How long is the commute from Portsmouth, VA?

Name: Commute and cars in Portsmouth, VA, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Workers who live in Portsmouth, VA take an average of 23.7 minutes to get to work (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

71.1% of workers drive alone to work.

1.6% take public transportation.

3.2% of workers walk to work.

8.7% work from home.

12.0% of households have no vehicle.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Average commute: 23.7 minutes (±0.9)
Public transportation: 1.6%
Work from home: 8.7%
Households without a car: 12.0%

How people in Portsmouth get to work

Workers 16 and over by means of transportation to work, 2020–2024
Means of transportation	Portsmouth	Portsmouth city	Virginia	United States
Drove alone	71.1% (±2.3 points)	71.1%	67.6%	68.8%
Carpooled	12.3% (±1.8 points)	12.3%	8.0%	8.5%
Public transportation	1.6% (±0.7 points)	1.6%	2.3%	3.2%
Walked	3.2% (±0.9 points)	3.2%	2.1%	2.4%
Other means (bicycle, taxi, motorcycle)	3.1% (±0.9 points)	3.1%	1.7%	2.0%
Worked from home	8.7% (±1.2 points)	8.7%	18.3%	15.1%

In Portsmouth, the average commute is not measurably different from Portsmouth city (23.7 minutes).

It is also lower than in Virginia (27.3 minutes).

It is lower than the national figure (26.4 minutes).

In Portsmouth, the share commuting by public transportation is not measurably different from Portsmouth city (1.6%).

It is not measurably different from Virginia (2.3%).

It is lower than the national figure (3.2%).

Statewide, it ranks 308 of 463.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

Cars per household in Portsmouth

Occupied housing units by vehicles available, 2020–2024
Vehicles available	Portsmouth	Portsmouth city	Virginia	United States
No vehicle	12.0% (±1.3 points)	12.0%	6.1%	8.4%
1 vehicle	39.4% (±2.1 points)	39.4%	31.1%	33.1%
2 vehicles	30.8% (±1.8 points)	30.8%	37.3%	36.6%
3 or more vehicles	17.8% (±1.3 points)	17.8%	25.5%	21.9%

In Portsmouth, the share of households without a vehicle is not measurably different from Portsmouth city (12.0%).

It is also higher than in Virginia (6.1%).

It is higher than the national figure (8.4%).

Working from home and internet access in Portsmouth

Estimate (90% margin of error)
	Portsmouth	Portsmouth city	Virginia	United States
Workers working from home	8.7% (±1.2 points)	8.7% (±1.2 points)	18.3% (±0.2 points)	15.1%
Households with a computer	94.0% (±1.0 points)	94.0% (±1.0 points)	95.4% (±0.1 points)	95.5%
Households with broadband internet	88.0% (±1.5 points)	88.0% (±1.5 points)	91.0% (±0.1 points)	91.0%

In Portsmouth, the share of households with a broadband subscription is not measurably different from Portsmouth city (88.0%).

It is also lower than in Virginia (91.0%).

It is lower than the national figure (91.0%).

Average commute in places near Portsmouth

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Portsmouth
Place	Distance	Average commute	Compared with this place
Portsmouth	—	23.7 minutes (±0.9)	—
Norfolk	7.6 mi	23.0 minutes (±0.6)	Not measurably different
Carrollton	11 mi	25.8 minutes (±2.0)	Not measurably different
Chesapeake	13 mi	25.8 minutes (±0.5)	Higher
Hampton	13 mi	22.5 minutes (±0.8)	Not measurably different
Benns Church	14 mi	23.7 minutes (±3.0)	Not measurably different
Smithfield	16 mi	28.1 minutes (±2.3)	Higher
Bethel Manor	17 mi	21.3 minutes (±4.7)	Not measurably different
Newport News	18 mi	23.1 minutes (±0.7)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Chesapeake, VA (25.8 minutes), Smithfield, VA (28.1 minutes).

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about Portsmouth

How long is the average commute in Portsmouth?

Workers who live in Portsmouth, VA take an average of 23.7 minutes each way (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Can you live in Portsmouth without a car?

12.0% of households in Portsmouth have no vehicle, and 1.6% of workers commute by public transportation.

How many people work from home in Portsmouth?

8.7% (±1.2 points) of workers who live in Portsmouth worked from home, and 88.0% of households have a broadband subscription.

Sources

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) for Portsmouth city, Virginia (place:64000, in state:51).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP03_0018E, DP03_0018M, DP03_0025E, DP03_0025M, DP03_0019PE, DP03_0019PM, DP03_0020PE, DP03_0020PM, DP03_0021PE, DP03_0021PM, DP03_0022PE, DP03_0022PM, DP03_0023PE, DP03_0023PM, DP03_0024PE, DP03_0024PM, DP04_0058PE, DP04_0058PM, DP04_0059PE, DP04_0059PM, DP04_0060PE, DP04_0060PM, DP04_0061PE, DP04_0061PM, DP02_0153PE, DP02_0153PM, DP02_0154PE, DP02_0154PM

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.