Cost to Own
United States › Ohio › Scioto County › Portsmouth Population 17,919 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-10-29
The part nobody budgets Even with the mortgage fully paid off, the median home here still costs $445 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Scioto County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Portsmouth, Ohio

A $95,000 home here costs

$963

per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.24% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $41,500 a year.

P&I 54%Tax 10%Insurance 4%Utilities 24%Upkeep 8%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $518. The real number is $445 higher every month, 86% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Scioto County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Portsmouth median: $95,000
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
OH average household

Where every dollar goes

Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.

Principal & interest30-year fixed, $76,000 borrowed $518
Property tax1.242% effective rate for Portsmouth itself $98
Homeowners insuranceOhio averages $920/yr (NAIC), or 0.446% of home value $35
Electricity19.38ยข/kWh, Ohio residential average, EIA $164
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $79
Total monthly $963

Portsmouth against Scioto County and Ohio

MeasurePortsmouthScioto County
Median home value$95,000$132,300
Median property tax$1,180$1,417
Effective tax rate1.242%1.071%
Median gross rent$758$749
Population17,91973,118

The weather behind that power bill

Portsmouth sits in Scioto County, which averages a high of 86.4°F in its hottest month and a low of 26.4°F in its coldest, with 45.1" of precipitation a year and 31% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,234 cooling and 4,321 heating degree days, which is what sets the $164 electricity line above.

See the full climate breakdown for Scioto County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.

Other cities in Scioto County

Full Scioto County cost breakdown · Every county in Ohio

Talk to someone who works this market

These are Portsmouth averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works Portsmouth every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.

I'm looking to buy in Portsmouth I already own here and may sell

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in Portsmouth?

A $95,000 home in Portsmouth, Ohio costs approximately $963 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $518 principal and interest, $98 property tax, $35 homeowners insurance, $232 utilities and $79 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Portsmouth?

Portsmouth has an effective property tax rate of 1.242%, based on a median home value of $95,000 and median real estate taxes of $1,180. That is higher than the Scioto County average of 1.071%.

What is the average home price in Portsmouth?

The median owner-occupied home value in Portsmouth, Ohio is $95,000, against $132,300 across Scioto County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Portsmouth?

Median gross rent in Portsmouth is $758 a month, against $963 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.

What salary do you need to buy a home in Portsmouth?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Portsmouth, Ohio at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $41,500 a year. That covers the full $963 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

  • Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Portsmouth, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
  • Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Ohio.
  • Electricity price, EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
  • Mortgage rate, Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
  • Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.

Full methodology