How many renters in Portsmouth, VA pay more than 30% of their income on rent?

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

59.7% (±4.3 points) of renting households in Portsmouth, VA spend 30% or more of their household income on gross rent (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

50.7% spend 35% or more.

The median renting household spends 35.4% of its income on rent.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Paying 30% or more: 59.7% (±4.3 points)
Paying 35% or more: 50.7% (±3.7 points)
Median share of income: 35.4% (±2.0 points)

Rent as a share of income in Portsmouth

Renting households by gross rent as a percentage of household income, 2020–2024
Share of income spent on rent	Portsmouth	Portsmouth city	Virginia	United States
Less than 15%	10.2% (±2.2 points)	10.2%	13.1%	12.6%
15% to 19.9%	10.8% (±2.5 points)	10.8%	13.1%	12.2%
20% to 24.9%	11.4% (±2.5 points)	11.4%	12.9%	12.6%
25% to 29.9%	7.9% (±1.7 points)	7.9%	12.4%	11.5%
30% to 34.9%	9.0% (±2.1 points)	9.0%	9.1%	9.2%
35% or more	50.7% (±3.7 points)	50.7%	39.4%	41.9%

Households whose income could not be measured against their rent (for example, those reporting no income) are left out of these shares, as the Census Bureau leaves them out.

Portsmouth against Portsmouth city, its state and the nation

Estimate (90% margin of error)
	Portsmouth	Portsmouth city	Virginia	United States
Paying 30% or more	59.7% (±4.3 points)	59.7% (±4.3 points)	48.5% (±0.5 points)	51.1%
Paying 35% or more	50.7% (±3.7 points)	50.7% (±3.7 points)	39.4% (±0.4 points)	41.9%
Median share of income	35.4% (±2.0 points)	35.4% (±2.0 points)	29.4% (±0.2 points)	30.6%
Median renter household income	$39,942 (±$4,075)	$39,942 (±$4,075)	$60,343 (±$529)	$52,966
Median gross rent	$1,300 (±$26)	$1,300 (±$26)	$1,579 (±$8)	$1,413

In Portsmouth, the share of renters paying 30% or more of income is not measurably different from Portsmouth city (59.7%).

It is also higher than in Virginia (48.5%).

It is higher than the national figure (51.1%).

Statewide, it ranks 81 of 459.

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

Renters paying 30% or more of income in places near Portsmouth

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Portsmouth
Place	Distance	Renters paying 30% or more of income	Compared with this place
Portsmouth	—	59.7% (±4.3 points)	—
Norfolk	7.6 mi	54.9% (±2.3 points)	Not measurably different
Carrollton	11 mi	55.5% (±17.5 points)	Not measurably different
Chesapeake	13 mi	57.0% (±4.3 points)	Not measurably different
Hampton	13 mi	57.3% (±3.5 points)	Not measurably different
Benns Church	14 mi	100.0% (±112.9 points)	Not measurably different
Smithfield	16 mi	54.4% (±20.9 points)	Not measurably different
Bethel Manor	17 mi	47.3% (±13.1 points)	Not measurably different
Newport News	18 mi	51.2% (±2.7 points)	Lower

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Newport News, VA (51.2%).

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

Are renters in Portsmouth rent-burdened?

59.7% of renting households in Portsmouth pay 30% or more of their income in gross rent, the share housing researchers usually call rent-burdened (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

What share of income do renters in Portsmouth spend on rent?

The median renting household in Portsmouth, VA spends 35.4% (±2.0 points) of its household income on gross rent.

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) and detailed tables (acs/acs5) 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.

DP04_0136E, DP04_0136M, DP04_0137PE, DP04_0137PM, DP04_0138PE, DP04_0138PM, DP04_0139PE, DP04_0139PM, DP04_0140PE, DP04_0140PM, DP04_0141PE, DP04_0141PM, DP04_0142PE, DP04_0142PM, B25071_001E, B25071_001M, B25119_003E, B25119_003M

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.