Median Age
39 Years
Largest Age Group
30-39 Years
Approximately 16% of Residents
Under 20
23%
Over 65
17%
Portage
Portage, WI Area Guide
Avg Rent
$878
Population
9,449
Renter Mix
44% Rent
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.
Demographics
Median Household Income
$56,928
Average: $67,711
Education
1,345
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
4,427
Workers Employed
Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.
Housing Distribution
Portage has more homeowners than renters.
Renters
44%
Non-Renters
56%
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
Bachelor's or Higher
11%
Other Education
89%
Rent Trends
As of May 2026, the average apartment rent in Portage, WI is $883 for a studio, $878 for one bedroom, $1,185 for two bedrooms, and $1,289 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Portage has increased by 1.0% in the past year.
Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$878/month
680 Sq Ft
Getting Around
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Portage, WI is for everyday living.
Somewhat Walkable
Walkability
30
/ 100
Exceptionally Drivable
Drivability
100
/ 100
Somewhat Bikeable
Bikeability
20
/ 100
Scores provided by
Schools
Public
Grades K-5
94 Students
Public
Grades K-5
422 Students
Public
Grades K-5
220 Students
Public
Grades K-5
198 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
148 Students
Public
Grades 6-12
706 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
406 Students
Public
Grades 6-12
706 Students
School data provided by
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
Points of Interest
Shopping Centers
Parks and Recreation
- Leopold Wetland Management District
- Cascade Mountain
Commuter Rail
Military Bases
Airports
- Dane County Regional/Truax Field
Top Apartments in Portage
Houses for Rent in Portage
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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.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.