Where does this demographic data come from?

All demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which samples about 3.5 million households annually. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for small geographies like municipalities.

What is the difference between Census data and ACS data?

The decennial Census (conducted every 10 years) is a full population count focusing on basic demographics. The ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed data on income, education, housing, commute patterns, and more. ACS data is updated annually but represents averages over a 5-year period.

How accurate is this data for small towns?

For smaller municipalities, ACS estimates have wider margins of error because fewer residents are sampled. The 5-year estimates reduce this uncertainty by averaging over a longer period. For towns under 5,000 people, treat specific numbers as approximations rather than precise counts.

Portage, MI Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

49,259

Median Agei

38.5

Race & Ethnicityi

White

79.5%39,173

Black

6.2%3,035

Hispanic/Latino

5.6%2,741

Two or More

4.8%2,346

Asian

3.4%1,694

Other

0.4%175

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.2%95

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

2.2%769

High School Diploma

16.6%5,680

Some College (<1 yr)

8%2,742

Some College (1+ yr)

12.6%4,334

Associate's Degree

9.3%3,190

Bachelor's Degree

28.7%9,821

Master's Degree

14.6%4,992

Professional Degree

2.4%833

Doctorate

2.2%764

HS or Higher

96.7%

BA or Higher

47.9%

Graduate+

19.2%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$262,300

Median Renti

$1,133

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

69.1%14,393

Renter-Occupied

30.9%6,451

Total Units

21,881

Homeownership

69.1%

Vacancy Rate

4.7%

Home Values

Under $50K

1.8%254

$50K–$100K

3.1%446

$100K–$150K

6.8%979

$150K–$200K

16.1%2,324

$200K–$300K

34.2%4,922

$300K–$500K

31%4,460

$500K–$1M

6%866

$1M+

1%142

Rent Distribution

Under $500

289

$500–$750

285

$750–$1,000

1,653

$1,000–$1,250

1,811

$1,250–$1,500

794

$1,500–$2,000

1,010

$2,000+

534

Year Built

2020 or later

1.5%323

2010–2019

7.1%1,554

2000–2009

12.5%2,744

1990–1999

13.2%2,889

1980–1989

11.9%2,598

1970–1979

16.9%3,700

1960–1969

18.3%4,012

1950–1959

13.7%2,994

1940–1949

2.8%607

1939 or earlier

2.1%460

Heating Fuel

Utility Gas

79.5%16,561

Electricity

19%3,952

Bottled/LP Gas

0.8%163

Fuel Oil

0.5%98

No Fuel

0.2%39

Other

0.1%31

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$83,212

Mean Household Incomei

$109,253

Per Capita Incomei

$46,784

Poverty Ratei

7.1%

Unemploymenti

4.3%

Labor Forcei

27,214

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

4.8%1,001

$10K–$15K

1.5%313

$15K–$20K

1.6%339

$20K–$25K

2.9%604

$25K–$30K

3.3%679

$30K–$35K

3.3%691

$35K–$40K

2.5%515

$40K–$45K

4.3%888

$45K–$50K

3%621

$50K–$60K

6.2%1,296

$60K–$75K

10.5%2,191

$75K–$100K

13.5%2,823

$100K–$125K

11.6%2,423

$125K–$150K

9.8%2,050

$150K–$200K

11%2,301

$200K+

10.1%2,109

Federally Subsidized Housingi

HUD

The federal government helps low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities afford housing through several programs. Residents typically pay about 30% of their income toward rent, with the government covering the rest. This data shows how many households in this community receive that assistance.

Subsidized Homesi

438

Residentsi

890

Avg. Tenant Renti

$384/mo

Avg. Waitlisti

67 months

Programs in this community

Housing Choice Vouchers124 homes88% occupied$468/mo rent

Rental vouchers (Section 8) that help tenants pay for private-market housing

Project Based Section 8292 homes96% occupied$348/mo rent

Privately owned apartments with rent subsidies tied to the building

811/PRAC10 homes

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $83,212/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $25K/yr

81.1%

Very low income$25K–$42K/yr

16.3%

Low income$42K–$67K/yr

2.6%

Who Receives This Housing

85.4% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

51.9% of subsidized households are minority

26.2% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

24.1% of subsidized households include a senior (62+)

Ancestry & Heritage

Self-reported ancestry groups. Residents may report multiple ancestries, so totals may exceed 100%.

Foreign-Born Populationi

Foreign-Borni

2,8855.9%

By Region

Top Countries

India

791

Mexico

457

Poland

Canada

Germany

Korea

China

Philippines

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

25,692

Avg. Commutei

19.7 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

26,010

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

2,519(6.5% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

95.1%Insured

4.9%Uninsured

Portage, MI Population, Income & Demographics 2026