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City · 17,728 residents · Scioto County, Ohio

Portsmouth , Ohio

In Portsmouth, a typical home is worth $103,300 and typical rent is $747 a month. Compared with all of Scioto County, typical household income is 31% lower, the typical home value is 25% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 20 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $103,300

    25% below the county

    52% below Ohio

    • Portsmouth
    • Scioto
    • Ohio

  • Typical rent

    $747a month

    About the same as the county

    28% below Ohio

    • Portsmouth
    • Scioto
    • Ohio

  • Typical household income

    $34,713a year

    31% below the county

    51% below Ohio

    • Portsmouth
    • Scioto
    • Ohio

  • Households that own their home

    48%

    20 points below the county

    19 points below Ohio

    • Portsmouth
    • Scioto
    • Ohio

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$93,569
1.7% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Portsmouth is in Scioto County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Scioto County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Portsmouth apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Portsmouth has the 4th lowest typical household income of the 292 cities in Ohio with more than 5,000 people ($34,713).

  2. Portsmouth has the 10th lowest typical rent of the 285 cities in Ohio with more than 5,000 people ($747).

  3. 48% of households in Portsmouth own their home, against 68% in Scioto County.

  4. Portsmouth has the 13th lowest typical home value of the 292 cities in Ohio with more than 5,000 people ($103,300).

  5. Portsmouth has the 17th largest share of rent-burdened renters of the 253 cities in Ohio with more than 5,000 people (59%).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Portsmouth

What homes there are in Portsmouth, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

As in Scioto County, most homes in Portsmouth are detached houses (70%).

Year built

Homes in Portsmouth are older: the typical year built is 1946; in Scioto County, 1968.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes
Monthly rent with utilities

HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent (FMR) for Scioto County is $1,003; about 78% of rents in Portsmouth are below it.

With a mortgage

$1,211 a month

Scioto County: $1,277 a month

Without a mortgage

$400 a month

Scioto County: $493 a month

Owners with a mortgage

45%

Scioto County: 44%

In Portsmouth, 45% of owners have a mortgage, and their typical cost is $1,211 a month, against $1,277 in Scioto County. Without one it drops to $400.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

Homes in Portsmouth gained value more slowly than in Scioto County: 32% since 2015–2019, against 41%.

Since 2015–2019, the typical rent in Portsmouth rose 23%, more than in Scioto County (19%).

To compare: typical income in Portsmouth rose 20%; the home, +32%; the rent, +23%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasurePortsmouthScioto CountyOhioUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate4.4%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate2.0%0.8%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate1.8%1.5%3.4%
People per household 2.272.402.372.53
Drive alone 77%84%75%69%
Carpool 13%7%8%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%3%
Walk or bike 5%2%2%3%
Work from home 5%6%13%15%
Other means Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Fewer people live in each home here: 2.27 on average, against 2.40 in Scioto County.

More people carpool to work in Portsmouth than in Scioto County: 13% against 7%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Portsmouth?

A typical home is tight for the typical income

We start with a typical home in Portsmouth, worth $103,300, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 30% of the typical household income in Portsmouth, which is $34,713 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $37,604 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Scioto County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Portsmouth. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $3,616 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$877

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$101,428
Total interest
$145,932
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $1,744 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $810 a month

  • Tight

    $810 to $1,041 a month

    Your payment · 30%

  • Hard

    more than $1,041 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Portsmouth ($34,713 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$877
Principal & interest$687
Property tax$102
Home insurance$43
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$46

You need at least $3,616 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Portsmouth and Scioto County

Portsmouth is in Scioto County, Ohio. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Portsmouth's own numbers

Typical home value
$103,300
Typical monthly rent
$747
Typical yearly household income
$34,713
Households that own their home
48%
Effective property tax rate
1.18%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Scioto County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,003
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+44%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
5.3%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Scioto County.

Everything about Scioto County

Buying

Buying a home in Portsmouth

A typical home in Portsmouth is worth $103,300: 25% below the county and 52% below Ohio. With the typical household income in Portsmouth ($34,713 a year), a typical home costs 3.0 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Portsmouth 3.0 years
  • Scioto 2.7 years
  • Ohio 3.0 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Scioto County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Scioto County rose 65% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Scioto County.

Period County Ohio U.S.
Last year (2025) +6.9% +4.8% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +44% +53% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +65% +93% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Portsmouth next to Scioto County, Ohio and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Portsmouth $103,300
  • Scioto $137,900
  • Ohio $214,800
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Portsmouth $747
  • Scioto $742
  • Ohio $1,034
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Portsmouth $34,713
  • Scioto $50,609
  • Ohio $71,389
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Portsmouth next to Scioto County and Ohio
Measure Portsmouth Scioto County Ohio U.S.
Typical home value $103,300 $137,900 $214,800 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $747 $742 $1,034 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $34,713 $50,609 $71,389 $80,734
Households that own their home 48% 68% 67% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $1,222 $1,459 $2,822 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 1.18% 1.06% 1.31% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 59% 56% 46% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Scioto County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Portsmouth

For a typical $103,300 home in Portsmouth, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Portsmouth's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $877a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $3,616
    Cash to close
    $6,715
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $46

  • Conventional, 5% down $858a month

    Down payment
    $5,165
    Cash to close
    $8,264
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $49

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $704a month

    Down payment
    $20,660
    Cash to close
    $23,759
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $800a month

    Down payment
    $15,495
    Cash to close
    $18,594
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Portsmouth and for Scioto County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Portsmouth

1.18%of the home’s value each year

$1,222 a year for the typical owner in Portsmouth.

