Livability Score

80
/100
i The AreaVibes Livability Score evaluates 9 different categories and creates an overall score out of 100. The higher the score, the better the area.

amenities D-

There are not many amenities close to this location.
Coffee (7) F
Water Street Coffee
Coffee Shop
Thai Cafe
Coffee Shop
D & R's Daily Grind Cafe
Coffee Shop
Starbucks
Coffee Shop
Biggby Coffee
Coffee Shop
Tim Hortons
Coffee Shop
Biggby's
Coffee Shop
Entertainment (12) F
Hayloft Theater
Theatre Arts
Celery Flats Ampitheatre
Theatre Arts
Celery Flats Interpretive Center
Attraction
Wine and Canvas
Art Gallery
Millenium Park
Attraction
Bernatche School of Dance
Theatre Arts
Kalamazoo Film Society
Cinema
Celebration! Cinema Crossroads & IMAX
Cinema
JCPenney Portraits
Theatre Arts
Portage Northern High School Soccer Field
Stadium
Huskie Stadium
Stadium
Air Zoo
Museum
Airway Lanes and Fun Center
Bowling Alley
Mr. Caution Art Gallery
Art Gallery
Artist Singh Gallery
Art Gallery
Food and Drink (50) D-
Arby's
Fast Food
Subway
Fast Food
Dairy Queen
Fast Food
Panda Express
Fast Food
Subway
Fast Food
Culver's
Fast Food
Papa John's
Fast Food
Roundbread Sandwich Company
Fast Food
Sonic
Fast Food
Ritter's Frozen Custard
Fast Food
McDonald's
Fast Food
Qdoba
Fast Food
Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory
Sweets
Cold Stone Creamery
Sweets
Penn Station East Coast Subs
Fast Food
Edible Arrangements
Sweets
Zoup!
Fast Food
McDonald's
Fast Food
McDonald's
Fast Food
Latitude 42
Bar
Sbarro
Fast Food
Subway
Fast Food
Subway
Fast Food
Burger King
Fast Food
Jimmy John's
Fast Food
Fitness (2) F
Just Move Fitness and More
Gym
Family Fitness
Gym
Groceries (9) F
Walmart Supercenter
Grocery Store
Meijer
Grocery Store
D&W Fresh Market
Grocery Store
H&B Market
Grocery Store
ALDI
Grocery Store
Fresh Thyme
Grocery Store
Harding's
Grocery Store
Lakeshore Market
Grocery Store
Meijer
Grocery Store
Parks (57) A+
Unknown Name
Playground
Unknown Name
Playground
Unknown Name
Playground
Veterans Memorial Park
Park
Central Park
Park
West Lake Nature Preserve
Park
Liberty Park
Park
South Westnedge Park
Park
Unknown Name
Playground
Unknown Name
Park
Unknown Name
Playground
Unknown Name
Playground
Unknown Name
Playground
Millennium Park
Park
Unknown Name
Playground
Oakland Drive Park
Park
Unknown Name
Playground
Unknown Name
Playground
Unknown Name
Playground
Unknown Name
Playground
Unknown Name
Playground
Lakeview Park
Park
Unknown Name
Playground
Unknown Name
Playground
Haverhill Park
Park
Shops (64) D-
Walmart
Convenience Store
Unknown Name
Convenience Store
Meijer
Convenience Store
AGO
Convenience Store
Eve Salonspa
Beauty
Sport Clips
Hairdresser
Clothes Mentor
Clothing
Once Upon A Child
Clothing
PEDAL
Bicycle
Westnedge Shell Food Mart
Convenience Store
La-Z-Boy
Furniture
Best Buy
Electronics
Master Nails
Beauty
Summer Hair Salon
Hairdresser
Target
Department Store
Judge's Barborshop
Hairdresser
Secondhand Child
Clothing
3 West Salon
Hairdresser
Talbots
Clothing
Sears
Department Store
Brow and Lash Hub
Hairdresser
Hot Nails
Beauty
Supercuts
Hairdresser
Burlington
Department Store
Speedway
Convenience Store
See more Portage amenity data

commute F

Of all people who commute, 1.0% take public transportation in Portage.
Public Transit Stops (0)
Stops & Stations F
Workers Taking Public Transit
1.0% F
See more Portage commute data

