services NAICS 56	3,189	$52,390	$163,994	−$82,906	$1,310
NAICS 92 Public administration NAICS 92	3,171	$84,728	$284,367	+$37,467	$2,118
NAICS 44-45 Retail trade NAICS 44-45	2,899	$33,179	$92,484	−$154,416	$829
NAICS 72 Accommodation and food services NAICS 72	2,472	$22,161	$51,471	−$195,429	$554
NAICS 61 Educational services NAICS 61	2,431	$57,037	$181,292	−$65,608	$1,426
NAICS 23 Construction NAICS 23	1,971	$73,709	$243,350	−$3,550	$1,843
NAICS 48-49 Transportation and warehousing NAICS 48-49	1,920	$80,130	$267,252	+$20,352	$2,003
NAICS 54 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 54	1,673	$90,645	$306,392	+$59,492	$2,266
NAICS 71 Arts, entertainment, and recreation NAICS 71	1,620	$44,486	$134,572	−$112,328	$1,112
NAICS 81 Other services (except public administration) NAICS 81	1,250	$49,565	$153,478	−$93,422	$1,239
NAICS 52 Finance and insurance NAICS 52	487	$65,393	$212,395	−$34,505	$1,635
NAICS 53 Real estate and rental and leasing NAICS 53	407	$47,690	$146,499	−$100,401	$1,192
NAICS 51 Information NAICS 51	296	$75,642	$250,546	+$3,646	$1,891
NAICS 55 Management of companies and enterprises NAICS 55	71	$83,833	$281,035	+$34,135	$2,096
NAICS 22 Utilities NAICS 22	61	$65,429	$212,529	−$34,371	$1,636
NAICS 99 Unclassified NAICS 99	54	$37,575	$108,847	−$138,053	$939

