Bowling Green vs Portage
Bowling Green, Ohio versus Portage, Ohio: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Portage edges out Bowling Green on overall objective livability (60 vs 55 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Bowling Green | Portage |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $41k | $52k |
| Cost of Living | $43k | $43k |
| Home Value | $206k | $108k |
| Monthly Rent | $823 | $843 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $4k | $72 |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.18% | 1.46% |
| Income Tax | 3.50% | 3.50% |
| Sales Tax | 7.24% | 7.24% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 11.75% | 8.91% |
| Unemployment | 6.4% | 19.0% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 27°F | 27°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 75°F | 75°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.2 in | 35.2 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 21.3 in | 21.3 in |
| Sunny Days | 215 days | 215 days |
| Summer Humidity | 62°F | 62°F |
| Comfortable Days | 94 days | 94 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 28.3 | 34.6 |
| Air Quality | 43 AQI | 41 AQI |
| School Quality | 48.4 | 48.4 |
| Violent Crime | 514/100k | 386/100k |
| Property Crime | 1344/100k | 913/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 30,157 | 445 |
| Median Age | 22.9 | 46.5 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.28 | 0.58 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.96 | 1.21 |
| Political Leaning | Even | Even |
| White (%) | 81.9% | 60.7% |
| Black (%) | 5.2% | 17.3% |
| Hispanic (%) | 6.8% | 20.7% |
| Asian (%) | 1.4% | 0.0% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 4.8% | 1.3% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 18 min | — |
| Walkability | 8.8/20 | 7.2/20 |
| Airport Distance | 60 mi | 64 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 88.6% | 89.7% |
| Amenities Nearby | 36.81 | 2404.49 |
| Park & Nature Access | Good | Good |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Bowling Green or Portage more affordable?
- Portage has the lower cost of living: its index is $43k, compared with Bowling Green's $43k and Portage's $43k. Median rent is $823 in Bowling Green versus $843 in Portage.
- Is Bowling Green or Portage safer?
- Portage has the lower violent crime rate. Bowling Green reports 514/100k and Portage reports 386/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Bowling Green or Portage?
- The median home value is $206k in Bowling Green and $108k in Portage, so homes are more affordable in Portage.