Portage

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Portage, WI Area Guide

Welcome to where the north begins

Suburb Commuter Small Town Rural River Nature Outdoors Skiing Historic Interstate

Portage is a small city on the banks of the Wisconsin River, located about forty miles up Interstate 39 from Madison and about fifteen miles east of Wisconsin Dells. Boasting a proud history as an important commercial hub for the region, Portage features a timeless Downtown district with countless locally-owned shops, restaurants, taverns, and other small businesses operating out of the vintage storefronts.

On the north side, the Northridge Mall anchors a cluster of shopping centers along New Piney Road. The surrounding landscape offers countless opportunities to spend quality time outdoors, from the sprawling Pine Island State Wildlife Area along the river to the Cascade Mountain ski area just southwest of the city.

Rent Trends

As of March 2026, the average apartment rent in Portage, WI is $883 for a studio, $875 for one bedroom, $1,182 for two bedrooms, and $1,289 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Portage has increased by 1.1% in the past year.

Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$875/month
680 Sq Ft
See Rental Market Trends in Portage, WI

Getting Around

Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Portage, WI is for everyday living.

Car-Dependent

43 / 100

This area is considered a car-dependent area and most errands will require a car.

Somewhat Bikeable

43 / 100

You might be able to find places to ride your bike in this area, but you’ll most likely want your car for most errands.

Schools

Lewiston Elementary

Public

Grades K-5

Muir Elementary

Public

Grades K-5

Woodridge Elementary

Public

Grades K-5

Portage Partnering Preschool

Public

Grades PK-5

Rusch Elementary

Public

Grades K-5

Portage High

Public

Grades 6-12

Wayne Bartels Middle

Public

Grades 6-8

Portage High

Public

Grades 6-12

Points of Interest

Parks and Recreation

  • Leopold Wetland Management District
  • Cascade Mountain

Military Bases

Airports

  • Dane County Regional/Truax Field

Top Apartments in Portage

Houses for Rent in Portage

Search Nearby Rentals

Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.