Subsector	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 336 Transportation equipment manufacturing NAICS 336	10,574	$91,191	$308,424	+$61,524	$2,280
NAICS 561 Administrative and support services NAICS 561	2,856	$50,001	$155,101	−$91,799	$1,250
NAICS 611 Educational services NAICS 611	2,431	$57,037	$181,292	−$65,608	$1,426
NAICS 722 Food services and drinking places NAICS 722	2,296	$21,935	$50,630	−$196,270	$548
NAICS 621 Ambulatory health care services NAICS 621	2,263	$55,732	$176,434	−$70,466	$1,393
NAICS 541 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 541	1,673	$90,645	$306,392	+$59,492	$2,266
NAICS 713 Amusement, gambling, and recreation industries NAICS 713	1,576	$44,472	$134,520	−$112,380	$1,112
NAICS 623 Nursing and residential care facilities NAICS 623	1,455	$49,412	$152,909	−$93,991	$1,235
NAICS 622 Hospitals NAICS 622	1,385	$102,091	$348,998	+$102,098	$2,552
NAICS 238 Specialty trade contractors NAICS 238	1,170	$71,105	$233,657	−$13,243	$1,778
NAICS 928 National security and international affairs NAICS 928	1,106	$95,327	$323,820	+$76,920	$2,383
NAICS 488 Support activities for transportation NAICS 488	1,095	$90,193	$304,709	+$57,809	$2,255
NAICS 922 Justice, public order, and safety activities NAICS 922	950	$74,310	$245,588	−$1,312	$1,858
NAICS 445 Food and beverage retailers NAICS 445	775	$28,453	$74,892	−$172,008	$711
NAICS 237 Heavy and civil engineering construction NAICS 237	663	$81,288	$271,562	+$24,662	$2,032
NAICS 455 General merchandise retailers NAICS 455	624	$25,449	$63,710	−$183,190	$636
NAICS 812 Personal and laundry services NAICS 812	572	$41,936	$125,081	−$121,819	$1,048
NAICS 926 Administration of economic programs NAICS 926	566	$90,302	$305,115	+$58,215	$2,258
NAICS 811 Repair and maintenance NAICS 811	559	$59,453	$190,285	−$56,615	$1,486
NAICS 484 Truck transportation NAICS 484	469	$61,055	$196,248	−$50,652	$1,526
NAICS 332 Fabricated metal product manufacturing NAICS 332	424	$77,351	$256,907	+$10,007	$1,934
NAICS 562 Waste management and remediation services NAICS 562	333	$72,882	$240,272	−$6,628	$1,822
NAICS 423 Merchant wholesalers, durable goods NAICS 423	329	$80,822	$269,827	+$22,927	$2,021
NAICS 457 Gasoline stations and fuel dealers NAICS 457	328	$30,979	$84,295	−$162,605	$774
NAICS 441 Motor vehicle and parts dealers NAICS 441	321	$41,473	$123,357	−$123,543	$1,037
NAICS 424 Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods NAICS 424	314	$58,707	$187,508	−$59,392	$1,468
NAICS 524 Insurance carriers and related activities NAICS 524	280	$70,656	$231,986	−$14,914	$1,766
NAICS 921 Executive, legislative, and other general government support NAICS 921	273	$61,362	$197,391	−$49,509	$1,534
NAICS 459 Sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, book, and miscellaneous retailers NAICS 459	246	$43,506	$130,925	−$115,975	$1,088
NAICS 444 Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers NAICS 444	240	$34,345	$96,824	−$150,076	$859
NAICS 531 Real estate NAICS 531	215	$53,111	$166,678	−$80,222	$1,328
NAICS 522 Credit intermediation and related activities NAICS 522	198	$57,632	$183,506	−$63,394	$1,441
NAICS 456 Health and personal care retailers NAICS 456	194	$45,367	$137,852	−$109,048	$1,134
NAICS 721 Accommodation NAICS 721	176	$25,107	$62,437	−$184,463	$628
NAICS 624 Social assistance NAICS 624	174	$64,557	$209,284	−$37,616	$1,614
NAICS 923 Administration of human resource programs NAICS 923	170	$106,777	$366,441	+$119,541	$2,669
NAICS 493 Warehousing and storage NAICS 493	154	$70,247	$230,464	−$16,436	$1,756
NAICS 236 Construction of buildings NAICS 236	139	$58,948	$188,405	−$58,495	$1,474
NAICS 925 Administration of housing programs, urban planning, and community development NAICS 925	106	$62,564	$201,865	−$45,035	$1,564
NAICS 449 Furniture, home furnishings, electronics, and appliance retailers NAICS 449	104	$52,040	$162,691	−$84,209	$1,301
NAICS 491 Postal service NAICS 491	103	$79,594	$265,256	+$18,356	$1,990
NAICS 483 Water transportation NAICS 483	81	$81,917	$273,903	+$27,003	$2,048
NAICS 813 Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations NAICS 813	73	$48,473	$149,413	−$97,487	$1,212
NAICS 551 Management of companies and enterprises NAICS 551	71	$83,833	$281,035	+$34,135	$2,096
NAICS 458 Clothing, clothing accessories, shoe, and jewelry retailers NAICS 458	67	$24,195	$59,043	−$187,857	$605
NAICS 221 Utilities NAICS 221	61	$65,429	$212,529	−$34,371	$1,636
NAICS 999 Unclassified NAICS 999	54	$37,575	$108,847	−$138,053	$939
NAICS 311 Food manufacturing NAICS 311	50	$119,373	$413,327	+$166,427	$2,984
NAICS 814 Private households NAICS 814	45	$26,589	$67,954	−$178,946	$665
NAICS 327 Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing NAICS 327	37	$60,815	$195,355	−$51,545	$1,520
NAICS 323 Printing and related support activities NAICS 323	36	$37,898	$110,050	−$136,850	$947
NAICS 712 Museums, historical sites, and similar institutions NAICS 712	33	$50,461	$156,813	−$90,087	$1,262
NAICS 519 Web search portals, libraries, archives, and other information services NAICS 519	32	$45,094	$136,836	−$110,064	$1,127
NAICS 711 Performing arts, spectator sports, and related industries NAICS 711	12	$26,141	$66,286	−$180,614	$654
NAICS 523 Securities, commodity contracts, and other financial investments and related activities NAICS 523	10	$65,172	$211,573	−$35,327	$1,629
NAICS 339 Miscellaneous manufacturing NAICS 339	6	$52,275	$163,566	−$83,334	$1,307

Affordable home price assumes the industry's average earner uses 30% of gross income for housing, with a 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr taxes & insurance, and 0.5% PMI. Adjust the Section 3 calculator for other terms. Affordable rent is 30% of monthly gross pay.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024; ACS 5-year 2024 (median home value).

