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 High-density area
- $49,583
- Median income Below-median income area
- $230,300
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 24.9%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
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.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 23704 (Portsmouth, VA) rose +7.8% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 259.0 in 2023 to 279.1 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
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 average Virginia ZIP), while per-capita income is $33,101. The poverty rate is 23.6%, so the area-level income figures should not be treated as typical household experience. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $230,300 (31% below the average Virginia ZIP), and median rent is $1,310; owner occupancy is 40.2%.
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. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Portsmouth County, so 23704 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
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.
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
76 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
56 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
49 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
46 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
41 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, 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
Who lives in ZIP 23704?
35.9
Median Age
47.2%
Male
52.8%
Female
1.9%
Foreign-Born
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 ZIP avg
$33,101
Per Capita Income
23.6%
Poverty Rate
8.0%
Unemployment Rate
23.8 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 23704 ranks among Virginia ZIPs
Portsmouth, VA household income vs. every Virginia ZIP code
Median household income among 804 reporting Virginia ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$49,583 15th percentile higher than 15% of 804 Virginia ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more Virginia 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?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
9,658housing units
9,658
Total Housing Units
8,658
Occupied Units
1,000
Vacant Units
2.14
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$230,300
Median Home Value
-31% vs state ZIP avg
$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.
- 23507
Norfolk (23507)
25,818 residents
- 23324
Chesapeake (23324)
22,851 residents
- 23508
Norfolk (23508)
20,263 residents
- 23704
Portsmouth (23704)
18,716 residents
- 23707
Portsmouth (23707)
14,236 residents
- 23702
Portsmouth (23702)
11,424 residents
- 23523 7,793
Norfolk (23523)
7,793 residents
- 23510 7,031
Norfolk (23510)
7,031 residents
- 23517 4,484
Norfolk (23517)
4,484 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 23704 ranks #4 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 23704 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 23507
Norfolk (23507)
$104,295 median income
- 23508
Norfolk (23508)
$74,885 median income
- 23510
Norfolk (23510)
$73,524 median income
- 23517
Norfolk (23517)
$67,375 median income
- 23324
Chesapeake (23324)
$57,045 median income
- 23704
Portsmouth (23704)
$49,583 median income
- 23707
Portsmouth (23707)
$48,926 median income
- 23702
Portsmouth (23702)
$48,835 median income
- 23523 $35,533
Norfolk (23523)
$35,533 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.
| 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 |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 23704, both outside VA so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (18,716 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Portsmouth County
Related Areas
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.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 23704's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 23704 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Portsmouth, VA ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.