At a Glance
Median Income
$79,529
$45,616 per capita
Home Value
$243,400
Zillow: $300,324
Median Rent
$1,120/mo
26.1% of income on rent
Violent Crime
277/100K
2,987/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
48.4%
96.8% high school+
Unemployment
5.0%
5.2% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
35.7%
11.6% smoking rate
How Portage Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Portage's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Portage a Good Place to Live?
B+
3.7 / 5.0 - Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Portage residents earn a median household income of $79,529 , which is 6% above the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $45,616. The unemployment rate stands at 5.0% (39% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 5.2% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 5,972 business establishments, including 579 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Portage is $243,400 , 14% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $300,324. Median rent is $1,120/month, with 26.1% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 96.2 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1978.
Safety & Crime
Portage reports 277 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 27% below the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 2,987/100K. The murder rate is 0.0/100K.
Education
48.4% of adults in Portage hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(44% above the national average).
96.8% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.3/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Portage has an average annual temperature of 50°F (10°C).
Winters average 25°F in January while summers reach 73°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 33.2 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 45.
Data Overview
People
Population49,015
Median Age37.2 yrs
Density1,521/mi²
Male / Female49% / 51%
Foreign Born6.2%
Veterans6.6%
Economy
A
Median Income$79,529
Per Capita$45,616
Unemployment5.0%
Poverty5.2%
County GDP$20,706M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,264
Housing
A+
Home Value$243,400
Rent$1,120
Ownership68.0%
Zillow$300,324
Housing Units21,708
Rent Burden26.1%
Crime
F
Violent277/100K
Property2,987/100K
Murder0.0/100K
Assault208/100K
Burglary269/100K
Health
Obesity35.7%
Diabetes8.0%
Smoking11.6%
Heart Disease4.8%
Premature Death7,811/100K
Climate
Avg Temp50°F
Rain33.2 in/yr
AQI45 (Good)
Elevation860 ft
Education
A+
Bachelor's+48.4%
High School+96.8%
Graduate+20.1%
School Score5.3/10
Community
2024 VoteR 40% / D 58%
Commute20 min
Broadband92.6%
Internet Speed208 Mbps
EV Stations19
Libraries14
Did You Know?
The median home in Portage was built in 1978.
The nearest airport is Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International (3 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.461 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA.
9.8% of the population has a disability.
Average internet download speed is 208 Mbps.
There are 579 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 31 fatal vehicle crashes.