Photo: U.S. Navy photo · Public domainOn CDC estimates, Portsmouth is healthier than 18% of U.S. towns
Portsmouth differs from Virginia on 22 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 21 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Portsmouth. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Portsmouth
Making ends meet is harder in Portsmouth
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (23.2%), vs 13.1% across Virginia. Utility shut-off threats (13.5% vs 7.1%) and housing insecurity (18.6% vs 10.9%) are higher too. 22.3% of adults receive SNAP, vs 10.7% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Dental care lags in Portsmouth
58% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 67.9% across Virginia. Among those 65 and older, 16.5% have lost all their teeth (Virginia 11.1%). Portsmouth’s county is a federal shortage area for dental care. Checkups ↓
Every town around Portsmouth scores healthier
All five graded neighbors are ahead of Portsmouth’s C−, from Newport News (C) to Chesapeake (B−). Around town ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Virginia figure falls outside Portsmouth’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to B−.
What’s behind Portsmouth’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Portsmouth is healthier than 18% of U.S. towns, #225 of 253 in Virginia. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 38% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 10%).
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Portsmouth’s median household income is $60,491; among the 9,054 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($45K–$76K), it’s healthier than 25%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Portsmouth compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 6.5% (U.S. 7.9%).
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
22.3% of Portsmouth adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.7% across Virginia.
Keeping up with care
Share of Portsmouth adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Virginia.
Portsmouth and the towns around it
Portsmouth’s Health Grade ranks 6th of 6 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portsmouth | C− | 40.3% | 16.1% | 16.5% | CDC place |
| Chesapeake | B− | 40.1% | 12.9% | 12.9% | CDC place |
| Suffolk | C+ | 42.4% | 14% | 13.4% | CDC place |
| Norfolk | C+ | 39.9% | 12.4% | 13.7% | CDC place |
| Hampton | C | 40.1% | 15% | 14.3% | CDC place |
| Newport News | C | 40.7% | 13.5% | 14.4% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Out of every 100 Portsmouth adults…
Portsmouth runs below VA on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 7. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Portsmouth
2 hospitals and 1 community health center in Portsmouth, plus the nearest just outside it.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Portsmouth; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Everyday habits, side by side with Virginia
Share of adults, with the Virginia figure marked.
18 miles of trails across 33 parks and preserves
How Portsmouth adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Portsmouth runs above Virginia.
2 in 5 Portsmouth adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Portsmouth adults live with a disability (Virginia 30%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Portsmouth
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Portsmouth is better than Virginia on 1 and worse on 21; on the rest, the Virginia figure falls inside Portsmouth’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Portsmouth | VA | U.S. | vs VA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 24.1%21.5–26.9 | 18.1% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.9%13.2–16.7 | 12.8% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.3%17.1–21.6 | 15.9% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 40.3%33.5–47.5 | 34.5% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 16.1%14.2–18.1 | 12.5% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 40.8%36.9–44.8 | 35.4% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.8%33.7–42 | 38% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 28.1%25.1–31.3 | 26.2% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 12.4%10.9–13.9 | 10.4% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.5%5.8–7.1 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.8%6.2–7.5 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 7.9%7.1–8.7 | 6.2% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.5%4.2–4.8 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 16.5%13.6–19.5 | 11.1% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.5%14.4–18.7 | 12.2% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 29.9%25.7–34.3 | 23.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 13.5%11–16.4 | 14.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 43.4%37.4–49.1 | 36% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.7%9.3–12.2 | 8.7% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.8%76.3–83 | 79.2% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 58%54.3–61.3 | 67.9% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.6%83.9–87.3 | 87.5% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78%75.3–80.4 | 76.8% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 67.7%62.9–72 | 67.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.6%69.4–82.3 | 78.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.7%19.4–26.3 | 21.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 38.1%33–43.3 | 33.8% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25.4%21.8–29 | 21.6% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 23.2%20.5–25.9 | 13.1% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 18.6%16.3–20.9 | 10.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 13.5%11.9–15.1 | 7.1% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 12.5%11.2–13.9 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 22.3%19.9–24.7 | 10.7% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 36.6%32.5–40.9 | 30% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 17.7%15.7–19.8 | 13.5% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.7%15.9–19.7 | 14% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.3%5.6–7 | 6.4% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 7.1%6.5–7.7 | 4.7% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.9%9.8–12 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.4%5–5.8 | 3.5% | 3.8% | Higher |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the Virginia figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Portsmouth
Is Portsmouth a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Portsmouth is healthier than 18% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health, #225 of 253 in Virginia. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 25%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Portsmouth?
CDC estimates 40.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 33.5% and 47.5%, against 34.5% across Virginia and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Portsmouth?
Bon Secours Maryview Medical Center in Portsmouth, 2.1 miles in a straight line from Portsmouth’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Portsmouth have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.3–12.2%), against 8.7% across Virginia.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Portsmouth more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to B−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Portsmouth.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Virginia figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.