Population 161,956 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Portage County
Household size in Portage County
| Period | Portage County | Akron area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.46 | 2.45 | 2.51 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.54 | 2.48 | 2.51 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.51 | 2.43 | 2.47 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.38 | 2.37 | 2.46 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.07 | −0.07 | −0.05 | −0.03 |
Portage County is a place of small households, averaging 2.38 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has edged down from 2.46 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Households are largest in the southeast and smallest in the west.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Portage County
| Period | Portage County | Akron area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.9 | 39.7 | 39.0 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 38.8 | 40.6 | 40.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 39.5 | 41.6 | 40.7 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 41.1 | 42.2 | 40.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.2 | +2.5 | +1.8 | +2.3 |
At 41.1, the median age in Portage County is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. The median age has climbed from 37.9 in 2006–10, as it has nationally. Residents skew youngest in the west and oldest in the north.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Portage County
| Period | Portage County | Akron area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.7% | 10.4% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.5% | 10.9% | 11.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.0% | 10.8% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.5% | 11.1% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.2 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 8.5% of households in Portage County, well below the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged down 1.2 points, in line with the national trend. Portage County has a lower share of single-parent households than the great majority of Ohio counties.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Portage County
Renters in Portage County
| Period | Portage County | Akron area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 30.9% | 30.6% | 30.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 30.9% | 32.5% | 33.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 30.5% | 33.4% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 29.9% | 31.9% | 32.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.0 pts | +1.3 pts | +2.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Portage County own their homes; 29.9% rent, a little below the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 41.2% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. Rentals cluster in the west; owners are most common in the north. Since 2006–10, the renter share has edged down 1.0 points, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Portage County
| Period | Portage County | Akron area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.8% | 9.0% | 10.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.4% | 10.3% | 10.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 11.7% | 9.9% | 10.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 9.3% | 8.1% | 8.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | +1.5 pts | −0.9 pts | −2.2 pts | −1.8 pts |
About as many homes sit empty in Portage County as nationally: 9.3%, against 9.6%. Vacancy has edged up 1.5 points since 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Portage County
| Period | Portage County | Akron area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1974 | 1968 | 1968 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1975 | 1968 | 1969 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1976 | 1969 | 1970 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1978 | 1970 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +2 | +4 | +6 |
The typical home in Portage County was built around 1978, about the same vintage as the country's housing overall (1980). Homes here are newer than in the wider Akron area, where the median home dates to 1970. The median year built has moved up from 1974 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the northwest, the oldest in the center.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Portage County
| Period | Portage County | Akron area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $830 | $834 | $765 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $864 | $856 | $814 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $937 | $957 | $901 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,090 | $1,182 | $1,142 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$260 | +$349 | +$377 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Portage County costs $1,090 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $260 a month from 2006–10, a 31% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 31.6% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the northwest; the most affordable are in the southeast.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Portage County
Bachelor's degrees in Portage County
| Period | Portage County | Akron area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.8% | 29.4% | 25.4% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 28.4% | 30.1% | 26.5% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 30.7% | 32.5% | 28.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 35.2% | 35.8% | 31.9% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.3 pts | +6.5 pts | +6.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
Just over a third of adults 25 and older in Portage County (35.2%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, close to the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 7.3 points, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the west and least in the southeast.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Portage County
| Period | Portage County | Akron area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 91.1% | 89.9% | 87.7% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 91.7% | 90.9% | 88.9% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 92.8% | 92.0% | 90.4% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.2% | 92.8% | 91.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.1 pts | +2.9 pts | +4.0 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Portage County is above the national rate: 93.2% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. That is in line with the rest of the Akron area. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 2.1 points, as it has nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Portage County
| Period | Portage County | Akron area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.3% | 8.7% | 8.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 10.4% | 9.7% | 9.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.6% | 5.6% | 5.5% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.0% | 5.2% | 4.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.2 pts | −3.5 pts | −3.8 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Portage County is close to the national rate: 5.0% of the labor force, against 5.4%. Unemployment is down 4.2 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Portage County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portage County | 2.38 | 41.1 | 8.5% | 29.9% | 9.3% | 1978 | $1,090 | 35.2% | 93.2% | 5.0% |
| Summit County | 2.37 | 42.6 | 11.8% | 32.5% | 7.7% | 1968 | $1,210 | 36.0% | 92.7% | 5.3% |
| Trumbull County | 2.38 | 43.6 | 11.5% | 28.7% | 9.4% | 1965 | $830 | 21.2% | 89.3% | 4.5% |
| Medina County | 2.55 | 43.8 | 7.5% | 19.7% | 5.1% | 1985 | $1,338 | 37.2% | 94.5% | 3.0% |
| Mahoning County | 2.29 | 43.6 | 12.2% | 29.7% | 9.9% | 1965 | $883 | 27.1% | 91.5% | 6.7% |
| Mercer County | 2.26 | 45.4 | 8.9% | 27.6% | 9.1% | 1965 | $896 | 26.3% | 91.9% | 5.3% |
| Huron County | 2.48 | 40.7 | 12.4% | 26.0% | 9.8% | 1967 | $884 | 16.7% | 90.7% | 4.5% |
| Clarion County | 2.39 | 43.0 | 8.2% | 27.5% | 17.1% | 1964 | $793 | 24.2% | 91.3% | 4.7% |
| Seneca County | 2.38 | 41.5 | 12.0% | 26.6% | 8.5% | 1960 | $848 | 20.5% | 93.4% | 3.4% |
| Jefferson County | 2.38 | 44.4 | 9.5% | 25.1% | 14.7% | 1961 | $804 | 18.2% | 91.9% | 4.2% |
| Hancock County | 2.37 | 41.6 | 10.0% | 29.2% | 8.4% | 1970 | $1,007 | 30.2% | 95.6% | 3.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Yellowstone County, MT · Pitt County, NC · St. Clair County, MI · Stafford County, VA · Sullivan County, TN · Washington County, MD · Indian River County, FL · Houston County, GA · Hampshire County, MA · Greene County, OH
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Portage County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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