PlainZIP

Portsmouth, VA · standard

ZIP Code 23704

Portsmouth County, Virginia - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

18,716
1,420/sq mi
$49,583
Median income
$230,300
Median home value
24.9%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Portsmouth pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with above-median home values, in a low-density, mixed-tenure area.

14th pct
household income, US ZIPs
Top 48%
home value, US ZIPs
1,420
people per sq mi
40%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 23704 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 23704 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Portsmouth, Portsmouth County, Virginia, home to 18,716 residents across 13.2 square miles, a density of 1,420 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.

ZIP 23704 reports a modest median household income of $49,583 (42% below the Virginia average), while per-capita income is $33,101. 23.6% of residents live below the poverty line, and the unemployment rate reads 8.0%. On housing, the median home value is $230,300 (31% below the state average) with median rent at $1,310 per month, and 40.2% of occupied units are owner-occupied.

Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 24.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 35.9, and the average commute is 24 minutes. Beyond these figures, 10 nearby ZIP codes within about 10 miles are surfaced below, along with 6 more sharing Portsmouth County, letting you compare 23704 to its immediate surroundings rather than a national baseline alone.

Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →

Top industries in ZIP 23704

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Portsmouth, VA

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 23704.

establishments

What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 23704, Portsmouth, VA · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.

Quick Facts

18,716

Population

13.2

Area (sq mi)

1,420

People / sq mi

New York

Time Zone

standard

ZIP Type

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 23704?

35.9

Median Age

47.2%

Male

52.8%

Female

1.9%

Foreign-Born

White 24.8%
African American 65.1%
Asian 2.2%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.1%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 6.2%
Hispanic or Latino 4.5%

Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

How much do residents earn?

$49,583

Median Household Income

-42% vs state

$33,101

Per Capita Income

23.6%

Poverty Rate

8.0%

Unemployment Rate

23.8 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 23704 ranks nationally

Portsmouth, VA household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$49,583 14th percentile higher than 14% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). This entry sits in this band. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). Above this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US ZIPs. 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. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What is the education profile here?

High School Graduate or Higher 52.5%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 24.9%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

9,658

Total Housing Units

8,658

Occupied Units

1,000

Vacant Units

2.14

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 40.2%
Renter 59.8%

$230,300

Median Home Value

-31% vs state

$1,310

Median Rent

1963

Median Year Built

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

How have home values changed over time?

FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals

+7.8%

YoY Change (2024)

279

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+179%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 23704 have increased 7.8% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +179% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +9.6% 188
2021 +17.0% 219
2022 +6.3% 233
2023 +10.9% 259
2024 +7.8% 279

Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.

What businesses operate in this ZIP?

Census Bureau data shows 404 business establishments in ZIP 23704, employing approximately 5,305 people with a combined annual payroll of $282,492,000.

404

Businesses

5,305

Employees

$282.5M

Annual Payroll

13

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Health care and social assistance 76 18.8%
Retail trade 56 13.9%
Accommodation and food services 49 12.1%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 46 11.4%
Other services (except public administration) 41 10.2%
Real estate and rental and leasing 28 6.9%
Construction 19 4.7%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 18 4.5%
Manufacturing 17 4.2%
Transportation and warehousing 14 3.5%
Finance and insurance 13 3.2%
Wholesale trade 12 3.0%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 10 2.5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.

Nearby ZIP Codes

Want a side-by-side? Compare 23704 vs 23709 →

ZIP 23704 vs its nearest neighbors, by population

Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 23704 ranks #4 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 23704 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

median income

What this shows By household income, ZIP 23704 ranks #6 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
ZIP Code City Population Distance
23709 Portsmouth, VA 78 0.8 mi
23708 Portsmouth, VA 181 1.7 mi
23702 Portsmouth, VA 11,424 1.8 mi
23510 Norfolk, VA 7,031 2.2 mi
23523 Norfolk, VA 7,793 2.2 mi
23507 Norfolk, VA 25,818 2.8 mi
23707 Portsmouth, VA 14,236 2.1 mi
23324 Chesapeake, VA 22,851 2.6 mi
23508 Norfolk, VA 20,263 4.2 mi
23517 Norfolk, VA 4,484 3.3 mi

More ZIP Codes in Portsmouth County

23703 standard
Portsmouth, VA
Pop: 25,739
23701 standard
Portsmouth, VA
Pop: 25,161
23707 standard
Portsmouth, VA
Pop: 14,236
23702 standard
Portsmouth, VA
Pop: 11,424
23708 standard
Portsmouth, VA
Pop: 181
23709 standard
Portsmouth, VA
Pop: 78

Related Areas

Portsmouth County Portsmouth, VA Virginia

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 23704 in? ▼
ZIP code 23704 (Portsmouth) is located in Portsmouth County, Virginia. Portsmouth County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/portsmouth-va.
What is the population of ZIP code 23704? ▼
ZIP code 23704 in Portsmouth, VA has a population of 18,716 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 23704? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 23704 is $49,583, which is 35% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 23704? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 23704 is $230,300, which is 17% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 23704? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 23704 is African American at 65.1%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 4.5% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 23704? ▼
ZIP code 23704 has 404 business establishments employing approximately 5,305 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 23704? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 23704 are: Health care and social assistance (76), Retail trade (56), Accommodation and food services (49). There are 13 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 23704? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 23704 increased by 7.8% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 179%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 23704? ▼
In ZIP code 23704, 52.5% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 24.9% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 23704? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 23704 is 23.8 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 23704? ▼
In ZIP code 23704, approximately 40.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 59.8% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 23704? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 23704 is 23.6% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.