The Town FilesPortage, Michigan
Charter township in Houghton County · population 3,189 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $204,700
- Household income
- $66,652
- Jan low / Jul high
- 9° / 77°
- Snow a year
- 208 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 33.2
Portage is a charter township of 3,189 people in Houghton County, Michigan. The median home is worth $204,700, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks hipper than 97% of Michigan towns, better for cycling than 95% of Michigan towns, more of a college town than 94% of Michigan towns.
How Portage ranks
Percentile among Michigan towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Michigan towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Portage is worth $204,700, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $66,652, which is more affordable than 37% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $778 a month. 73.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Portage | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $204,700 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $778 | $955 |
| Median household income | $66,652 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 73.8% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1970 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 19.1% | — |
Who lives in Portage
| People | Portage | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.2 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.3% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 37.5% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.6% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 5.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.6% | — |
| Work from home | 11.6% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 15.3 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.4% | 88.8% |
Weather in Portage
July highs average 76.7°F and January lows 9.1°F. About 31.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 207.8 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 194 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Portage since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 14 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on July 19, 1978.
Severe weather in Houghton County since 1996
Houghton County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, freezing.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| August 2, 2018 | Flood | DR-4381: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| June 18, 2013 | Flood | DR-4121: Flooding |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Houghton County
Houghton County had 12,124 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,867 a year. Unemployment was 4.6% in 2023; in Portage itself the ACS puts it at 3.2%.
Towns near Portage
- Adams, MI6.5 mi · 2,540 people · home $118,000
- Houghton, MI10.4 mi · 8,386 people · home $254,500
- Hancock, MI11.8 mi · 4,501 people · home $165,600
- Baraga, MI15.6 mi · 3,478 people · home $133,300
- Calumet, MI21.8 mi · 6,263 people · home $99,800
- L'Anse, MI23.3 mi · 3,551 people · home $122,700
Portage questions
Is Portage, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Portage scores better for retirees than 49% of Michigan towns and quieter than 14%. 16.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.2).
How much does a house cost in Portage?
The median owner-occupied home in Portage is valued at $204,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $66,652, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $778 a month.
What is the weather like in Portage?
July highs average 76.7°F and January lows 9.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 31.6 inches of precipitation a year and 207.8 inches of snow.
Does Portage get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Portage in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)