Portage 71 Excellent
Portage Livability #129 ranked city in Indiana#6,798 ranked city in the USARanks better than 76% of areas
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Pros and Cons of Living in Portage

PROS
  • Cost Of Living Cost Of Living

    Taking into account the cost of goods and services like housing, groceries, transportation and utilities, the overall cost of living in this area is well below average.

  • Crime Crime

    Crime per 100,000 people is significantly lower than the national average, making it a safe place to live. These crime statistics include both violent and property crimes.

  • Housing Housing

    High scores in the housing category are a distinguishing feature of this area, possibly driven by a favorable home affordability ratio, higher home values and appreciation rates.

  • Health & Safety Health & Safety

    Good air quality as well as nearby health facilities like hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, fire and police stations all contribute to a higher than average health and safety score.

  • Ratings Ratings

    Based on recent surveys and polls, locals gave high marks in the walkability to local amenities, safety, public transit, friendliness of neighbors and overall sense of community in the area.

CONS
  • Amenities Amenities

    The majority of amenities are not ideally located within walking distance. To access these amenities, residents may be required to rely on a vehicle or public transit.

  • Commute Commute

    A low commute score could be due to longer-than-average work commutes and the limited availability of public transportation in this area.

What's it like Living in Portage?

Portage is a medium-sized city located in the state of Indiana. The city has a population of 37,504 residents. According to the most recent Census, 83% of Portage residents are White, 9% Black and 1% Asian. The average American spends about 26 minutes on their one way commute to work each day. Lower travel times can increase overall happiness and allow for more time to be spent with family and friends. While living in Portage, your commute times will be about average, with a one way commute time of 29 minutes.

Living in Portage can be a good experience for anyone relocating to the area. Having said that, in the state of Indiana, there are many amazing places to live, so choose wisely! When searching for a new neighborhood, several factors play a vital role in determining its suitability. Safety should be a top priority, ensuring a secure environment with low crime rates. Proximity to your workplace or school helps minimize commuting time and allows for a better work-life balance. Availability of essential amenities such as parks, coffee shops, restaurants, grocery stores, and healthcare facilities contributes to convenience and well-being. Access to reliable public transportation options facilitates easy commuting and connectivity. Additionally, considering the sense of community and the overall atmosphere that resonates with your lifestyle and preferences fosters a harmonious living experience. With useful information like amenities, crime, cost of living, employment, housing and other key data points, finding the best places to live in Portage and in the areas around Portage is a much easier task.

Using data and statistics Portage has received a livability score of 71/100. This score is ranked in the 78th percentile when compared to all other cities. There are nine total categories that create the livability score. Portage scores well for crime (A), cost of living (A-) and housing (A+) The bad news for Portage, there are some categories for which it does not rank well, this includes: amenities (F) and education (D).

For home buyers, real estate will be the largest purchase they will ever make and it will also be their most valuable asset. For renters, the monthly rent paid on their Portage apartments will most likely be their largest expense. Based on tangible metrics like home and rental affordability and appreciation rates, housing in this area has received a score that is well above the average of every other US city. A thriving real estate market can also generate strong local economic activity and job creation.

Assuming that Portage meets all of your requirements like low crime rates, good schools and great local amenities, the next most important item to examine is the affordability of real estate in Portage. Everything else becomes a lot less important if it turns out that home prices in Portage are simply unattainable. The median home price for Portage homes is $282,859, which is 24.7% higher than the Indiana average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Portage, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 3.1, which is 3.3% higher than the Indiana average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Portage

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      Portage transportation information

      Statistic Portage Indiana National
      Average one way commute29min23min26min
      Workers who drive to work88.3%83.0%76.4%
      Workers who carpool5.4%8.9%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit0.9%1.1%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.4%0.5%0.6%
      Workers who walk1.2%2.1%2.8%
      Working from home2.8%3.5%4.6%
      Source: The Portage, IN data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) and include 2026 modeled data developed using proprietary methodologies.