Population 13,872 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Portage
Household size in Portage
| Period | Portage | Madison area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.28 | 2.43 | 2.45 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.32 | 2.41 | 2.47 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.20 | 2.39 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.28 | 2.30 | 2.40 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.00 | −0.13 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
Households in Portage are small: just 2.28 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. The picture is much the same across the Madison area.
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
| Period | Portage | Madison area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.0 | 37.0 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 41.3 | 37.9 | 39.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 40.5 | 38.3 | 40.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 41.8 | 38.9 | 41.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.9 | +1.9 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Portage is 41.8 years old, a bit older than the national median of 40.1. The median age has climbed from 39.0 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. The youngest areas are in the west, the oldest in the east.
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
| Period | Portage | Madison area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.9% | 8.7% | 10.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.4% | 8.8% | 10.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.2% | 8.0% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.9% | 8.2% | 9.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | −3.0 pts | −0.5 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are about as common in Portage as they are nationally: 11.9%, against 11.6%. Single parents are more common here than in the wider Madison area (8.2%). The single-parent share has fallen 3.0 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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
Renters in Portage
| Period | Portage | Madison area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.5% | 35.1% | 30.5% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 37.0% | 38.3% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 35.1% | 38.9% | 33.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 31.4% | 39.7% | 32.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | −5.1 pts | +4.5 pts | +1.6 pts | +1.5 pts |
Just over three in ten households in Portage rent their homes (31.4%), a little below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. More than four in ten owners (42.9%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is down 5.1 points from 2006–10, 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
| Period | Portage | Madison area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.7% | 8.9% | 10.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.5% | 6.3% | 10.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.5% | 5.7% | 10.1% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 11.1% | 5.5% | 9.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.5 pts | −3.4 pts | −1.3 pts | −1.8 pts |
A few more homes sit empty in Portage than nationally: 11.1%, against 9.6%. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Since 2006–10, vacancy has edged down 0.5 points, a smaller shift than nationally.
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
| Period | Portage | Madison area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1965 | 1976 | 1970 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1972 | 1978 | 1971 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1970 | 1979 | 1972 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1972 | 1983 | 1974 | 1980 |
| Change | +7 | +7 | +5 | +6 |
Homes in Portage run older than the national norm, with a median build year of 1972 against 1980. The median year built has moved up from 1965 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the north, the oldest in the south.
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
| Period | Portage | Madison area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $755 | $868 | $758 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $823 | $950 | $821 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $781 | $1,072 | $904 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $986 | $1,366 | $1,139 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$230 | +$498 | +$380 | +$606 |
The median renter in Portage pays $986 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $230 a month from 2006–10, a 30% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 27.1% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Rents run highest in the northeast and lowest in the south.
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
Bachelor's degrees in Portage
| Period | Portage | Madison area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.0% | 41.3% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 18.5% | 43.6% | 28.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 17.4% | 46.9% | 30.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 21.3% | 50.6% | 33.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +3.3 pts | +9.3 pts | +7.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Portage: 21.3% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 3.3 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Portage has a lower share of college graduates than at least four in five Wisconsin cities.
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
| Period | Portage | Madison area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 87.7% | 93.8% | 89.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 90.2% | 94.4% | 90.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.6% | 95.2% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 91.1% | 95.1% | 93.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.3 pts | +1.3 pts | +3.8 pts | +4.3 pts |
About nine in ten adults in Portage have finished high school (91.1%), a bit above the national rate of 89.3%. Locally, though, the rate is lower than in the wider Madison area (95.1%). Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 3.3 points, mirroring the country.
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
| Period | Portage | Madison area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.4% | 5.0% | 6.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.7% | 5.5% | 7.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.2% | 2.6% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.3% | 2.6% | 3.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.1 pts | −2.4 pts | −3.4 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Portage has been strong: just 3.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Locally, though, the rate is higher than in the wider Madison area (2.6%). Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 2.1 points, in line with the national trend.
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 compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portage | 2.28 | 41.8 | 11.9% | 31.4% | 11.1% | 1972 | $986 | 21.3% | 91.1% | 3.3% |
| Pardeeville | 2.49 | 44.2 | 13.6% | 21.9% | 12.4% | 1980 | $888 | 17.6% | 89.4% | 1.1% |
| Lewiston | 2.51 | 48.6 | 10.8% | 7.3% | 15.3% | 1983 | $900 | 25.8% | 92.8% | 1.8% |
| Wyocena | 2.55 | 46.5 | 4.7% | 15.3% | 11.2% | 1980 | $925 | 16.7% | 93.7% | 3.0% |
| Briggsville | 2.20 | 55.2 | 6.9% | 12.2% | 23.0% | 1977 | $1,022 | 20.7% | 95.5% | 1.2% |
| Endeavor | 2.12 | 51.0 | 12.5% | 21.8% | 14.9% | 1975 | $683 | 14.7% | 92.1% | 3.0% |
| Poynette | 2.35 | 44.8 | 8.6% | 18.1% | 9.0% | 1982 | $986 | 27.8% | 96.8% | 0.6% |
| Okee | 2.35 | 47.9 | 4.1% | 8.2% | 17.5% | 1982 | $1,298 | 35.0% | 98.7% | 0.9% |
| Dalton | 2.90 | 36.7 | 4.7% | 13.7% | 14.5% | 1974 | $930 | 17.7% | 85.5% | 1.9% |
| Rio | 2.37 | 45.3 | 7.4% | 21.6% | 6.6% | 1963 | $878 | 22.0% | 94.8% | 1.7% |
| Packwaukee | 2.06 | 53.5 | 2.9% | 6.3% | 24.9% | 1983 | $830 | 14.9% | 90.0% | 2.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Trinity, NC · Covington, TN · Crete, IL · Cromwell, CT · Croton On Hudson, NY · Danville, PA · Decatur, IN · Swansea, IL · Tarboro, NC · Thonotosassa, FL
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. 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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