$119,201Average Value$100Average Price per Sq Ft45Homes For Sale
A small town in Ohio with an abundance of outdoor activities
Portsmouth is a small city of about 18,000 people in southern Ohio. Located along the Ohio and Scioto rivers, many residents move here for the area's abundant outdoor activities and for its proximity to the Shawnee State Forest. Major employers include the Southern Ohio Medical Center, Shawnee State University and several substance abuse rehabilitation centers that have opened following the city's opioid crisis in the early 2000s. "It's a small-town community with all of the necessities you need from a big city. We have a hospital, a university and lots of outdoor recreation activities," says Jason Hedrick, Deputy Chief of the Portsmouth Police Department. "Housing costs attract people, as well as job opportunities. The housing is much more reasonable in our area compared to going an hour in any direction. That attracts people to our area, [and] that the cost of living is so much lower than elsewhere."
Portsmouth is a small city of about 18,000 people in southern Ohio along the Ohio River.
Portsmouth has abundant outdoor activities to explore with a friend.
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Historic housing in Portsmouth
Portsmouth has an older housing stock comprised primarily of American Foursquares, bungalows and ranch-style homes. "We don't see a lot of single-family houses being built within the city," Hedrick says. "There's not a lot of vacant areas, but we do have some older houses that people rehab." Portsmouth's median price is $127,000, which is about $275,000 below the national median. Despite this, the average home value in Portsmouth has steadily increased since 2020.
Portsmouth has plenty older housing including American Foursquares, bungalows, and ranches.
Portsmouth has homes that date back to the early 20th century such as this victorian home.
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The Ohio River and the Shawnee State Forest
Portsmouth sits along the Ohio River and borders the Shawnee State Forest, which means the area offers an abundance of outdoor activities. Along the river, residents can enjoy fishing, hiking, archery and horseback riding. The state forest also presents opportunities for camping, hunting and foraging for mushrooms or berries.
Portsmouth is near Shawnee State Forest which offers an abundance of outdoor activities.
The U.S Grant Bridge connects Portsmouth to Kentucky over the Ohio River.
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Portsmouth City School District, the Notre Dame Schools and Shawnee State University
The Portsmouth City School District earns a C-plus rating from Niche and serves around 1,600 students. The district has two elementary schools and one combination middle and high school for grades seven through twelve. The Notre Dame School is a private school option in Portsmouth with preschool, elementary and high school campuses. The high school earns a B rating from Niche and is ranked by the site as one of Ohio's top 150 private high schools. Shawnee State University is a public university that enrolls about 3,000 students in Portsmouth annually.
Shawnee State University enrolls about 3,000 students in Portsmouth.
Portsmouth is home to Shawnee State University which is known for their nursing program.
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Dining in downtown Portsmouth
"Downtown is mostly restaurants and some retirement homes and grocery stores," Hedrick says. "There's been a lot of development in the downtown area. New restaurants are opening up in older buildings, and the university took an old building and rehabbed it into an innovation hub where they're bringing in gaming manufacturers." Dining options in downtown Portsmouth include The Scioto Ribber, known for its hickory-smoked ribs; Toro Loco Mexican Restaurant, a family-owned business featuring homemade tamales; and The Portsmouth Brewing Co., a riverside microbrewery serving American fare.
The Scioto Ribber, known for its hickory-smoked ribs, is highly regarded in Portsmouth.
The Portsmouth Brewing Co. is a popular microbrewery serving American fare in Portsmouth.
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The Portsmouth Police Department and flooding concerns
When asked about crime, Hedrick explains, "We're the epicenter of the pill mill explosion that happened 20 years ago. Oxycodone was inserted in our area, and kind of exploded. We've been through a lot of drug use and crime related to drug addiction. In recent years, there's been a lot of funding towards treatment centers, and there's been a dramatic increase in treatment centers in our area. It's very good for employment, but unfortunately, we do still have high drug availability in our area." FBI data shows that the Portsmouth Police Department's property crime rate has decreased since 2020, while its violent crime rate has remained about the same. Hedrick says that the city's greatest weather concern is flooding because of its location where the Ohio and Scioto rivers meet. "The river does come up, and every five years or so, they'll have to close the floodgates, and that limits access to certain areas of the city," he says. "Countywide, we have several floods a year that cause damage."
Access Scioto County, Amtrak's Cardinal route and the Tri-State Airport in Ceredo, WV
U.S. Routes 23 and 52 serve Portsmouth. Access Scioto County provides door-to-door transit services for Scioto County. Amtrak has a station 3 miles south in South Shore, Kentucky, serviced by its Cardinal route, which connects New York City to Chicago. Portsmouth's nearest commercial airport is the Tri-State Airport in Ceredo, West Virginia, 53 miles southeast.
River Days Festival
River Days is a festival that has been held every Labor Day weekend in Portsmouth for over 60 years. The event includes a pageant, parade, food trucks and carnival games, along with plenty of live music.
Written By
Ellen Daly
Photography Contributed By
Nick Janning
Video By
Patrick Johnson
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Angela Coovert,
an experienced agent in this area.
On average, homes in Portsmouth, OH sell after 42 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in Portsmouth, OH over the last 12 months is $65,000, down 31% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Enjoy the best of both worlds with this beautiful home that offers the peace of country living alongside the convenience of town amenities. With 3 spacious bedrooms, 3 full bathrooms, and an impressive 5-car garage, there's plenty of room for both living and storage. Inside, hardwood floors bring warmth and character to the dining room and primary suite. The primary bathroom is a true retreat,
Income! income! income! minutes from Shawnee State University completely renovated duplex with outside entrance and inside entrance to the upper level apartment wait till you see the finishing on this amazing property. With amazing kitchens and bathrooms as the new owner of this duplex, you should not have any problem, renting your lower level one to two bedroom unit or your Apple upper level one
This recently renovated 4-bedroom, 1.5-bath home offers the perfect blend of comfort and classic charm. Step inside to find fresh updates throughout, including stylish finishes and spacious living areas. The home features a finished attic space—perfect for a home office, or extra bedroom—as well as a large basement, providing ample room for storage or future expansion. A detached 1-car garage
Property Id: 1477773Welcome to your new home on Rosemount Rd in Portsmouth, OH! This charming 1150 sq ft single-family home is in a great neighborhood close to shopping areas and restaurants. It features 3 bedrooms, a newly remodeled bathroom, an updated large eat-in kitchen with stove and refrigerator, a separate dining area, as well as a large laundry room, and plenty of amenities,
This property has been newly renovated a year and a half ago. Recent updates include a new dishwasher and new bathroom floor. The fireplaces are non functioning but decorative. Located in the historic district of Portsmouth it is one block from Market Square. Will make a lovely, spacious home. No pets.
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