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CITY

Portage

Michigan · 49,862 residents (2025 est.) · 32.293 sq mi
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The short version

Portage has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $83,212. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 48% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $262,300.

At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 38.5
US median: 38.9
More educated
48% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
49,259
+10%since 2000
from 44,897 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,525 / sq mi
+10%since 2000
from 1,390 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
38.5
+8%since 2000
from 35.8 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:49,862 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
40K43K45K48K50K1990201020202024Portage
202449K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$83,212
−8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $49,410 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$46,784
+84%since 2000
from $25,414 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
56.2%
+22.1 ptssince 2009
from 34.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
7.1%
+2.3 ptssince 2000
from 4.8% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.433
+2%since 2010
from 0.424 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade20.7%
US avg: 9.9%
Information11%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services8.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration6.6%
US avg: 4.8%
Wholesale trade3.7%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance3%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical2.2%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing1.5%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.1%
US avg: 1.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.9%
US avg: 1.6%
Education & health services0.8%
US avg: 0.9%
Construction0.8%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$262,300
+21%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $118,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,133
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $541 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
69.1%
+0.1 ptssince 2000
from 68.9% in 2000
30.9% rent
Vacancy rate
4.7%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 5.2% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
16.4%
−7.8 ptssince 2009
from 24.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
41.7%
−3.5 ptssince 2009
from 45.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.2
+31%since 2000
from 2.4 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
59
RELATED:See current rent listings in Portage on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic89.6%(40,220)
Black3.7%(1,649)
Hispanic / Latino1.9%(868)
Asian2.6%(1,185)
Other0%
Diversity Score19.9%(8,920)
2024
White, non-Hispanic79.5%(39,173)
Black6.2%(3,035)
Hispanic / Latino5.6%(2,741)
Asian3.4%(1,694)
Other5.3%(2,616)
Diversity Score44.6%(21,963)
Diversity Score
45
+124%since 2000
from 20 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
47.9%
+11.1 ptssince 2000
from 36.8% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
96.7%
+4.1 ptssince 2000
from 92.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
19.2%
+5.8 ptssince 2000
from 13.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
19.7 min
+58%since 2000
from 12.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
78.1%
−9.7 ptssince 2009
from 87.8% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
5.3%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 7.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.6%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
13.7%
+11.3 ptssince 2009
from 2.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.1%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.3%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.0%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 4.7% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.3%
−5.7 ptssince 2011
from 10.0% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
67.7%
−1.8 ptssince 2011
from 69.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
13.1%
+3.3 ptssince 2009
from 9.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
48.7%
−20.2 ptssince 2009
from 69.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.3%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 47.7% in 2009
Female
50.7%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 52.3% in 2009
Foreign born
5.9%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 5.2% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.5%
−40.5 ptssince 2009
from 47.0% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
9.5%
−1.7 ptssince 2012
from 11.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
4.9%
−85.8 ptssince 2013
from 90.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
92.8%
+7.5 ptssince 2017
from 85.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
92.4%
−1.5 ptssince 2016
from 93.9% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
2.6%
+1.1 ptssince 2016
from 1.6% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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Frequently asked

How many people live in Portage, Michigan?

Portage, Michigan has about 49,259 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Portage, Michigan?

The typical household in Portage, Michigan earns about $83,212 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Portage, Michigan expensive?

In Portage, Michigan, the median home is worth about $262,300, and the typical rent is about $1,133 a month.

How educated are people in Portage, Michigan?

About 47.9% of adults age 25 and over in Portage, Michigan hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Portage, Michigan?

About 7.1% of people in Portage, Michigan live below the federal poverty line.

Has Portage, Michigan grown since 1990?

Yes, Portage, Michigan has grown since 1990. The population has added about 8,217 residents, a change of about 20 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →