County FMR · HUD FY2026
Portsmouth city Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Portsmouth city, VA - 58% above the US average.
- $1,512
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,713
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +2.0%
- YoY change
- +58%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Portsmouth city is the 24th most expensive of 133 counties in Virginia by 2-bedroom FMR.
- #24
- most expensive of 133 in Virginia (2BR)
- +28%
- vs the state average
- $60,480
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- +2.0%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (13.5%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (62.4%).
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Portsmouth city, VA. Verify with HUD →
Portsmouth city, Virginia carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,512 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,713/mo and a studio is $1,492/mo. That's 58% above the national benchmark of $959 and 28% above the Virginia average of $1,182.
Rent increased2.0% from FY 2025 ($1,483), roughly tracking inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $60,480/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Virginia. Population: 97,384. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+2.1%, Census ACS). That's in line with Virginia's statewide growth of +2.9% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Portsmouth city
The Portsmouth city FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and Virginia's housing authorities use it as the baseline for Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. See how FMR is calculated for the full 40th-percentile methodology and payment-standard rules.
Compared to the rest of the country, a 1-bedroom here is 58% above the US average of $959 and 28% higher than the Virginia state average of $1,182. The 1-bedroom FMR went from$1,483 in FY 2025 to $1,512 in FY 2026 - a change of +2.0%, which tracks roughly with broader price trends.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,512, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $60,480 per year (about $5,040/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $1,713 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 97,384 and a county median household income of $58,972, the arithmetic here directly shapes which wage earners can rent without being cost-burdened.
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,475 | $1,492 | +$17 (+1.2%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,483 | $1,512 | +$29 (+2.0%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,696 | $1,713 | +$17 (+1.0%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $2,361 | $2,376 | +$15 (+0.6%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $2,809 | $2,797 | $-12 (-0.4%) |
Affordability Snapshot
Based on the standard that rent should not exceed 30% of gross income:
Rent Burden Analysis
How much of household income goes to rent in Portsmouth city. The 30% threshold indicates cost burden.
How we calculate this
Rent burden = (FMR × 12) ÷ county median household income. Required income = (FMR × 12) ÷ 0.3, the federal 30%-of-gross-income rule HUD uses to define cost burden. Median household income is from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey; FMR is from HUD's FY2026 release. See methodology.
Portsmouth city 2-bedroom rent burden
Where Portsmouth city sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,713 Top 9% higher than 91% of 3,145 counties
Each bar is a $0.2K-wide band; taller bars hold more counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Fair Market Rents · FY2026
How Portsmouth city compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Virginia counties
- Fairfax
Fairfax County
$2,015 1BR FMR / mo
- Prince William
Prince William County
$2,015 1BR FMR / mo
- Loudoun
Loudoun County
$2,015 1BR FMR / mo
- Portsmouth city
Portsmouth city
$1,512 1BR FMR / mo
- Virginia Beach city
Virginia Beach city
$1,512 1BR FMR / mo
- Chesterfield
Chesterfield County
$1,507 1BR FMR / mo
- Henrico
Henrico County
$1,507 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Portsmouth city is highlighted. Nearby Virginia counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Fairfax County ($2,015), Prince William County ($2,015), Loudoun County ($2,015), Portsmouth city (this county) ($1,512), Virginia Beach city ($1,512), Chesterfield County ($1,507), Henrico County ($1,507).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $1,512/mo compares to Virginia salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | VA Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $134,470 | 13.5% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $121,530 | 14.9% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $88,820 | 20.4% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $84,190 | 21.6% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $65,110 | 27.9% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $62,270 | 29.1% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $61,610 | 29.4% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $61,200 | 29.6% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $54,500 | 33.3% | Stretched |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $42,490 | 42.7% | Stretched |
| Customer Service Representatives | $39,210 | 46.3% | Stretched |
| Teaching Assistants | $36,650 | 49.5% | Stretched |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $33,970 | 53.4% | Unaffordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $32,760 | 55.4% | Unaffordable |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $29,060 | 62.4% | Unaffordable |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Portsmouth city. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Portsmouth city (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 57.8% overall, from $958 to $1,512. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +15.2% in FY 2025, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑2.0% | $1,492 | $1,512 | $1,713 |
| FY 2025 ↑15.2% | $1,475 | $1,483 | $1,696 |
| FY 2024 ↑13.2% | $1,279 | $1,287 | $1,493 |
| FY 2023 ↑12.0% | $1,116 | $1,137 | $1,329 |
| FY 2022 ↑4.4% | $993 | $1,015 | $1,193 |
| FY 2021 ↑1.5% | $960 | $972 | $1,147 |
| FY 2020 | $952 | $958 | $1,136 |
Part of the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC Metro Area
Portsmouth city is a central county of the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metropolitan statistical area, alongside 17 other metro-area counties.
Portsmouth city ranks #16 of 18 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Gates County ($1,513), Virginia Beach city ($1,512), Chesapeake city ($1,512), Norfolk city ($1,512), Newport News city ($1,512), Hampton city ($1,512), Suffolk city ($1,512), James City County ($1,512), York County ($1,512), Isle of Wight County ($1,512), Gloucester County ($1,512), Currituck County ($1,512), Williamsburg city ($1,512), Poquoson city ($1,512), Mathews County ($1,512), Portsmouth city (this county) ($1,512), Camden County ($1,139), Surry County ($920).
Show all 18 counties in this metro area
Nearby Counties in Virginia
Largest counties by population in Virginia
Frequently Asked Questions
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What this means for renters
Treat Portsmouth city's FY2026 Fair Market Rent as HUD's affordability benchmark, not a market quote.
- Budget to roughly 30% of income: the FY2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,512 implies about $60,480/yr to rent without being cost-burdened. Run your numbers
- Compare this county against nearby metros and states before signing a lease. Compare areas
- See where it sits on the national rent map. View rankings
Fair Market Rent is HUD's 40th-percentile policy benchmark used to set Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. Actual asking rents in Portsmouth city can run higher or lower, and HUD updates FMRs once a year. This page is informational and not financial or relocation advice.
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and HUD Fair Market Rents. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Every figure on PlainRent is rendered directly from HUD's published Fair Market Rent records, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of FY 2026.