Where Are People Moving in Portsmouth, VA?
IRS county-to-county migration, 2023 tax year (released about two years after the tax year it covers).
People moving in
2,825
People moving out
2,909
Net migration
-466
Portsmouth, VA is a net loser of residents. In the latest IRS data (2023 tax year), 2,825 people moved in and 2,909 moved out, for a net loss of -466. Net outflows can soften local rent and price growth over time, though the cause matters as much as the number.
Migration is most useful read alongside the rest of the market. People move for jobs, affordability, climate, and lifestyle, and where they come from and go to says a lot about what a county is competing on. Below are the specific counties driving Portsmouth, VA’s flows in each direction.
Top counties people moved to Portsmouth, VA from
| Origin county | Returns | People |
|---|---|---|
| Chesapeake, VAVirginia | 837 | 1,488 |
| Norfolk, VAVirginia | 581 | 1,041 |
| Virginia Beach, VAVirginia | 459 | 849 |
| Suffolk, VAVirginia | 398 | 697 |
| Newport News, VAVirginia | 162 | 298 |
| Hampton, VAVirginia | 147 | 265 |
| San Diego, CACalifornia | 54 | 107 |
| Isle of Wight, VAVirginia | 52 | 87 |
| Duval, FLFlorida | 31 | 62 |
| Escambia, FLFlorida | 29 | 70 |
Top counties people left Portsmouth, VA for
| Destination county | Returns | People |
|---|---|---|
| Chesapeake, VAVirginia | 798 | 1,530 |
| Suffolk, VAVirginia | 512 | 1,046 |
| Norfolk, VAVirginia | 505 | 863 |
| Virginia Beach, VAVirginia | 424 | 734 |
| Newport News, VAVirginia | 141 | 254 |
| Hampton, VAVirginia | 140 | 255 |
| Isle of Wight, VAVirginia | 83 | 164 |
| Duval, FLFlorida | 46 | 86 |
| San Diego, CACalifornia | 35 | 61 |
| Henrico, VAVirginia | 27 | 44 |
“Returns” counts tax returns (a household proxy) that moved along each flow; “People” counts the individuals on those returns, when reported. IRS aggregate and foreign pseudo-rows are excluded. Informational only, not financial advice.
Frequently asked questions
Are people moving to Portsmouth, VA or leaving?
Portsmouth, VA had a net loss of -466 residents in the latest IRS data (2023 tax year), with 2,825 people moving in and 2,909 moving out. Net migration is inflow minus outflow.
Where are people moving to Portsmouth, VA from?
The largest sources of new Portsmouth, VA residents are Chesapeake, VA, Norfolk, VA, Virginia Beach, VA. The full top-ten list of origin counties is in the table above.
Where do people leaving Portsmouth, VA go?
People leaving Portsmouth, VA most often move to Chesapeake, VA, Suffolk, VA, Norfolk, VA. The full top-ten list of destination counties is in the table above.
What does Portsmouth, VA migration mean for housing?
Migration is a leading demand signal. Sustained net inflows tend to support rents and home prices when supply cannot keep up, while net outflows can soften them. Read this alongside Portsmouth, VA's price forecast, building permits, and affordability on the full county dashboard before drawing a conclusion.
How current is this Portsmouth, VA migration data?
It comes from IRS Statistics of Income county-to-county migration data, which is released about two years after the tax year it covers; the figures above reflect the 2023 tax year. That lag is normal for this dataset, which counts actual tax returns rather than survey estimates.