What are the schools like in Portage, MI?

Portage is served primarily by Portage Public Schools. The district operates 8 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 3 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 17.0:1.

What is the median household income in Portage?

The median household income in Portage, MI is $74,837 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 6.1%.

What is the weather like in Portage, MI?

Portage has an average high temperature of 31.5°F in January and 83.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 33.2 inches and annual snowfall averages 41.2 inches.

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

Q: Is Portage, MI affordable or expensive?

Portage's cost of living index is 97, where 100 represents the national average. This means Portage is 3% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $222,600 and the median rent is $1,062 per month.

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

Portage has a violent crime rate of 277.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2974.7 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Portage, MI a Good Place to Live?

Portage is a small city of 48,936 in Michigan, with a median household income of $74,837 and a 6.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 97 (US average = 100), which is 3% below the national average.

Strengths: Portage stands out for below-average home prices, solid school ratings (A-), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

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: 97.3

Portage's overall cost of living index is 97.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Portage costs roughly 3% less than the average American city.

Metric	Portage, MI	National Avg
Median Home Value	$222,600	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,062	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	66.0%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$74,837	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Portage's violent crime rate is 277.2 per 100,000 residents — 27% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

277.2 /100k

Property Crime

2974.7 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Portage is served primarily by Portage Public Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.0:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Portage, MI	National Avg
School District	Portage Public Schools	—
Elementary Schools	8	—
Middle Schools	3	—
High Schools	3	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	17.0:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	47.6%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	96.4%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Portage sees average highs of 31.5°F in January and 83.1°F in July, with 33.2 inches of annual precipitation and 41.2 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Portage, MI
Average High — January	31.5°F
Average High — July	83.1°F
Annual Precipitation	33.2"
Annual Snowfall	41.2"

Demographics

Metric	Portage, MI	National Avg
Population	48,936	—
Median Age	36.7	38.9
Unemployment Rate	6.1%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	19.7 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	84.5%	59.3%
Black or African American	5.2%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	3.3%	18.9%
Asian	2.7%	6.3%
Under 18	22.3%	22.2%
65 and over	16.8%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Kalamazoo, MI 5 mi Vicksburg, MI 6 mi Schoolcraft, MI 6 mi Westwood, MI 8 mi Eastwood, MI 8 mi

ZIP Codes in Portage

Portage, MI is covered by 2 ZIP codes:

49024 49002

Portage vs Other Cities

Portage, MI vs Kalamazoo, MI Portage, MI vs Vicksburg, MI Portage, MI vs Schoolcraft, MI Portage, MI vs Westwood, MI Portage, MI vs Eastwood, MI

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Portage, MI affordable or expensive?

Portage's cost of living index is 97, where 100 is the national average. That makes Portage roughly 3% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $222,600 and median rent is $1,062/month.

What is the crime rate in Portage, MI?

Portage's violent crime rate is 277.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2974.7 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 Public Schools. The district has 8 elementary, 3 middle, and 3 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.0:1. 47.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Portage, MI a good place to live?

Portage, MI has a population of 48,936, a median household income of $74,837, and an unemployment rate of 6.1%. 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 31.5°F in January and 83.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 33.2 inches with about 41.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Portage?

Portage, MI is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 49024, 49002.

What is the population of Portage?

The population of Portage, Michigan is 48,936 with a median age of 36.7. 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 97 (100 = US average), median home $222,600, median household income $74,837, crime index 100 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. 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.