cost of living A+

The cost of living in Portage is 94/100 - which is 5% higher than Michigan.
Cost of Living
Goods & Services, Housing, etc. A
Tax Rates
Income & Sales Tax A+
See more Portage cost of living data

crime D

Portage crime rates are 3,632 per 100k, which is 82% higher than Michigan
Property Crime
3,315 crimes per 100k F
Violent Crime
318 crimes per 100k C+
See more Portage crime data

employment B-

The median income in Portage is $66,571 - which is 31% higher than Michigan.
Med. Household Income
$66,571 C
Unemployment Rate
4.4% D-
See more Portage employment data

health A+

There are not many hospitals, police and fire stations,
Health & Safety (14)
Dentist, Doctor, Hospital, etc. A+
Walgreens
Pharmacy
Portage Public Safety - Fire Station #1
Fire Station
Portage Public Safety - Police Division
Police
Unknown Name
Police
Meijer Pharmacy
Pharmacy
Rite Aid
Pharmacy
Sam's Club Pharmacy
Pharmacy
CVS Pharmacy
Pharmacy
Aspen Dental
Dentist
Walgreens
Pharmacy
Portage Fire Station #2
Fire Station
Fire Brigade
Fire Station
City of Portage - Fire Station #3
Fire Station
Doja
Pharmacy
ARFF Station
Fire Station
Air Quality
Median Air Quality A
See more Portage health & safety data

housing A+

Portage home prices are $174,600 - which is 37% higher than Michigan
Home Price
$174,600 C+
Home Appreciation Rate
15% A
Home Affordability
2.6x (home price to income ratio) A
See more Portage housing data

schools A

The Portage graduation rate is 93% - which is 8% higher than Michigan
School Test Scores
57% D+
High School Grad. Rates
93% A+
Elementary Schools (16) B-
Central Elementary School
Portage Central Middle School
Woodland Elementary School
St Michael Lutheran School
Haverhill Elementary School
Moorsbridge Elementary School
Portage West Middle School
Lake Center Elementary School
Oakland Academy
Amberly Elementary School
Portage Community High School
Portage North Middle School
Woodsedge Learning Center
12Th Street Elementary
St Monica School
Angling Road Elementary School
Providence Christian School
Kalamazoo Country Day School
Tobey Elementary School
Lakeside Charter School
High Schools (4) D-
Portage Central High School
Portage Community High School
Portage Northern High School
Woodsedge Learning Center
Loy Norrix High School
Providence Christian School
Lakeside Charter School
See more Portage education data

ratings A+

Portage has an overall rating of 84% from 13 reviews.
User Reviews (2)
From AreaVibes A+
User Surveys (11)
From AreaVibes A
See more Portage user rating data
Amenities Commute Cost of Living Crime Employment Health & Safety Housing Schools User Ratings

Portage, MI Area Guide

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( 13 Ratings )

Living in Portage, MI

Ranks better than 80% of areas Follow

Portage Area Facts

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Portage Reviews

Write a review about Portage Tell people what you like or don't like about Portage…
Love the area 4.5 rating By Anonymous ( Oct 18, 2018) Good schools, sports programs are really good in the area. Portage has all the shopping you could want, my only low score was a 5/10 on nightlife, because Portage itself really shuts down around 11-12 at night, but it's 10 minutes to downtown Kalamazoo, 20-25 minutes from Battle ...Read More Creek, there's 2 casinos within driving distance, and several breweries and wineries in the area. Wings Stadium has many events year-round including a huge craft show, and Kalamazoo has local hockey and baseball teams. The lake Michigan shoreline makes for good day trips, I recommend if you're not from the area to check out the beaches in St. Joseph and South Haven, or Bridgman if you're looking for a quieter afternoon. In the winter, there's Timber Ridge Ski Area, in the summer there's pretty good fishing on the lakes in town. There's a couple decent golf courses, some well-maintained parks and playgrounds. Economy is looking up at the moment, rumors are that several of the big employers in the area are looking to hire a good number of people. Police here are fairly nice, very present and visible. (Don't speed on Westnedge Ave!) Read Less
Portage does family friendly and affordable living really well 4 rating By Anonymous ( May 14, 2015) I have lived in Portage for the last two years. I relocated here a few years after college from the suburbs of Detroit and own a home here. I would say it is similar here to other suburbs, and would be an especially easy transition for anyone moving from the suburban Detroit or G ...Read More rand Rapids areas. The close access to Kalamazoo and everything available there is great. The affordability factor is also a serious draw to living in Portage. It is definitely a commute friendly distance from Kalamazoo. It is only fifteen to twenty minutes if you live closer to the city.

