Portsmouth (city), Virginia: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
No data center or power plant project is on record in Portsmouth (city), but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Portsmouth (city) is an independent city: it is its own county-equivalent and is not part of any county. Next door, Norfolk (city) has 3 data centers. Construction employs 1,980, up 1.3% since 2019. Employers here counted 43,065 jobs in 2025, down 3.6% from 2019. Unemployment was 4.6% in August 2026, against 4.0% in 2019.
Cities and towns in Portsmouth (city)
Portsmouth (city) is an independent city: it is its own county-equivalent and is not part of any county.
Residents are 2025 Census estimates for the part of each city, town or township inside this county. Census publishes no annual estimate for unincorporated communities.
What changed in Portsmouth (city)
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Virginia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 97,991 | 96,777 | ▼ 1.2% | 23rd of 133 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 44,682 | 43,065 | ▼ 3.6% | 98th of 133 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $56,775 | $70,033 | ▲ 23.4% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 1,954 | 1,980 | ▲ 1.3% | 59th of 83 by growth |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 4.0% | 4.6% | ▲ 0.6pts | — |
96,777 people live here, down 1.2% since 2020.
Who powers Portsmouth (city)
No operating power plant is located in Portsmouth (city) in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Portsmouth (city) labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 43,065 | $70,033 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 1,980 | $74,008 | 0.87 |
| Data processing and hosting | 5 | $75,440 | 0.04 |
Concentration is the BLS location quotient: 1.0 means the industry holds the same share of local jobs as it does nationally. Industry rows count private employers; cells BLS suppresses are left out.
Data centers and local rules in Portsmouth (city)
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Portsmouth (city). Virginia has 13 local measures on record statewide.
Portsmouth (city) and its neighbors
Of the 3 counties that border Portsmouth (city), Norfolk (city) carries the most build-out activity: data centers, planned generation and operating plants combined.
| County | Population | Jobs since 2019 | Operating MW | Planned MW | Data centers | Local measures |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portsmouth (city) | 96,777 | ▼ 3.6% | — | — | — | — |
| Chesapeake (city) | 255,332 | ▲ 4.8% | 51 MW | — | — | — |
| Norfolk (city) | 231,013 | ▲ 2.4% | — | — | 3 | — |
| Suffolk (city) | 104,699 | ▲ 36.3% | 4 MW | — | — | — |
More of Virginia
Portsmouth (city), answered from the record
Are there data centers in Portsmouth (city)?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Portsmouth (city). The nearest activity on record is next door in Norfolk (city).
What county is Portsmouth, VA in?
Portsmouth is in Portsmouth (city), Virginia. About 96,777 people live there (2025 Census estimate).
Is Portsmouth (city) adding jobs?
Employers counted 43,065 jobs in 2025 against 44,682 in 2019 (-3.6%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 1,954 to 1,980.
Does Portsmouth (city) have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Portsmouth (city). Virginia has 13 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.