The Town FilesPortage, Michigan
City in Kalamazoo County · population 48,891 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $262,300
- Household income
- $83,212
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 67 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 38.5
Portage is a city of 48,891 people in Kalamazoo County, Michigan. The median home is worth $262,300, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for young professionals than 98% of Michigan towns, more vibrant than 91% of Michigan towns, more upscale than 90% 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 $262,300, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $83,212, which is more affordable than 31% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,133 a month. 69.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Portage | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $262,300 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,133 | $955 |
| Median household income | $83,212 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 69.1% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.8% | — |
Who lives in Portage
| People | Portage | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.5 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.0% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 47.9% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.1% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 6.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.9% | — |
| Work from home | 13.7% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 19.7 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.8% | 88.8% |
Weather in Portage
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 18.1°F. About 33.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 66.9 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 13 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 129 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Portage since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 2, 1977 about 6.1 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 5 deaths and 104 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 7, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 41 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on March 27, 1991.
Severe weather in Kalamazoo County since 1996
Kalamazoo County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4925: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| September 23, 2003 | Other | EM-3189: Power Outage |
Jobs and pay in Kalamazoo County
Kalamazoo County had 120,708 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $65,730 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Portage itself the ACS puts it at 4.3%.
Public schools in Portage
16 public schools with 8,876 students, about 17.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portage Central High School | 9-12 | 1,385 | 21.6 |
| Portage Northern High School | 9-12 | 1,218 | 19.6 |
| Portage Central Middle School | 6-8 | 750 | 20.3 |
| Portage West Middle School | 6-8 | 694 | 19.8 |
| Moorsbridge Elementary School | PK-5 | 591 | 20.4 |
| 12th Street Elementary | PK-5 | 574 | 19.1 |
| Portage North Middle School | 6-8 | 547 | 17.6 |
| Amberly Elementary School | PK-5 | 520 | 15.8 |
| Lake Center Elementary School | PK-5 | 516 | 16.6 |
| Central Elementary School | PK-5 | 447 | 17.2 |
| Haverhill Elementary School | PK-5 | 375 | 15.0 |
| Woodland Elementary School | PK-5 | 370 | 13.7 |
Towns near Portage
- Kalamazoo, MI5.4 mi · 73,598 people · home $179,000
- Vicksburg, MI5.8 mi · 3,706 people · home $231,500
- Texas, MI5.9 mi · 17,691 people · home $415,100
- Schoolcraft, MI5.9 mi · 9,183 people · home $258,200
- Pavilion, MI5.9 mi · 6,387 people · home $264,500
- Westwood, MI7.6 mi · 9,621 people · home $193,400
- Eastwood, MI7.7 mi · 6,366 people · home $160,600
- Kalamazoo, MI8.2 mi · 22,777 people · home $180,200
Portage questions
Is Portage, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Portage scores better for retirees than 22% of Michigan towns and quieter than 6%. 18.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.5).
How much does a house cost in Portage?
The median owner-occupied home in Portage is valued at $262,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $83,212, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $1,133 a month.
What is the weather like in Portage?
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 18.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.2 inches of precipitation a year and 66.9 inches of snow.
Does Portage get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Portage since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 2, 1977. The typical Michigan town has had 10.
- 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)