The Town FilesPortage Lakes, Ohio
Community in Summit County · population 6,407 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $167,000
- Household income
- $64,375
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 47 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 51.5
Portage Lakes is a community of 6,407 people in Summit County, Ohio. The median home is worth $167,000, close to the typical Ohio town ($171,100). It ranks hipper than 94% of Ohio towns, better for first-time buyers than 92% of Ohio towns, better for young professionals than 92% of Ohio towns.
How Portage Lakes ranks
Percentile among Ohio towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Ohio towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Portage Lakes is worth $167,000, close to the typical Ohio town ($171,100). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $64,375, which is more affordable than 53% of Ohio towns. Median rent is $1,162 a month. 61.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Portage Lakes | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $167,000 | $171,100 |
| Median rent | $1,162 | $914 |
| Median household income | $64,375 | $67,019 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.6× |
| Homeownership | 61.4% | 71.7% |
| Median year built | 1962 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.5% | — |
Who lives in Portage Lakes
| People | Portage Lakes | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.5 | 40.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 27.7% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 9.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.6% | 21.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.9% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 7.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.3% | — |
| Work from home | 10.0% | 8.6% |
| Average commute | 21.3 min | 23.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.4% | 90.9% |
Weather in Portage Lakes
July highs average 85.1°F and January lows 21.0°F. About 32.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 47.2 inches of snow (typical Ohio town: 23.8 in). Expect about 14 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 118 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Portage Lakes since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Ohio town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on July 12, 1992 about 8.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 7, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 108 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on June 8, 2007.
Severe weather in Summit County since 1996
Summit County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for other, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 31, 2020 | Biological | DR-4507: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3457: Covid-19 |
| June 30, 2012 | Severe Storm | EM-3346: Severe Storms |
| October 24, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1805: Severe Wind Storm Associated With Tropical Depression Ike |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3250: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Summit County
Summit County had 261,045 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,871 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Portage Lakes itself the ACS puts it at 6.5%.
Towns near Portage Lakes
- Barberton, OH3.4 mi · 25,191 people · home $135,200
- New Franklin, OH4.5 mi · 13,877 people · home $214,300
- Akron, OH5.0 mi · 190,469 people · home $122,000
- Green, OH5.2 mi · 27,475 people · home $280,200
- Norton, OH5.7 mi · 11,673 people · home $200,800
- Lakemore, OH6.1 mi · 2,926 people · home $158,400
- Mogadore, OH7.5 mi · 3,811 people · home $181,900
- Uniontown, OH7.9 mi · 7,173 people · home $257,500
Portage Lakes questions
Is Portage Lakes, Ohio a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Portage Lakes scores better for retirees than 79% of Ohio towns and quieter than 49%. 27.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 51.5).
How much does a house cost in Portage Lakes?
The median owner-occupied home in Portage Lakes is valued at $167,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $64,375, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $1,162 a month.
What is the weather like in Portage Lakes?
July highs average 85.1°F and January lows 21.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.5 inches of precipitation a year and 47.2 inches of snow.
Does Portage Lakes get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Portage Lakes since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on July 12, 1992. The typical Ohio town has had 16.
- 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)