Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Portage, MI

    Is Portage a good place to live?

    Watch Portage

    Portage ranks #6 of 50 Michigan cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (67/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population grew 0.2% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $243,400
    +9.3% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $1,120
    per month
    Household income
    $79,529
    median
    Unemployment
    5.0%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Portage

    The median home value in Portage is $243,400 and median rent is $1,120 a month, against a median household income of $79,529. Homes cost about 3.1× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Portage crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across Michigan the 2025 rate was 431 violent and 1,300 property crimes per 100,000 people — #28 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Portage, MI

    Portage has about 49,015 residents, 5.0% unemployment and 28% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Portage with

    Portage vs DetroitPortage vs Grand RapidsPortage vs WarrenPortage vs Sterling HeightsPortage vs Ann ArborPortage vs LansingPortage vs DearbornPortage vs Livonia

    More: Where to move in Michigan · Best counties in Michigan

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report