© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
Portage.
About
Life in Portage
Portage is a community of 10,374 people in Wisconsin. The median household income is $64,722, median rent runs about $1,008 per month, and median home values are around $204,900. Unemployment is low at 3.0%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Portage at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.8 yrs
Poverty Rate
13.5%
Foreign-Born
4.2%
Broadband Internet
87.6%
of households
Population Growth
-6.0%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics4.2% foreign-born, most often from Nicaragua
Who lives in Portage: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Portage, the largest foreign-born group is from Nicaragua (19.0%), and 4.2% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
19.1%
of residents
65 and Older
14.8%
of residents
Households with Kids
26.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
37.4%
of households
Married Couples
36.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.21
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 7% below WI average
Rent, home values, and income in Portage
In Portage, rent runs 7% below the WI average, and home values are 23% below the WI average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
33.5%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
22.7%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
97.3
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,331
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
58.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1962
median year built
Vacant Homes
7.1%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $293,556 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for WI
Unemployment in Portage
Unemployment in Columbia County, which includes Portage, is close to the WI average.
Unemployment rate
Portage: Columbia County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Columbia County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Portage Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute22.1 min avg
How Portage residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Portage, most residents drive alone to work (80%), and 71% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 28 mi
Dane County Regional Truax Field (MSN)
Small hub1.2M passengers boarded in 2025
- 88 mi
General Mitchell International Airport (MKE)
Medium hub2.9M passengers boarded in 2025
- 133 mi
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
Major hub40.7M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 66% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Portage runs 66% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
111.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,312.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Portage Police Department
Natural DisastersWinter Weather most common — 21 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
81.4 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Columbia County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Columbia County, which includes Portage, the most common type is winter weather, with 21 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 21 | Winter Weather | $35,000 |
| 2024 | 22 | Winter Weather | $115,000 |
| 2023 | 18 | Winter Weather | $51,000 |
| 2022 | 24 | Winter Weather | $151,000 |
| 2021 | 17 | Winter Weather | $515,000 |
| 2020 | 19 | Winter Weather | $202,500 |
| 2019 | 28 | Winter Weather | $130,000 |
| 2018 | 33 | Winter Weather | $123,760 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Columbia County, county-wide
Air Quality40 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Columbia County, which includes Portage, is typically good.
Median AQI
40
Columbia County, county-wide
Climate80°F summers, 13°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Portage has mild summers (avg high 80°F) and very cold winters (avg low 13°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
55°/36°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
80°/60°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
59°/39°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
30°/13°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
38.3"
Annual Snowfall
39.3"
Hot Days/Year
9
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
148
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
122
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 26°F | 10°F | 1.44" |
| Feb | 31°F | 13°F | 1.41" |
| Mar | 42°F | 24°F | 2.18" |
| Apr | 56°F | 36°F | 4.15" |
| May | 68°F | 48°F | 4.58" |
| Jun | 78°F | 58°F | 5.61" |
| Jul | 82°F | 62°F | 4.51" |
| Aug | 80°F | 59°F | 4.12" |
| Sep | 73°F | 51°F | 3.56" |
| Oct | 59°F | 39°F | 2.86" |
| Nov | 44°F | 28°F | 2.22" |
| Dec | 32°F | 17°F | 1.68" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Portage
Portage has 1 hospital, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
5.6%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Aspirus Divine Savior Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Ssm Health St Clare Hospital - Baraboo
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 14.1 mi away · Baraboo
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education13.2:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Portage
Portage's student/teacher ratio is 13.2:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 19.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
7
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
19.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.2:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Ice Age National Scenic Trail, 31 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Portage
Portage has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Ice Age National Scenic Trail (31 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Ice Age National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
31 mi awayEffigy Mounds National Monument
National Monument
93 mi awayPublic Libraries in Portage
Portage Public Library
253 W. Edgewater St., Portage
Cities Near Portage
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Portage?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Portage FAQ
Is Portage, Wisconsin affordable?⌄
Portage's median rent is $1,008/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $64,722/year. Median home value is $204,900.
Is Portage, Wisconsin safe?⌄
Portage's violent crime rate was 112 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1312 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Portage, Wisconsin?⌄
Columbia County, which includes Portage, has an unemployment rate of 3.0%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Portage, Wisconsin?⌄
The cost of living in Portage is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,008/month and median household income is $64,722/year. The median home value is $204,900. About 34% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Portage, Wisconsin?⌄
The average commute in Portage is 22 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from