Portage is a small town of 2,658 in Pennsylvania, with a median household income of $47,825
and a 4.0% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is
12% below the national average.
Strengths:
Portage stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B).
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. 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: 88.1
Portage's overall cost of living index is 88.1,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Portage costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.
Metric
Portage, PA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$92,300
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$561
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
71.7%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$47,825
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Portage's violent crime rate is 97.5 per 100,000 residents
— 74% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
97.5 /100k
Property Crime
457.0 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Portage is served primarily by Portage Area SD.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.6:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Portage, PA
National Avg
School District
Portage Area SD
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.6:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
18.5%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
90.4%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Portage sees average highs of 32.7°F in January
and 78.7°F in July,
with 48.7 inches of annual precipitation
and 79.7 inches of snow per year.
Portage's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Portage roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $92,300 and median rent is $561/month.
Portage's violent crime rate is 97.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 457.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Portage are operated by Portage Area SD.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.6:1. 18.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Portage, PA has a population of 2,658, a median household income of $47,825, and an unemployment rate of 4.0%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Portage averages 32.7°F in January and 78.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 48.7 inches
with about 79.7 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
The population of Portage, Pennsylvania is 2,658 with a median age of 41.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Portage: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $92,300, median household income $47,825, crime index 24 (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.
