Portsmouth, OH vs Waterville, OH

The cost of living difference between Portsmouth, OH and Waterville, OH is dramatic. Portsmouth is 34.5% cheaper than Waterville, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Portsmouth has a cost index of 63 while Waterville sits at 96, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Portsmouth is $758/month compared to $1,386/month in Waterville — a 45% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Portsmouth is more affordable at $95,000 median vs $271,100.

Median household income in Portsmouth is $35,319 compared to $102,096 in Waterville (-65.4%). While Waterville is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Portsmouth spend roughly 25.8% of their income on rent, more than the 16.3% in Waterville.