The Town FilesPortage, Wisconsin
City in Columbia County · population 10,581 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $204,900
- Household income
- $64,722
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 39 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 37.8
Portage is a city of 10,581 people in Columbia County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $204,900, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks more vibrant than 94% of Wisconsin towns, more walkable than 91% of Wisconsin towns, hipper than 90% of Wisconsin towns.
How Portage ranks
Percentile among Wisconsin towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Wisconsin towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Portage is worth $204,900, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $64,722, which is more affordable than 48% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $1,008 a month. 58.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Portage | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $204,900 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $1,008 | $951 |
| Median household income | $64,722 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 58.6% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1962 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Portage
| People | Portage | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.8 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.8% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.9% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.5% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 7.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.2% | — |
| Work from home | 6.4% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 22.1 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.6% | 89.1% |
Weather in Portage
July highs average 81.6°F and January lows 9.9°F. About 38.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 39.3 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 148 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Portage since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on August 15, 1966 about 5.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 14, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 36 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 15, 2025.
Severe weather in Columbia County since 1996
Columbia County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4520: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3454: Covid-19 |
| June 14, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1768: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| August 26, 2007 | Severe Storm | DR-1719: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Columbia County
Columbia County had 21,963 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,667 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Portage itself the ACS puts it at 3.7%.
Public schools in Portage
8 public schools with 1,974 students, about 13.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portage High | 6-12 | 647 | 13.5 |
| Muir Elementary | 2-5 | 465 | 10.6 |
| Wayne Bartels Middle | 6-8 | 409 | 13.6 |
| Woodridge Elementary | K-1 | 201 | 13.4 |
| Portage Partnering Preschool | PK-PK | 145 | 29.0 |
| Lewiston Elementary | K-5 | 83 | 16.6 |
| Portage Academy of Achievement | 9-12 | 20 | 20.0 |
| Columbia Correctional Institution | 11-12 | 4 | — |
Towns near Portage
- Pacific, WI4.0 mi · 2,791 people · home $285,600
- Dekorra, WI9.0 mi · 2,500 people · home $370,600
- Poynette, WI11.3 mi · 2,590 people · home $296,600
- Lake Wisconsin, WI14.3 mi · 4,616 people · home $452,400
- Baraboo, WI14.8 mi · 12,556 people · home $222,100
- Lodi, WI14.9 mi · 3,282 people · home $441,500
- Lake Delton, WI16.2 mi · 3,501 people · home $178,300
- Lodi, WI16.6 mi · 3,189 people · home $328,200
Portage questions
Is Portage, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Portage scores better for retirees than 1% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 5%. 14.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.8).
How much does a house cost in Portage?
The median owner-occupied home in Portage is valued at $204,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $64,722, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $1,008 a month.
What is the weather like in Portage?
July highs average 81.6°F and January lows 9.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.3 inches of precipitation a year and 39.3 inches of snow.
Does Portage get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Portage since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on August 15, 1966. The typical Wisconsin town has had 15.
- 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)