The Town FilesPortland, Michigan
City in Ionia County · population 3,796 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $166,200
- Household income
- $65,845
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 45 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 39.9
Portland is a city of 3,796 people in Ionia County, Michigan. The median home is worth $166,200, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 91% of Michigan towns, better for young professionals than 86% of Michigan towns, better for cycling than 80% of Michigan towns.
How Portland ranks
Percentile among Michigan towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Michigan towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Portland is worth $166,200, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $65,845, which is more affordable than 74% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $972 a month. 71.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Portland | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $166,200 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $972 | $955 |
| Median household income | $65,845 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 71.3% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1957 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Portland
| People | Portland | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.9 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.4% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 14.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.2% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.3% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 3.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.8% | — |
| Work from home | 9.5% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 27.6 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.3% | 88.8% |
Weather in Portland
July highs average 80.9°F and January lows 15.6°F. About 35.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 45.3 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 148 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Portland since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 21, 1967 about 6.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 26, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 11 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 6, 2004.
Severe weather in Ionia County since 1996
Ionia County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 8, 2024 | Flood | DR-4757: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 15, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4607: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| June 18, 2013 | Flood | DR-4121: Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Ionia County
Ionia County had 18,530 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,605 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Portland itself the ACS puts it at 2.7%.
Public schools in Portland
4 public schools with 1,997 students, about 18.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland High School | 9-12 | 688 | 20.2 |
| Oakwood Elementary School | PK-2 | 476 | 16.4 |
| Westwood Elementary School | 3-5 | 423 | 17.6 |
| Portland Middle School | 6-8 | 410 | 17.1 |
Towns near Portland
- Portland, MI2.5 mi · 3,881 people · home $258,400
- Danby, MI4.4 mi · 2,953 people · home $288,800
- Eagle, MI6.9 mi · 2,776 people · home $257,400
- Lyons, MI8.5 mi · 3,513 people · home $171,400
- Ionia, MI10.3 mi · 3,961 people · home $158,600
- Grand Ledge, MI11.2 mi · 7,784 people · home $194,000
- Oneida, MI11.5 mi · 3,986 people · home $261,000
- Ionia, MI11.6 mi · 13,378 people · home $164,800
Portland questions
Is Portland, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Portland scores better for retirees than 51% of Michigan towns and quieter than 26%. 21.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.9).
How much does a house cost in Portland?
The median owner-occupied home in Portland is valued at $166,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $65,845, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $972 a month.
What is the weather like in Portland?
July highs average 80.9°F and January lows 15.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.9 inches of precipitation a year and 45.3 inches of snow.
Does Portland get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Portland since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 21, 1967. The typical Michigan town has had 10.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)