Portsmouth: Demographics & People
About 97,190 people live in Portsmouth, in 40,288 households. Population shrank 0.1% from 97,299 (2022) to 97,190 (2024). Median age 35.9 years. (1.9y younger than Virginia). Children under 18 are 23% of the population. Population is 50% Black and 35% White (non-Hispanic). The community is moderately diverse (Simpson index 0.55). 60% of households are family-led. County is losing 1,366 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 45% adult obesity, 17% smoke.
- 2.4 people per household (vs Virginia avg 2.6).
- 40% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Virginia 35%).
- 63 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Virginia 62).
Population & Trend
Population shrank 0.1% from 97,299 (2022) to 97,190 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~97,083 (extrapolated at -0.1%/yr trend).
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 97,915 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | -0.1% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 97,299 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 97,190 |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | stable |
| Population | 97,190 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Population Estimate | 96,942 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 35.9y is 3.0 years younger than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 23% — near the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 35.9 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 23.0% |
| Age Summary · Character | family-oriented |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 97,190 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 22,392 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 24,894.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 34,867.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 15,037 |
| Population under 18 | 22,392 |
| Median age | 35.9 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — place-level B01001 query · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-29
Race, Ethnicity & Diversity
Of 97,190 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.55 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as moderately diverse.
| White residents | 35,888 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 50,303 |
| Asian residents | 1,450 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 4,942 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 55.1% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | moderately diverse |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 4 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 54.3% |
| Asian population | 1.6% (vs Virginia 5.6%) |
| Black population | 50.2% (vs Virginia 18.2%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 5.4% (vs Virginia 10.1%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 35.4% (vs Virginia 53.8%) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Ancestry
Self-reported ancestry from Census ACS — what residents report as their ethnic origin, separate from race. Counts can exceed population because people can list multiple ancestries.
Top (8)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS). 1.5% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 3% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 61,191 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 31,344 |
| Share born in this state | 63.0% |
| Share born in another state | 37.0% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 32.3% |
| Foreign-born residents | 1.5% |
| Naturalized citizens | 3.3% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 3,039 |
| From Europe | 353 |
| From Asia | 5 |
| From Africa | 1,002 |
| From Latin America | 68 |
Households & Family Composition
40,288 households. Averaging 2.4 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 60% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 23,968 families, 20% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 22,564 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 23,968 |
| Married couples with children | 4,850 |
| Single-parent households | 982 |
| Average household size | 2.38 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 14.7% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 2,158 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 527 |
| Family households | 24,164 households (vs Virginia 9,367) |
| Households that are families | 60.0% (vs Virginia 65.0%) |
| Total households | 40,288 households (vs Virginia 14,324) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Residential Stability & Migration
How long residents have lived here and where they came from. 13.7% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is losing 1,366 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 13.7% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 87,246 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 88,612 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | -1,366 |
| Migration · Year | 2022-2023 |
Sources: IRS SOI Migration 2021-2022 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Disability
Census ACS measures self-reported functional limitations — vision, hearing, mobility, cognitive, self-care, or independent-living. The U.S. baseline disability rate is about 12–13%; rates trend higher with median age.
| Residents with a disability | 5,729 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 6.2% |
Group Quarters
Group quarters are non-household living arrangements counted by the Census — college dormitories, nursing homes, military barracks, group homes, correctional facilities, and similar institutional or shared housing. 2,725 residents live in group quarters (2.8% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 2,725 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 3 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 51740 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 51 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 740 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Portsmouth City |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 28.3% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 25.20 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 31.70 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 51740 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Portsmouth city |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Large fringe metro |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 4,229 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 51740 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Portsmouth city |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 59.6% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 51.4% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 36.0% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 94,398 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Metro |
| Family Score · Score | 10 |
| Family Score · Schools | 24 |
| Family Score · Childcare Centers | 20 |
| Family Score · Youth Sports Orgs | 7 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 23.0% |
| Family Score · Rating | excellent |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 97,190, stable, family-oriented, middle-class, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 97,190 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Town Summary · County | Portsmouth city |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade