Portage, Michigan
Among the top 10% of US places for getting around.
AffordabilityAffordability: grade C, better than 32% of US places
WeatherWeather: grade C, better than 29% of US places
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade D, better than 11% of US places
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade A, better than 90% of US places
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade C, better than 50% of US places
- top 5% for natural disaster risk
- top 13% for commute time
- bottom 2% for monthly owner costs
Portage is a mid-size city in Michigan with about 49,000 residents. It grades A for getting around and D for safety & wellbeing. Standout strengths include natural disaster risk, commute time, and sales tax. It rates lower on sunny days and monthly owner costs.
- The median home value in Portage is $223k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Median household income in Portage is $75k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Median gross rent in Portage is $1k a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Portage has a violent crime rate of 1510/100k, per the FBI Uniform Crime Reports.
- The average one-way commute in Portage is 20 min, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
Climate
Warm summers · Cold winters · Moderate rain · Heavy snow
freez.
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69%26%clearovercast
Precipitation 3.4 in1.6 in
humid 90%dry
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$75k67th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$44kbetter than 72% of US places
Home Value$223k66th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$1kbetter than 36% of US places
Monthly Owner Costs$13kbetter than 2% of US places
Property Tax Rate1.69%better than 18% of US places
Income Tax4.30%better than 69% of US places
Sales Tax6.00%better than 86% of US places
Estimated total tax burden11.30%better than 33% of US places
Unemployment6.1%better than 31% of US places
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)25°F23rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)73°F27th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation33.2 in28th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall41.2 inbetter than 20% of US places
Sunny Days163 daysbetter than 3% of US places
Summer Humidity61°Fbetter than 68% of US places
Comfortable Days94 daysbetter than 78% of US places
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk22.3better than 95% of US places
Air Quality54 AQIbetter than 6% of US places
School Quality47.3better than 30% of US places
Violent Crime1510/100kbetter than 16% of US places
Property Crime3313/100kbetter than 5% of US places
Community
Population48,93697th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age36.729th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.2861st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio0.9543rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningD+1915th percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)82.3%45th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)4.7%76th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)5.3%59th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)2.7%84th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)5.0%71st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time20 minbetter than 87% of US places
Walkability7.7/20better than 70% of US places
Airport Distance47 mibetter than 70% of US places
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access91.6%better than 70% of US places
Amenities Nearby28.61better than 27% of US places
Park & Nature AccessGoodbetter than 56% of US places
Data sources
- EPA Air Quality (AQI)
- 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)
Similar places
Frequently asked questions
- Is Portage an affordable place to live?
- Portage is relatively affordable. Its cost-of-living index is $44k, better than 72% of comparable areas. Median rent is $1k.
- Is Portage safe?
- Portage is higher-crime than most comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 1510/100k (better than 16%). Property crime is 3313/100k.
- What is the weather like in Portage?
- Portage averages 73°F in July and 25°F in January, with 33.2 in of annual precipitation and about 163 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Portage?
- Public-school quality in Portage is below average, scoring better than 30% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in Portage?
- The average one-way commute in Portage is 20 min.