Portsmouth
RANK #152 / 996 NAT · #15 / 49 OH · POP 73,716
1YR FORECAST: +4.8%
5YR OUTLOOK: +34%
Scioto County, Ohio, is distinguished by its location at the confluence of the Scioto and Ohio Rivers, with Portsmouth serving as its county seat. The city's floodwall murals, depicting 2,000 years of local history, are a notable landmark. The county is approximately 100 miles south of Columbus, Ohio. This southern Ohio region, nestled in the Appalachian foothills, offers a community feel with access to extensive outdoor recreation, particularly within the 63,000-acre Shawnee State Forest, often called "Ohio's Little Smokies." Hiking, fishing, boating, and camping are popular activities. Life in Scioto County offers a blend of small-town living and natural beauty. The county has several public school districts, including Portsmouth City Schools and Wheelersburg Local Schools, and is home to Shawnee State University. Public transportation, Access Scioto County, provides demand-response, curb-to-curb service throughout the county. The economy, historically rooted in manufacturing and steel, is seeing new investment in sectors like data centers and energy.
Below national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Above national median (13x)
Housing looks undervalued at 3.3x — home prices are low relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Portsmouth Powered Land Project (Natural Gas Plant)
SB Energy (SoftBank subsidiary)
|
$33,000M | Proposed |
|
Proposed Data Center (Tilted Gate LLC)
Tilted Gate LLC (affiliated with a Fortune 100 tech company, possibly Google)
|
$1,000M | Proposed |
|
Scioto Ridge Wind Farm (Hardin and Logan Counties, OH)
RWE Clean Energy
|
$300M | Operating |
|
Scioto Ridge Solar Project (Hardin County, OH)
RWE Clean Energy LLC
|
$110M | Under Construction |
|
Waterfront Redevelopment Project (Portsmouth)
Ohio's Wonderful Waterfronts Initiative
|
$34M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Scioto County ranks #152 out of 996 U.S. counties on the Boom Town Index with a score of 85/100, putting it in the top tier nationally. Job growth of +1.9% and a median household income of $46,360 point to a county with active economic momentum.
By national standards, Scioto County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $122,900, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.38 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $723/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
It's a mixed picture in Scioto County. The population is declining (-0.9% YoY), but employers are actually hiring — job growth is at +1.9%. Home values moved +5.5% in the last year. That tension between shrinking population and expanding employment often signals a county in transition.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.03% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Scioto County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.
Home values climbed +5.5% year-over-year, which is a solid pace of appreciation. The median home in Scioto County is now valued at $122,900. That kind of growth typically reflects sustained demand rather than speculative frenzy.