Portage is the county seat of Columbia County, Wisconsin.
Locals love to cool off in the water at Silver Lake Beach in Portage.
Many houses in Portage were built in the 1940s-1950s.
You can choose from a handful of boutique clothing stores in Portage.
With a highway running through i, historic downtown Portage sees a good amount of daily traffic.

Portage, WI

Area Guide

Avg Rent

$879

Population

9,449

Renter Mix

44% Rent

Welcome to where the north begins

Suburb Commuter Small Town

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.

Explore the City

Many houses in Portage were built in the 1940s-1950s.

You can choose from a handful of boutique clothing stores in Portage.

With a highway running through i, historic downtown Portage sees a good amount of daily traffic.

Swan Lake State Wildlife area has several miles of rugged nature paths to explore.

Residents are free to roam the extensive garden path at Pauquette Park in Portage

Portage residents can take their dog on a relaxing walk.

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.

Median Age

39 Years

Largest Age Group

30-39 Years

Approximately 16% of Residents

Under 20

23%

Over 65

17%

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 June 2026, the average apartment rent in Portage, WI is $821 for a studio, $879 for one bedroom, $1,186 for two bedrooms, and $1,289 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Portage has increased by 0.9% in the past year.

Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$879/month
680 Sq Ft
See Rental Market Trends in Portage, WI

Getting Around

Somewhat Walkable

Walkability

30 / 100

Exceptionally Drivable

Drivability

100 / 100

Somewhat Bikeable

Bikeability

20 / 100

Schools

Lewiston Elementary

Public

Grades K-5

94 Students

Muir Elementary School

Public

Grades K-5

422 Students

Muir Elementary

Public

Grades K-5

422 Students

Woodridge Elementary

Public

Grades K-5

220 Students

Woodridge Elementary School

Public

Grades K-5

220 Students

Portage High

Public

Grades 6-12

706 Students

Portage High School

Public

Grades 6-12

706 Students

Wayne Bartels Middle

Public

Grades 6-8

406 Students

Wayne Bartels Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

406 Students

Portage High

Public

Grades 6-12

706 Students

Portage High School

Public

Grades 6-12

706 Students

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 June 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.