  • Portsmouth 1.18%
  • Scioto 1.06%
  • Ohio 1.31%

What Ohio publishes Homestead exemption for seniors and people with disabilities (Ohio Department of Taxation)

Exemptions and deadlines in Ohio

Flood risk in Scioto County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Scioto County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
5.3%
1,660
Of those, with NFIP insurance
9.8%
County Ohio U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 5.3% 1.7% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 9.8% 16% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Portsmouth

Typical rent in Portsmouth is $747 a month: about the same as the county. In Portsmouth, 59% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Scioto County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,003 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $19.29 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Scioto County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $698 $13.42 $27,920
1 bedroom $817 $15.71 $32,680
2 bedrooms $1,003 $19.29 $40,120
3 bedrooms $1,347 $25.90 $53,880
4 bedrooms $1,495 $28.75 $59,800

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Portsmouth

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Portsmouth is in ZIP code 45662.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,010: $7 more than the fair market rent for Scioto County ($1,003).

  • 45662 $1,010$1,360

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Portsmouth when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Portsmouth

HUD lists 14 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Portsmouth. These are the largest.

  • Wayne Hills 1908 Wayne Ave, Portsmouth 45662 243 low-income homes · For families (740) 354-2086
  • Geo. W. Farley Square 1202 Robinson Ave, Portsmouth 45662 123 low-income homes · Run by Portsmouth Metropolitan Housing Authority · Average payment: $245 a month · Average wait: 14 months (740) 354-4547
  • Riverview Retirement Center 500 2nd St, Portsmouth 45662 106 low-income homes · For older adults (740) 353-1128
  • Hudson House 610 5th St, Portsmouth 45662 101 low-income homes · Run by Portsmouth Metropolitan Housing Authority · Average payment: $314 a month · Average wait: 10 months (740) 354-4547
  • Scioto Valley Apartments 1420 16th St, Portsmouth 45662 101 low-income homes · 1 bd: 47 · 2 bd: 42 · 3 bd: 12 · In service since 2019 · For families (740) 353-5252

See all 25 buildings in Scioto County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Portsmouth

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Scioto County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

An older woman smiles in front of her apartment building.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Portsmouth

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Portsmouth or Scioto County. The ones below are statewide in Ohio: they work in Portsmouth the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Ohio

  • Your Choice! Down Payment Assistance

    Statewide in Ohio

    Ohio state agency help of 2.5% or 5% of the price for the down payment, closing costs or other costs before closing, forgiven after seven years; if you sell sooner, you repay all of it. Offered by Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA).

    Forgivable

    See the program Official page

  • Mortgage Tax Credit

    Statewide in Ohio

    Ohio state agency certificate that turns part of your mortgage interest into a credit on your federal tax return, up to $2,000 a year: 40% with an OHFA mortgage (MTC Plus) or 15% to 20% with another mortgage (MTC Basic). Offered by Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA).

    Tax credit

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Portsmouth

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Portsmouth, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Homes on the Hill

    3659 Soldano Blvd, Columbus · 83 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 10 more
    (614) 275-4663

  • Nid-Hca Franklin County-Glenn

    35 E Gay St Suite 504, Columbus · 84 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 5 more
    (614) 264-2896

  • Columbus Urban League

    788 Mount Vernon Ave, Columbus · 84 miles away

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Pre-purchase counseling
    • and 2 more
    (614) 257-6300

All counseling agencies in Ohio

Help in Spanish near Portsmouth

None of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Portsmouth

HUD’s record names them for Portsmouth or Scioto County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Portsmouth Metropolitan Housing Authority Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (740) 354-4547

All housing agencies in Ohio Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Scioto County

These cities are also in Scioto County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Scioto County Housing in Ohio

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Portsmouth, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Scioto County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Portsmouth.

All guides
A couple spread mulch under the avocado trees of their family orchard, he on the tractor and she with a shovel.

Questions

Housing questions about Portsmouth

Short answers with the numbers for Portsmouth and all of Scioto County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Portsmouth?

The typical home value in Portsmouth is $103,300, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Scioto County it is $137,900.

How much does it cost to rent in Portsmouth?

Typical rent in Portsmouth is $747 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Scioto County is $1,003.

What is the FHA loan limit in Portsmouth?

Portsmouth uses the FHA limit for all of Scioto County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Portsmouth?

The typical homeowner in Portsmouth pays $1,222 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.18% of the home’s value; in Scioto County, the rate is 1.06%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Portsmouth?

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Scioto County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).