City profile · Indiana · Census ACS 2023

Portage, IN

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Portage - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

37,951
Residents
$72,833
Median income
$210,800
Median home
$1,317
Median rent (state)

Portage - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Portage lands in the 53rd percentile for household income and the 51st percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

53rd
percentile, household income
46th
percentile, home value
47th
percentile, median rent
51st
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Portage, IN

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 37,951 residents in Portage, a small city within Indiana. The typical household in Portage brings in $72,833 a year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 9.4%. Portage's housing stock carries a median value of $210,800, and the median resident age is 39.0 years. 16.0% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 58.2% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 117 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Stable), down 3% from five years earlier. Portage reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 1343.6 incidents per 100,000 residents, below the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Living costs in Indiana run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Indiana scores 93.3 (Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,317 monthly. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Indiana's average monthly utility costs around $235 (state average). Natural-hazard exposure scores 81.4 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (High).

Population

37,951 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Indiana

Median Household Income

$72,833 /yr

Poverty 9.4%

Cost of Living Index (state)

93.3 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Indiana average

How does Portage compare to other US cities?

Portage measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 53% higher than other cities
Home value 46% pricier than other cities
Median rent 47% pricier than other cities
Safety 51% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Indiana, Portage ranks #69 of 109 Indiana cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Portage against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Indiana only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Indiana-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Portage toward the top of Indiana's cities

Among the 850 Indiana cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Portage ranks #118 - the 81st percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Portage only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#235 of 766
69th percentile in Indiana
Median Gross Rent
#118 of 850
81st percentile in Indiana
Median Home Value
#148 of 771
81st percentile in Indiana
Poverty Rate
#314 of 849
62nd percentile in Indiana
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#396 of 850
53rd percentile in Indiana

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Indiana only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

53rdIncome percentile
51stSafety percentile

53rd percentile nationally for median household income · 51st percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Portage's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Portage's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 53 Avg. percentile National median
Portage's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Portage's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$210,800 Among the most affordable more affordable than 54% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). This entry sits in this band. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Portage $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Portage, IN Portage, IN's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Portage, IN-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Portage, IN median $72,833/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Portage, IN's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Portage, IN. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 16.0%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 9.4%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 58.2%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
37,951
Median Income
$72,833
Median Home Value
$210,800
Median Age
39.0
Poverty Rate
9.4%
Labor force participation
58.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
16.0%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1343.6
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
235.1
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1108.5
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
10
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
37,500 residents38,000 residents38,500 residents39,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 37,964 residents 38,634 residents ▲ +1.8%
Portage's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Stable
Total Permits (2024)
117
housing units authorized
Single-Family
117
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
3.1
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 121
2020 127
2021 143
2022 117
2023 106
2024 117

Permit volume decreased 3% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
86.7%
Carpool
6.3%
Public Transit
0.8%
Walk
0.3%
Work from Home
4.5%
Other
1.4%

Based on 17,428 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Indiana - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$110
avg/month
Natural Gas
$80
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$235
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Indiana state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Indiana state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Portage sits in

Cost of Living Index
93.3
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,317/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
81.4 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Indiana

New Albany
37,589 people
Merrillville
36,343 people
Plainfield
35,783 people
Richmond
35,551 people
Valparaiso
34,377 people
Goshen
34,374 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Portage's 37,951 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Northglenn, CO
37,953 people
Holyoke, MA
37,949 people
Adelanto, CA
38,010 people
Lewiston, ME
37,886 people
Sun, AZ
38,018 people
Hot Springs, AR
38,023 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Portage's $72,833 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Lincoln Beach, OR
$72,833 median income
Newington, GA
$72,829 median income
Terminous, CA
$72,838 median income
Melcher-Dallas, IA
$72,824 median income
Pennville, PA
$72,842 median income
Macedon, NY
$72,843 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Portage, IN Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Portage, IN - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 74.7% 10.2% 10.6% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 18.9% White 74.7% Black or African American 10.2% Asian 1.2% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 3.3% Two or more races 10.6% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Portage compares to nearby Indiana cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Portage (this city) 37,951 $72,833
New Albany 37,589 $54,152
Merrillville 36,343 $64,791
Plainfield 35,783 $85,074
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IN FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Portage, IN?

What is the population of Portage, IN? +

The population of Portage, IN stands at 37,951 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Portage, IN? +

Portage households earn a median of $72,833 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Portage? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Portage; the closest available measure is the Indiana state average, a cost of living index of 93.3 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Indiana vary by metro area.

Is Portage, IN safe? +

Portage has a total crime rate of 1343.6 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Portage, IN? +

A typical home in Portage is worth $210,800, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.