Section 5

Wages by Occupation

Selected essential-worker occupations for the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county — jobs, the 10-year change, wages, and the housing each typical earner can afford. Both jobs counts and wages are reported at the MSA / nonmetropolitan-area level (BLS does not publish OEWS at the county level), so every county inside the same area shows the same numbers. For county-accurate employment totals, see Section 4 above.

Occupational wages and affordable housing

Occupation	2025 jobs	2015–2025 change	% change	Hourly wage	Annual wage	Affordable home price	Affordable monthly rent
Fast Food and Counter Workers SOC 35-3023 · prior-year code differs	22,520	(1,870)	(8%)	$14.65	$30,460	$82,363	$762
Cashiers SOC 41-2011	16,840	(5,570)	(25%)	$14.72	$30,620	$82,959	$766
Childcare Workers SOC 39-9011	2,830	840	42%	$15.25	$31,720	$87,053	$793
Retail Salespersons SOC 41-2031	20,890	(7,690)	(27%)	$16.44	$34,180	$96,210	$855
Janitors and Cleaners SOC 37-2011	11,840	(30)	(0%)	$16.73	$34,790	$98,481	$870
Home Health and Personal Care Aides SOC 31-1131 · prior-year code differs	8,110	(1,640)	(17%)	$19.43	$40,420	$119,437	$1,011
Construction Laborers SOC 47-2061	5,660	1,560	38%	$19.65	$40,870	$121,113	$1,022
Tellers SOC 43-3071	1,320	(660)	(33%)	$20.60	$42,850	$128,483	$1,071
Waiters and Waitresses SOC 35-3031	13,100	(460)	(3%)	$21.40	$44,510	$134,662	$1,113
Office Clerks, General SOC 43-9061	12,490	(4,050)	(24%)	$21.67	$45,080	$136,784	$1,127
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General SOC 49-9071	7,100	430	6%	$24.45	$50,850	$158,261	$1,271
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers SOC 53-3032	7,460	1,300	21%	$25.80	$53,660	$168,721	$1,342
Carpenters SOC 47-2031	4,020	30	1%	$26.13	$54,350	$171,290	$1,359
Firefighters SOC 33-2011	2,880	—	—	$27.65	$57,510	$183,052	$1,438
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters SOC 47-2152	5,100	380	8%	$28.50	$59,280	$189,641	$1,482
Electricians SOC 47-2111	5,740	830	17%	$30.30	$63,030	$203,600	$1,576
Paramedics SOC 29-2043 · prior-year code differs	400	(780)	(66%)	$31.01	$64,500	$209,071	$1,613
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers SOC 33-3051	4,320	(110)	(2%)	$32.34	$67,270	$219,382	$1,682
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education SOC 25-2021	7,130	50	1%	—	$72,010	$237,026	$1,800
Registered Nurses SOC 29-1141	16,870	3,170	23%	$42.96	$89,350	$301,572	$2,234

Affordable home price uses the same Section 3 formula (30% housing budget, 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr T&I, 0.5% PMI). Affordable rent is 30% of monthly wages. Negative job-change values are shown in red parentheses. A "prior-year code differs" note flags occupations whose SOC code changed between the two vintages (2010 SOC → 2018 SOC) — the change estimate is best-effort.

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (10-year change vs. May 2015). Jobs counts and wages reflect the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county, not the county alone — OEWS is not published at the county level.

Methodology & sources

All figures derive from the 2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates. State and national comparisons are population-weighted aggregates of county-level estimates (an approximation; ACS publishes its own state and national medians which can differ slightly).

The affordability calculator uses a 30% housing-budget rule with a 30-year mortgage. Defaults are 7% interest, 5% down, $2,500/year taxes and insurance, and 0.5% PMI — adjustable above.

Variables: 51740 · pulled from Full Housing Data Table.xlsx.