Located in the heart of Hampton Roads is the historic seaport city of Portsmouth. The city’s approximately 78 miles of shoreline and rich cultural history pair with its diverse neighborhoods and vibrant downtown. “It’s just a super peaceful place to live,” says Tammy Bunch, broker and owner of Bunch Real Estate, who is also a longtime Portsmouth resident. “As a community, it’s friendly, it’s filled with all sorts of wonderful opportunities, and it has a very rich history and cultural heritage. It sometimes feels like a sleepy small town, and then you go across the water to Norfolk, and you have access to all of their nightlife.”
Some of region’s largest employers are in Portsmouth, like the Port of Virginia, one of the largest cargo ports in the country. There is also a large military presence in the region, with many residents working at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, the Portsmouth Naval Hospital or the U.S. Coast Guard’s Portsmouth Base.
Visit the retired Portsmouth Lightship and see a piece of naval history.
Many people commute on the ferry across the River from Portsmouth to Norfolk, Virginia.
Many residents of Downtown Portsmouth have a membership at the nearby Freedom Boat Club.
Olde Towne Portsmouth has a ferry that crosses the Elizabeth river to Norfolk every hour.
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Historic homes, walkable neighborhoods and coastal communities
Buyers can find historic homes in six neighborhoods listed on the National Register of Historic Places, homes walkable to High Street’s shopping and dining in Olde Towne Portsmouth, lakeside homes in Cavalier Manor and riverfront communities throughout. Homes in Portsmouth tend to be more affordable than neighboring cities, with median single-family house price in Portsmouth being $265,000. The national median is $418,700, according to the National Association of Realtors. “Now, to be fair, our taxes are a little higher, though our property values tend to be a little lower when you’re comparing city to city, but there is a little bit of a concession there,” Bunch says.
Most of the single-family home space in Portsmouth has already been developed, though there are some new apartment complexes in the works. “There are not that many more places to build,” she says. “Typically, because of the age of Portsmouth, you’ll see one to three new houses being built on property builders were able to get ahold of.” By contrast, Bunch says the neighboring community, Suffolk, has much more new construction for single-family homes.
Many home styles are present in the Park View neighborhood of Portsmouth.
A contemporary painted cape cod in the Midtown Portsmouth neighborhood of Portsmouth, Virginia.
A gorgeous waterfront Colonial home the Park Manor neighborhood of Portsmouth, Virginia.
A historic craftsman home in Portsmouth, Virginia.
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Shopping, dining and entertainment in Portsmouth’s historic downtown
Olde Towne Portsmouth, located on the waterfront in downtown, is where much of the city’s entertainment is. The Portsmouth Cultural District offers concerts at the Atlantic Union Bank Pavilion, movies in the refurnished art-deco Commodore Theatre and museums like the Portsmouth Art & Cultural Center and Virginia Children’s Museum. Many popular restaurants are around High Street, including The Bier Garden with German classics, Five Boroughs Restaurant with Mediterranean dishes and New York-style pizza and Guads with Mexican favorites. Throughout the community, grocery stores include Kroger, Walmart and Food Lion.
Old Towne Portsmouth also hosts many events throughout the year. Monthly gatherings include the Olde Towne Farmers Market, the First Fridays concert series and the Olde Towne Antique and Flea Market. In May, Umoja Festival celebrates African-American culture with live music, international foods and traditional art and craft vendors. The city celebrates Halloween with a ghost walk around downtown. And the winter holidays include a tree lightning, crafters market, holiday music festival and a Scottish Walk on New Year's Eve.
Take your kids to the Children's Museum of Virginia minutes from South Portsmouth.
Stop by Five Boroughs in Portsmouth for Mediterranean flavors and classic NY-style pizza.
Catch the latest movies in the classic renovated Commodore Theater in Old Towne Portsmouth.
The Portsmouth Library is right around the corner in Old Towne Portsmouth.
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Recreation on the water and nearby sports teams
With Portsmouth’s location on the Elizabeth River, there are plenty of opportunities for recreation on the water. Residents with their own boats can use the public boat ramp at Portsmouth City Park or one of the town’s many marinas. Others can join a club like Freedom Boat Club, which maintains a fleet of boats that members can reserve, or rent a watercraft at one of the many outposts for river activities around Portsmouth. Hoffler Creek, a wildlife preserve with scenic walking trails, offers kayak rentals and guided tours. While Portsmouth’s waterfront doesn’t offer any beaches, many residents head to Buckroe Beach in nearby Hampton, which is situated along the Chesapeake Bay, or Virginia Beach’s waterfront on the Atlantic Ocean; both are within about 25 miles of Midtown Portsmouth. Two professional sports teams play just across the river in Norfolk. The Norfolk Tides, a triple-A baseball team, play at Harbor Park, while professional hockey team the Norfolk Admirals play at the Norfolk Scope Arena.
Hoffler Creek Wildlife Preserve in Portsmouth is dedicated to peaceful preservation.
Teach your kids to fish and they will not forget at City Park in Midtown Portsmouth.
Get into boating at Freedom Boat Club near Downtown Portsmouth.
Golf tournaments are held in the Park Manor neighborhood of Portsmouth, Virginia.
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School district partnered with local community college
Portsmouth Public Schools receives a C-plus from Niche. The district serves roughly 13,000 students and operates 13 elementary schools, three middle schools, three high schools, three preschool centers and an alternative education center. The district offers Career and Technical Education programming, STEM programs and a partnership with Tidewater Community College to help students graduate high school with college credits or even an associate degree. Bunch says there’s also a strong homeschooling community in Portsmouth, with those students being eligible for TCC’s dual-enrollment program.
I. C. Norcom High School was named after Israel Charles Norcom, its first supervising principle.
The dedicated faculty at Cradock Middle School encourages a passion for learning.
Lakeview Elementary School in South Portsmouth is rated C- by Niche.
Students at Westhaven Elementary School eagerly participate in engaging classroom activities.
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Flooding is a factor to consider
Portsmouth is a low-lying coastal area that’s susceptible to flooding. According to the city, nearly a quarter of real estate in Portsmouth is impacted by flooding, and more is threatened by rising sea levels. Portsmouth participates in the National Flood Insurance Program’s Community Rating System, which means the city must perform regular flood prevention activities. The city’s participation in the program grants a 15% discount on flood insurance premiums. Portsmouth’s Floodplain Management Plan outlines the city’s strategy for flood prevention, which includes efforts like floodproofing key utility equipment and working with owners of properties that have been repeatedly impacted by flooding to mitigate future damage.
Private dock house many boats in the Park Manor neighborhood of Portsmouth, Virginia.
Residents enjoy Churchland's proximity to the water, shopping centers, and freeways.
Take a walk at the Seawall in Downtown Portsmouth.
Homes on the Elizabeth River bank in Port Norfolk.
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Crime trends in Portsmouth
According to data from the FBI, in 2023 there was less than a 1% increase in violent crime and a less than 1% decrease in property crime compared to 2022. Overall, Portsmouth has higher rates of violent and property crime compared to U.S. and Virginia averages.
Commuting on I-264
Residents can get in and out of town using Interstate 264, which offers connections to Interstates 64, 664 and 464. Hampton Roads Transit operates bus service around Portsmouth, and the Elizabeth River ferry has two locations along Portsmouth’s waterfront to get to Downtown Norfolk in about five minutes. Norfolk International Airport, which is about 12 miles from Midtown Portsmouth, offers nonstop service to more than 40 destinations. Naval Medical Center Portsmouth is in the east end of the city, and Bon Secours Maryview Medical Center is in the west end.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
