Housing Value★★★★★★★★★★5.0 / 5Home values compared with local household income.
Living in Portsmouth, IA
Explore Portsmouth and see how it fits the life you want to build.
Overall Match8.6 / 10
Baseline match from currently available location scores. Choose priorities to personalize it.
Portsmouth at a Glance
Key facts and current data
Population204
Median Household Income$80,781
Median Home Value$125,000
Median Gross Rent$769
Median Age47.3
Average Household Size2.0
Unemployment0.0%
Work From Home7.3%
Homeownership93.2%
Housing Vacancy3.7%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year.
Portsmouth is a smaller community, so land use, housing supply and its relationship with surrounding communities can be especially important to movers. Home values are relatively modest compared with local household income, giving the area a comparatively favorable ownership-affordability signal. Unemployment is relatively low, which is a positive current labor-market signal.
Experience the Area
Experience Life in Portsmouth Before You Move
Explore Short-Term Stays in Portsmouth →Stay options powered by Stay22 · affiliate
NarrowTheList highly recommends you spend a week or two in Portsmouth and experience everyday life before deciding whether it is the right place to call home. Use that time to explore neighborhoods, drive your normal routes, shop where residents shop, and get a feel for the area at different times of day.
NarrowTheList Ratings
Data-driven starter ratings. More categories appear automatically as new datasets are added.
Housing & Cost of Living in Portsmouth
Current housing indicators from the U.S. Census Bureau
Median Home Value$125,000
Median Gross Rent$769
Homeownership93.2%
Housing Vacancy3.7%
Home values are comparatively balanced against local household income, although individual neighborhoods can still vary substantially. A large majority of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
Jobs, Income & Remote Work
Employment and household-income context for Portsmouth, IA
Median Household Income$80,781
Unemployment0.0%
Work From Home7.3%
The reported unemployment rate is relatively low.
Population & Household Profile
Who lives in Portsmouth and how households are structured
Population204
Median Age47.3
Average Household Size2.0
Portsmouth is a smaller community, so its relationship with nearby towns, employment centers and services can be especially important.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year. NarrowTheList presents these values as relocation context; conditions can vary within a community.
Climate & Weather in Portsmouth
Long-term NOAA climate normals and practical seasonal context
NOAA climate normals for Portsmouth point to hot summers, cold winters, a wetter annual rainfall pattern and substantial annual snowfall.
Average Summer High85.9°F
Average Winter Low10.3°F
Annual Rainfall34.3 in.
Annual Snowfall30.5 in.
Seasonal Life in Portsmouth
What the long-term climate pattern may mean for everyday living.
Spring
Spring is a useful time to evaluate how quickly outdoor conditions become comfortable and how seasonal rain affects everyday routines.
Summer
Summer is warm enough that shade and cooling still matter, but the typical high is below the extreme-heat range seen in many hotter U.S. markets.
Fall
Fall marks a substantial seasonal transition here. It is a useful time to judge how quickly temperatures change and whether that seasonal swing fits the lifestyle you want.
Winter
Freezing winter lows and meaningful snowfall make snow removal, winter driving, heating costs and cold-weather routines important parts of evaluating the area.
Source: NOAA/NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020. Seasonal descriptions are relocation context derived from the available long-term normals, not a forecast.
Portsmouth is located in Shelby County, but city-level housing, income and neighborhood conditions can differ meaningfully from countywide averages. Shelby County.
County Intelligence
Portsmouth & Shelby County
Data Pending
Foreclosure Activity
Portsmouth is located in Shelby County, Iowa.
NarrowTheList uses county-level information alongside local community data because many factors that matter when choosing a place to live are measured beyond city boundaries. Housing, property taxes, employment, healthcare access and other regional characteristics can add useful context to the picture of life in Portsmouth.
Current NarrowTheList data for Portsmouth shows a population of about 204. These local figures become more useful when read together with county-level tax, housing, foreclosure and demographic conditions rather than treated as isolated city statistics.
Foreclosure Activity: Data Pending. A county-specific foreclosure signal is not available yet.
For someone comparing homes, county boundaries can matter because taxes, public services, court and recording systems, assessment practices and housing-market conditions are often administered or reported at the county level. NarrowTheList keeps that county relationship attached to the community so future tax, foreclosure, housing and demographic data can be interpreted in the correct geographic context.
County relationship
Shelby County
How NarrowTheList uses it
County information is used as a supporting geographic layer, not as a substitute for local data. As more county datasets are added, NarrowTheList can use them to improve comparisons, ratings and relocation insights for Portsmouth.
For someone considering a move to Portsmouth, the available data currently points to comparatively attainable ownership costs relative to local income and a relatively tight labor market. These signals are most useful when considered alongside the specific neighborhood, commute and housing type that fit the household making the move.
Nearby Cities & Communities
Nearby incorporated cities, towns, villages and other municipalities shown by straight-line distance.