Portage County, Wisconsin
Among the top 1% of US counties for lifestyle & connectivity.
AffordabilityAffordability: grade C, better than 36% of US counties
WeatherWeather: grade D, better than 25% of US counties
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade B, better than 60% of US counties
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade B+, better than 71% of US counties
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade A+, better than 99% of US counties
- top 3% for amenities nearby
- top 7% for sales tax
- bottom 10% for estimated total tax burden
Portage County is a county in Wisconsin with about 70,000 residents. It grades A+ for lifestyle & connectivity and D for weather. Standout strengths include amenities nearby, sales tax, and broadband access. It rates lower on income tax and estimated total tax burden.
Official websiteco.portage.wi.us (opens in new tab)
Climate
Warm summers · Harsh winters · Moderate rain · Heavy snow
freezing
v.cold
cold
comf.
warm
comf.
cool
v.cold
freez.
69%47%clearovercast
Precipitation 4.2 in1.3 in
humid 40%dry
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$71k77th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$45kbetter than 56% of US counties
Home Value$215k72nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$876better than 39% of US counties
Monthly Owner Costs$1kbetter than 32% of US counties
Property Tax Rate1.52%better than 14% of US counties
Income Tax7.60%better than 11% of US counties
Sales Tax5.70%better than 93% of US counties
Estimated total tax burden14.06%better than 10% of US counties
Unemployment3.3%better than 78% of US counties
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)16°F6th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)70°F13th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation33.8 in30th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall48.9 inbetter than 12% of US counties
Sunny Days211 daysbetter than 24% of US counties
Summer Humidity59°Fbetter than 79% of US counties
Comfortable Days81 daysbetter than 54% of US counties
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk62.7better than 36% of US counties
School Quality64.0better than 67% of US counties
Violent Crime526/100kbetter than 69% of US counties
Property Crime867/100kbetter than 52% of US counties
Community
Population70,28176th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age37.820th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.1630th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio1.0475th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningEven16th percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)90.0%72nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)0.9%34th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)3.6%39th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)2.9%89th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)2.5%28th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time20 minbetter than 83% of US counties
Walkability6.8/20better than 71% of US counties
Airport Distance133 mibetter than 31% of US counties
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access90.6%better than 91% of US counties
Amenities Nearby25.04better than 97% of US counties
Park & Nature AccessExcellentbetter than 76% of US counties
Frequently asked questions
- Is Portage County an affordable place to live?
- Portage County is about average in cost. Its cost-of-living index is $45k, better than 56% of comparable areas.
- What is the median home value in Portage County?
- The median home value in Portage County is $215k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- What is the median household income in Portage County?
- Median household income in Portage County is $71k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- How much is rent in Portage County?
- Median gross rent in Portage County is $876 a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Is Portage County safe?
- Portage County is safer than most comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 526/100k (better than 69%). Property crime is 867/100k.
- What is the weather like in Portage County?
- Portage County averages 70°F in July and 16°F in January, with 33.8 in of annual precipitation and about 211 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Portage County?
- Public-school quality in Portage County is above average, scoring better than 67% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in Portage County?
- The average one-way commute in Portage County is 20 min.
Other counties in Wisconsin
Explore Wisconsin
Data sources
- EPA Smart Location Database
- EPI Family Budget Calculator
- FAA airport enplanements
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports
- FEMA National Risk Index
- MIT Election Data Lab (2020)
- NCES School Finance Survey
- NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA nClimGrid
- OpenStreetMap
- Tax Foundation + state revenue depts
- U.S. Census ACS (5-Year)
- USGS Protected Areas (PAD-US)