City profile · Ohio · Census ACS 2023

Portage, OH

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.

445
Residents
$54,175
Median income
$113,800
Median home
$1,076
Median rent (state)

Portage - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Portage lands in the 26th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

26th
percentile, household income
15th
percentile, home value
26th
percentile, median rent
📝 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, OH

Portage is a small town in Ohio, home to 445 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $54,175 per year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 17.1%. Portage's housing stock carries a median value of $113,800, and the median resident age is 49.4 years. 31.0% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 52.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 2 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Construction Slowdown), down 33% from five years earlier.

Living costs in Ohio run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Ohio scores 92.8 (Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,076 monthly. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Ohio's average monthly utility costs around $228 (state average). FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 65.7 out of 100 (Moderate).

Population

445 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Ohio

Median Household Income

$54,175 /yr

Poverty 17.1%

Cost of Living Index (state)

92.8 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Ohio 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 26% higher than other cities
Home value 15% pricier than other cities
Median rent 26% pricier than other cities

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

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

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

Ohio-relative analysis

Poverty Rate places Portage toward the top of Ohio's cities

Among the 1,196 Ohio cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Portage ranks #208 - the 82nd 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
#822 of 1,145
28th percentile in Ohio
Median Gross Rent
#581 of 1,196
48th percentile in Ohio
Median Home Value
#843 of 1,164
28th percentile in Ohio
Poverty Rate
#208 of 1,196
82nd percentile in Ohio
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#287 of 1,196
76th percentile in Ohio

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 Ohio only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

26thIncome percentile

26th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Portage's home value compares nationally

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

$113,800 Among the most affordable more affordable than 85% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $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, OH Portage, OH's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Portage, OH-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, OH median $54,175/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, OH'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, OH. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 31.0%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 17.1%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 52.4%

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

Population
445
Median Income
$54,175
Median Home Value
$113,800
Median Age
49.4
Poverty Rate
17.1%
Labor force participation
52.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
31.0%

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
400 residents405 residents410 residents415 residents420 residents425 residents 202020212022202320242025 405 residents 420 residents ▲ +3.7%
Portage's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
2
housing units authorized
Single-Family
2
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
4.5
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 3
2020 3
2021 3
2022 3
2023 0
2024 2

Permit volume decreased 33% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
89.8%
Carpool
2.7%
Public Transit
2.1%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
5.3%

Based on 187 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

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

Electricity
$105
avg/month
Natural Gas
$78
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$228
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Ohio 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 Ohio 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
92.8
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,076/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
65.7 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Ohio

Felicity
445 people
Bowerston
446 people
Caledonia
444 people
Nankin
444 people
Trimble
444 people
Hamburg
447 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Portage's 445 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Burnside, AZ
445 people
Bruceville, IN
445 people
Lake Holiday Hideaway, IN
445 people
Hyden, KY
445 people
Erskine, MN
445 people
D'Lo, MS
445 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Portage's $54,175 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Calera, OK
$54,179 median income
Boyertown, PA
$54,179 median income
Henderson, TX
$54,179 median income
Port Colden, NJ
$54,170 median income
New Stuyahok, AK
$54,167 median income
Tanana, AK
$54,167 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Portage, OH 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, OH - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 60.9% 20.9% 6.5% 11.5% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 14.4% White 60.9% Black or African American 20.9% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.2% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 6.5% Two or more races 11.5% 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 Ohio 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) 445 $54,175
Felicity 445 $37,586
Bowerston 446 N/A
Caledonia 444 $65,972
Census ACS 5-year FIPS OH Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Portage, OH?

What is the population of Portage, OH? +

Portage, OH counts 445 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Median annual household income in Portage runs $54,175, 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 Ohio state average, a cost of living index of 92.8 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Ohio vary by metro area.

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

Portage's median home value sits at $113,800, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, 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.