Boasting an undeniable quaint atmosphere that has accumulated through three centuries of the town's history, Portsmouth may be one of the best places to call home in the Old Dominion. Portsmouth apartments for rent will put you smack dab in the middle of the beautiful scenery of eastern Virginia. You'll find a true maritime culture in this small seaport community coupled with outstanding restaurants, a plethora of antique shops and countless amenities to enjoy near Portsmouth apartments. According to statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau, roughly 95,600 people call Portsmouth home.
Within minutes of looking at Portsmouth apartments for rent, you'll notice that the dense history of this region is still embraced to this day. But that's not the only reason why people make the move to this area. AreaVibes gave Portsmouth a rating of 77 for its livability, based on its pristine weather, low cost of living, stable housing market and abundance of local amenities. Plus, you're just a ferry ride away from Norfolk when you're living in Portsmouth.
Love antiquing? Spend the afternoon along High Street, which is home to a high density of great shops, or dine at a lovely outdoor café or local bar. Portsmouth also hosts many events and festivals throughout the year, including the Eastern Amateur Golf Tournament, Clean the Bay Day, Seawall Music Festival and Virginia Arts Festival.
Despite the vast amount of amenities and beautiful scenery in Portsmouth, the median rental rate for Portsmouth apartments for rent is on par with Virginia's average. Additionally, the overall cost of living is 2 percent lower than the state's average and 5 percent less than the nation's average.
Portsmouth boasts fairly average temperatures year-round, so you won't have to dish out too much money for utilities, and you'll enjoy a mild climate that averages between and 46 and 77 degrees.
Although Portsmouth is a car-dependent community, you'll be able to save on transportation costs, since the city's average gas prices are on par with the rest of the state and the commute time from apartments in Portsmouth is 3 percent shorter than other Virginia cities.
Students living in apartments for rent in Portsmouth will find there are a few colleges in the area to choose from, including Norfolk State University, Virginia Wesleyan College, Fortis College and Tidewater Community College.
The U.S. Navy has a large presence in Portsmouth and it is one of the largest employers in the region. The Norfolk Navy Yard and a U.S. Navy facility that builds, remodels and repairs Navy vessels provide jobs for many residents of the community. Manufacturing and retail trade industries are also big in Portsmouth.