Living in Portage is not a mile-a-minute level of excitement like living in a big city and activities are somewhat limited. In the summer there is great swimming in the nearby lakes (check out Ramona Park Beach), and there are quite a few beautiful parks with extensive trails. A person who loves to walk or ride their bike would really enjoy it, and if you go, try starting out at Celery park. There are also the usual stores in the area that you find through the rest of Michigan (Meijer, ect), and the average chain restaurants. For specialty food or drink (like a microbrewery), definitely venture into Kalamazoo.

There is a really neat little museum I take my visiting family to called the Air Zoo. It's an aerospace park with rides, but also has exhibits that describe air travel and flight history. My siblings all have children now so I wanted to take them somewhere they could run a little bit on a rainy day. They had a great time on the hot air balloon ‘teacup' style ride. It's not a huge place, but definitely worth a visit, especially if you have kids! Read Less
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Compare Portage, MI Livability

      vs

      D- Amenities

      Are there many local amenities in Portage? Well, there are not many amenities close to this location.

      Parks

      Unknown Name
      Unknown Name
      Unknown Name
      Veterans Memorial Park
      Central Park
      West Lake Nature Preserve
      Liberty Park
      South Westnedge Park

      Entertainment

      Hayloft Theater
      Celery Flats Ampitheatre
      Celery Flats Interpretive Center
      Wine and Canvas
      Millenium Park
      Bernatche School of Dance
      Kalamazoo Film Society
      Celebration! Cinema Crossroads & IMAX

      Food & Drink

      Arby's
      Subway
      Dairy Queen
      Panda Express
      Subway
      Culver's
      Papa John's
      Roundbread Sandwich Company

      F Commute

      Is public transit available in Portage? Of all people who commute, 1.0% take public transportation in Portage.
      Drive to Work
      85%

      9% higher than the US average

      Take Public Transit
      1%

      4% lower than the US average

      Walk to Work
      2%

      1% lower than the US average

      A+ Cost of Living

      What is the cost of living in Portage? The cost of living in Portage is 94/100 - which is 5% higher than Michigan.
      Portage
      94

      6% less expensive than average

      Michigan
      89

      11% less expensive than average

      United States
      100

      National cost of living index

      D Crime

      What is the crime rate in Portage? Portage crime rates are 3,632, which are 82% higher than Michigan
      Total Crime
      3,632 per 100k people

      56% higher than the US average

      Chance of being a victim
      1 in 28

      56% higher than the US average

      Year-over-year crime
      1%

      Year over year crime is up

      B- Employment

      What is the median income in Portage? The median income in Portage is $66,571 which is 31% higher than Michigan.
      Median household income
      $66,57120% higher than the US average
      Income per capita
      $37,03124% higher than the US average
      Unemployment rate
      4%

      6% lower than the US average

      C+ Health & Safety

      Is Portage a healthy and safe place to live? Yes, there are some hospitals, police and fire stations.

      Hospitals

      Pharmacies

      Meijer Pharmacy
      CVS Pharmacy
      Sam's Club Pharmacy
      Walgreens
      Walgreens
      Rite Aid
      Doja

      Doctors

      A+ Housing

      What are Portage home prices? Portage home prices are $174,600 - which is 37% higher than Michigan
      Median home value
      $174,6005% lower than the US average
      Median rent price
      $8896% lower than the US average
      Home Ownership
      68%

      6% higher than the US average

      A Schools

      Does Portage have good schools? The Portage graduation rate is 93% - which is 8% higher than Michigan
      High school grad. rates
      93%

      12% higher than the US average

      School test scores
      57%

      19% higher than the US average

      Student teacher ratio
      18:1

      10% higher than the US average

      A+ User Ratings

      Is Portage a good place to live? Portage has an overall rating of 84% from 13 reviews.
      Overall user rating
      84%

      13 total ratings

      User reviews rating
      85%

      2 total reviews

      User surveys rating
      82%

      11 total surveys

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