Cost of Living in Portsmouth city, Virginia
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Portsmouth city Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Portsmouth city ranks #2,774 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 12%)
Sourced county brief
Median Gross Rent as Percentage of Income Reaches 35.4 Percent
In Portsmouth city, Virginia, the official ACS B25071 median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was estimated at 35.4%. This figure is 6.8 percentage points higher than the unweighted county mean across Virginia, which is 28.6%. The median gross rent in the city is $1,300 per month, compared to a state unweighted county mean of $1,170. For homeowners, the median selected monthly owner costs for all units are $1,459, while the state unweighted county mean for this metric is $1,190. The median home value in Portsmouth is $246,900, which sits below the Virginia unweighted county mean of $295,808. Among renter households, the median income was recorded at $39,942. These figures are based on the American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. All owner-cost and rental data represent snapshots of the 2020-2024 period. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Portsmouth city
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 35.4% of renter household income in Portsmouth city, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,300 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,459. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $52,000 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Virginia unweighted mean of county median rents is $1,170 per month. Portsmouth city's $1,300 median is 11.1% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Portsmouth city
Rent Burden
25.8%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,411
per month
Owner Cost Burden
28.9%
of gross income
The median home in Portsmouth city may be a stretch
Median home value is $246,900. Estimated monthly cost: $1,971 vs. your max of $1,411.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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