What are the schools like in Portage, IN?

Portage is served primarily by Portage Township Schools. The district operates 8 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 16.1:1.

What is the median household income in Portage?

The median household income in Portage, IN is $71,317 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 6.6%.

What is the weather like in Portage, IN?

Portage has an average high temperature of 32.1°F in January and 81.6°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 40.8 inches and annual snowfall averages 40.3 inches.

Portage, IN Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Portage, IN affordable or expensive?

Portage's cost of living index is 103, where 100 represents the national average. This means Portage is 3% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $189,300 and the median rent is $1,065 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Portage, IN?

Portage has a violent crime rate of 235.1 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1108.5 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Portage, IN a Good Place to Live?

Portage is a small city of 37,737 in Indiana, with a median household income of $71,317 and a 6.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 103 (US average = 100), which is 3% above the national average.

Strengths: Portage stands out for below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B-).

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Portage is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Portage city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 102.6

Portage's overall cost of living index is 102.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Portage costs roughly 3% more than the average American city.

Metric	Portage, IN	National Avg
Median Home Value	$189,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,065	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	72.9%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$71,317	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Portage's violent crime rate is 235.1 per 100,000 residents — 38% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

235.1 /100k

Property Crime

1108.5 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Portage is served primarily by Portage Township Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.1:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Portage, IN	National Avg
School District	Portage Township Schools	—
Elementary Schools	8	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	16.1:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	15.1%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	90.3%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Portage sees average highs of 32.1°F in January and 81.6°F in July, with 40.8 inches of annual precipitation and 40.3 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Portage, IN
Average High — January	32.1°F
Average High — July	81.6°F
Annual Precipitation	40.8"
Annual Snowfall	40.3"

Demographics

Metric	Portage, IN	National Avg
Population	37,737	—
Median Age	38.7	38.9
Unemployment Rate	6.6%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	28.7 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	77.6%	59.3%
Black or African American	9.5%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	9.2%	18.9%
Asian	0.9%	6.3%
Under 18	21.8%	22.2%
65 and over	15.4%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Ogden Dunes, IN 3 mi Burns Harbor, IN 3 mi Lake Station, IN 4 mi South Haven, IN 4 mi New Chicago, IN 5 mi

ZIP Codes in Portage

Portage, IN is covered by 1 ZIP code:

46368

Portage vs Other Cities

Portage, IN vs Ogden Dunes, IN Portage, IN vs Burns Harbor, IN Portage, IN vs Lake Station, IN Portage, IN vs South Haven, IN Portage, IN vs New Chicago, IN

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Portage, IN affordable or expensive?

Portage's cost of living index is 103, where 100 is the national average. That puts Portage roughly 3% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $189,300 and median rent is $1,065/month.

What is the crime rate in Portage, IN?

Portage's violent crime rate is 235.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1108.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Portage?

Public schools in Portage are operated by Portage Township Schools. The district has 8 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.1:1. 15.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Portage, IN a good place to live?

Portage, IN has a population of 37,737, a median household income of $71,317, and an unemployment rate of 6.6%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Portage?

Portage averages 32.1°F in January and 81.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 40.8 inches with about 40.3 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Portage?

Portage, IN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 46368.

What is the population of Portage?

The population of Portage, Indiana is 37,737 with a median age of 38.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Portage?

Key numbers for living in Portage: cost of living index 103 (100 = US average), median home $189,300, median household income $71,317, crime index 58 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Portage side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.