Section Image

Portsmouth

Portsmouth

Located in Scioto County

$113,840 Average Value
$150 Average Price per Sq Ft
2 Homes 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 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.
Portsmouth has abundant outdoor activities to explore with a friend.
1/2

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 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.
Portsmouth has homes that date back to the early 20th century such as this victorian home.
1/2

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.
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.
The U.S Grant Bridge connects Portsmouth to Kentucky over the Ohio River.
1/2

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.
Shawnee State University enrolls about 3,000 students in Portsmouth.
Portsmouth is home to Shawnee State University which is known for their nursing program.
Portsmouth is home to Shawnee State University which is known for their nursing program.
1/2

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 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.
The Portsmouth Brewing Co. is a popular microbrewery serving American fare in Portsmouth.
1/2

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.

Ellen Daly
Written By
Ellen Daly
Photography Contributed By
Nick Janning
Patrick Johnson
Video By
Patrick Johnson

Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to Molly Burnside, an experienced agent in this area.

Agents Specializing in this Area

See All Agents

Schools

Source:
GreatSchools: The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process. View GreatSchools Rating Methodology

Portsmouth Housing Trends

Housing Trends

Median List Price
$185,000
Median Sale Price
$196,000
Median Single Family Sale Price
$181,700
Median Change From 1st List Price
5%
Last 12 months Home Sales
38
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
1,860%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$150

Neighborhood Facts

Number of Homes in Neighborhood
6,995
Number of Homes for Sale
2
Median Year Built
1921
Months of Supply
0.60
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,321
Significantly below the national average
1,924
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
1,730
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
948
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
4,791

Open Houses

  • 1161 Riddlebarger Rd, Portsmouth, OH 45662

    $375,000

    • 3 Beds
    • 2.5 Baths
    • 2,400 Sq Ft
    • 1161 Riddlebarger Rd
    • New 5 days ago

    Are you looking for enough land to have horses? Cows? Goats or Sheep? A touch more than 10 acres? Room to grow? Or a quiet country retreat? This peaceful country-living setting is a newly renovated home nestled in a semi-secluded setting that offers the convenience of high-speed internet while enjoying the wonders of the countryside. Whether you like watching the changing of the seasons, amazing

    Agent Photo
    Molly Burnside
    REAL ESTATE GALLERY, INC.
    (220) 220-6383
    Section Image
    Section Image
  • 6989 Ohio 335, Portsmouth, OH 45662

    $35,000

    • 6989 Ohio 335

    Looking for an affordable build lot in Southern Ohio to set up a cabin or camper? Take a look at this 4 +/- acres in Scioto County, Ohio! This would be the perfect location for a homebase to commute to all the public hunting grounds in the area. Conveniently located near State Route 823 and just minutes from Routes 52 and 139, this parcel sits on a quiet, low-traffic state route with a nice mix

    Agent Photo
    Brian Whitt
    Arrowhead Land Company
    (220) 270-9895
    Section Image
    Section Image
  • 2230 Micklethwaite Rd, Portsmouth, OH 45662

    $219,000

    • 3 Beds
    • 2 Baths
    • 1,884 Sq Ft
    • 2230 Micklethwaite Rd
    • New 2 days ago

    When I look at this home, it's hard not to simply say it's CUTE! The immediate curb appeal of the vinyl siding and stone combination, with an attached carport, and side door access into the home for convenience. In the backyard, it's completely fenced in with beautiful white vinyl fencing, there's an expansive size covered back porch, plenty big enough for large gatherings, cookouts or just a

    Nakia Steward EXSELL Realty Group

    Section Image

Homes for Sale

Distribution of Home Values

Source: Public Records

Average Home Value





Source: Public Records

Property Mix - Square Feet

Portsmouth Has More Renters

Demographics

Total Population
18,145
Median Age
39
Population under 18
23.9%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
18.8%
On par with the national average
19.1%

Finances

Median Household Income
$29,179
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$47,896

Education and Workforce

High School Graduates
83.3%
College Graduates
14%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
4.8%
% Population in Labor Force
45%
Below the national average
65.1%

Weather

Annual Precipitation
43''
Average Winter Low Temperature
23°F
Average Summer High Temperature
86°F
Annual Snowfall
7''

Area Factors

Somewhat Bikeable

Bike Score®®

45 / 100

Somewhat Walkable

Walk Score®®

53 / 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score

Walk Score® measures the walkability of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address. CAP Index provides objective, accurate, and consistent data to help measure, compare, and mitigate crime risks.

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.
Portsmouth
Molly Burnside
REAL ESTATE GALLERY, INC.
Section Image