There are a few words that come to mind when one thinks of Portsmouth, Ohio. Decline is one of them. Beautiful is thankfully another. It’s an odd yin and yang dynamic around here, so let’s see if we can break it down.
First off, Portsmouth is beautiful! Located on the banks of the Ohio River in the foothills of Appalachian Mountains, this is one of the few places that you’ll find such elevation in Ohio
There are a few words that come to mind when one thinks of Portsmouth, Ohio. Decline is one of them. Beautiful is thankfully another. It’s an odd yin and yang dynamic around here, so let’s see if we can break it down.
First off, Portsmouth is beautiful! Located on the banks of the Ohio River in the foothills of Appalachian Mountains, this is one of the few places that you’ll find such elevation in Ohio. The nearby Shawnee State Forest has 8,000 acres of outdoor recreation opportunity. Also, the cost of living in Portsmouth is crazy low, so you’ll be able to find tons of cheap apartments!
Now, the bad. Crime rates in Portsmouth are abysmal. This is caused by a lot of things — corruption, high instances of poverty and unemployment, and oh yeah, the insane prescription drug trade and addiction rates in Portsmouth. Since the 2011 Ohio legislation that started regulating the number of Portsmouth pain clinics (also known as “pill mills”), “hillbilly heroin” abuse has been on the decline. Thank goodness for that!
As you start your apartment search, you’re going to need to be very selective. Many of the city’s apartment rentals are notorious pits of drug use and crime. A good rule of thumb is to steer clear of any large, urban complex. Instead, focus your search on the outlying suburban and rural areas or in the city’s many affordable rental homes. This will keep you out of areas with a high concentration of crime.
Within Portsmouth proper, you’ll find some of the best housing to the north of the city center around the Southern Ohio Medical Center. There are great, affordable rental homes in semi-safe neighborhoods. Two bedrooms here range from $500 to $650. You can also find some decent apartments south of the city center, around Shawnee State University. There are occasional studio apartments around here and you can frequently negotiate a short-term lease. Two bedrooms here range from $450 to $600.
With the exception of those two areas, you’re going to want to seek out apartments far north of urban Portsmouth. Rosemount, located in the northern hills, is a highly desirable and safe area. Two bedrooms here range from $500 to $700.
Portsmouth pet friendly rentals can be a bit challenging to find, so if you’re relocating with a dog, allow yourself plenty of time to find a good home.
In any case, welcome to Portsmouth! Stay safe out there!
