Portage city, Indiana Demographics & Population 2026

Name: Portage city, Indiana Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

As of 2026, Portage city, Indiana has a total population of 37,951, the 24th largest city in Indiana, with a median household income of $72,833, which is 4% higher than the state average. The poverty rate is 11.2%.

Portage city Quick Facts

Population 37,951

Median Household Income $72,833

Median Home Value $210,800

Poverty Rate 11.2%

Unemployment Rate 7.3%

Median Age 39.0 years

Homeownership Rate 71.8%

Affordability Ratio 2.9x

Bachelor's Degree or Higher 16.0%

High School Graduation Rate 90.3%

Diversity Index 51/100

Population 37,951 24th of 967

Median Income $72,833 above average

Poverty Rate 11.2% 10% lower national

Median Home Value $210,800 top 20%

How Portage city Compares

Median Household Income

Portage city

$72,833

$70,051

National

$78,538

Median Home Value

Portage city

$210,800

$201,600

National

$303,400

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 14.7%

$25K-$50K 21.7%

$50K-$100K 30.8%

$100K+ 32.8%

Employment

7.3% Unemployment Rate State: 4.3% | National: 5.2%

62.9% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 71.8%

Renter 28.2%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

2.9x home value to income ratio

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

21.7%

18-34

23.3%

35-54

24.8%

55-74

24.8%

75+

5.5%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Moderate Diversity

Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.

State average: 40 | National average: 60

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Portage city Rankings in Indiana

#24 Population of 967

#257 Median Income of 967

#429 Education of 967

#160 Home Value of 967

Explore Indiana Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Cities Similar to Portage city

These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.

City	Population	Median Income	Home Value	Bachelor's+	Poverty
Merrillville town	36,343	$64,791	$194,000	25.2%	13.7%
Valparaiso city	34,377	$67,664	$250,500	40.6%	14.0%
Plainfield town	35,783	$85,074	$263,900	33.7%	6.4%
New Albany city	37,589	$54,152	$169,600	22.8%	18.4%
Goshen city	34,374	$55,436	$175,200	23.2%	18.1%

Population Overview

Portage city is a mid-sized community located in Indiana. The total population is 37,951. It ranks as the 24th most populous out of 967 cities and towns in Indiana.

Age Demographics

The median age in Portage city is 39.0 years. This is 3% higher than the state median of 38.0 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Portage city is $72,833. This is 4% higher than the state median of $70,051. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 7% lower. The poverty rate stands at 11.2%. This is 8% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.2%. The unemployment rate is 7.3%. This is 70% higher than the state rate of 4.3%. The median home value is $210,800. Housing costs are 5% higher than the state median of $201,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.9x, Portage city is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 71.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 2% higher than the state average of 70.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Portage city is White (non-Hispanic), making up 66.8% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 18.9%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (18.9% vs 8.4%). The Asian population (1.2%) is well below the state average of 2.5%.

Education

16.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 44% lower than the state rate of 28.8%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 90.3%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Portage city, Indiana is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Indiana state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 967 Census-designated places in Indiana. For official data, visit data.census.gov.

Free data download: Get all Indiana city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Portage city, Indiana?

Portage city, Indiana has a population of 37,951 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Portage city, IN?

The median household income in Portage city is $72,833, which is 7% lower the national median of $78,538.

What is the poverty rate in Portage city, IN?

The poverty rate in Portage city is 11.2%. This means approximately 4,199 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Portage city, Indiana?

Portage city's population is 66.8% White, 10.1% Black, 18.9% Hispanic/Latino, and 1.2% Asian.

What is the median home value in Portage city, IN?

The median home value in Portage city is $210,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 2.9x.

How educated is Portage city, Indiana?

16.0% of adults (25+) in Portage city hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 4.3% hold a graduate or professional degree.