The Town FilesPortage, New York
Town in Livingston County · population 763 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $145,600
- Household income
- $70,556
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 70 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 36.9
Portage is a town of 763 people in Livingston County, New York. The median home is worth $145,600, below the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 77% of New York towns, easier by car than 71% of New York towns.
How Portage ranks
Percentile among New York towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New York towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Portage is worth $145,600, below the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $70,556, which is more affordable than 80% of New York towns. Median rent is $1,040 a month. 84.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Portage | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $145,600 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $1,040 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $70,556 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 84.1% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1960 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.9% | — |
Who lives in Portage
| People | Portage | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.9 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.8% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 29.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.1% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.2% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 12.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.6% | — |
| Work from home | 4.3% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 37.8 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.1% | 91.1% |
Weather in Portage
July highs average 80.7°F and January lows 15.4°F. About 33.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 70.1 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 140 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Portage since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on July 28, 2022 about 9.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 28, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 6 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on September 21, 2024.
Severe weather in Livingston County since 1996
Livingston County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 20, 2020 | Biological | DR-4480: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3434: Covid-19 |
| July 8, 2014 | Severe Storm | DR-4180: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| October 28, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3351: Hurricane Sandy |
| June 10, 2011 | Flood | DR-1993: Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, And Straight-Line Winds |
Jobs and pay in Livingston County
Livingston County had 19,670 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,835 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Portage itself the ACS puts it at 2.3%.
Towns near Portage
- Nunda, NY3.2 mi · 1,169 people · home $134,800
- Granger, NY5.6 mi · 519 people · home $125,000
- Castile, NY5.8 mi · 970 people · home $141,400
- Nunda, NY5.8 mi · 2,688 people · home $123,900
- Pike, NY7.2 mi · 975 people · home $129,100
- Castile, NY7.4 mi · 2,711 people · home $151,600
- Silver Springs, NY8.3 mi · 689 people · home $90,400
- Hume, NY8.4 mi · 2,073 people · home $110,600
Portage questions
Is Portage, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Portage scores better for retirees than 37% of New York towns and quieter than 63%. 12.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.9).
How much does a house cost in Portage?
The median owner-occupied home in Portage is valued at $145,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $70,556, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $1,040 a month.
What is the weather like in Portage?
July highs average 80.7°F and January lows 15.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.0 inches of precipitation a year and 70.1 inches of snow.
Does Portage get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Portage since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on July 28, 2022. The typical New York town has had 5.
- 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)