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Portage, WI
City in Columbia County, Wisconsin.
Population
10,236
Land area
8.9sq mi
People per sq mi
1,147
ZIP codes
0
Portage and its ZIP codes
Portage at a glance
- Portage is about 11 times as dense as Wisconsin as a whole.
- It is the 95th most populous of 808 cities and towns in Wisconsin.
- Households here earn a median of $64,722 a year, 16% less than the Wisconsin figure of $77,485.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $204,900 (23% below Wisconsin) and median rent is $1,008 a month.
Local data for Portage, WI
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Portage, WI, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$64,722
Poverty rate
13.5%
Median home value
$204,900
Median rent
$1,008/mo
Homeownership
58.6%
Bachelor's or higher
19.9%
Median age
37.8
Average commute
22.1 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (3,273), Irish Americans (1,371), Polish Americans (638).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Columbia County. PPP loans are for Portage.
Unemployment rate
3.1%
Aug 2026, +0.3 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$55,108
21,764 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$75,993
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$479M
FY 2026, $8,195 per person
How people get to work
Portage, WI, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone79.6%
- Carpooled8.7%
- Public transit0.6%
- Walked2.9%
- Bicycle0.8%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.1%
- Worked from home6.4%
Average one-way commute: 22.1 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Portage, WI, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Moderate
Top: hail
Storm events since 1996
846
Countywide, mostly thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
138
0.6% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
82° / 10°F
38.3 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone5 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Portage, WI, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
35.5%
U.S. 33.3% +2.2 pts
Diabetes
11.2%
U.S. 12.1% -0.9 pts
Smoking
17.0%
U.S. 12.8% +4.2 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
9.8%
U.S. 11.1% -1.3 pts
Cities near Portage
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| DekorraCensus-designated place | 6.7 mi | 1.2 |
| PardeevilleVillage | 8.2 mi | 1.9 |
| WyocenaVillage | 8.7 mi | 1.4 |
| BriggsvilleCensus-designated place | 9.7 mi | 1.6 |
| PoynetteVillage | 11 mi | 2.6 |
| EndeavorVillage | 11 mi | 0.6 |
| Lake WisconsinCensus-designated place | 13 mi | 13.4 |
| RioVillage | 13 mi | 1.3 |
| MerrimacVillage | 15 mi | 0.8 |
| BarabooCity | 15 mi | 7.6 |
| DaltonCensus-designated place | 15 mi | 0.4 |
| PackwaukeeCensus-designated place | 15 mi | 0.5 |
| ArlingtonVillage | 16 mi | 1 |
| Lake DeltonVillage | 16 mi | 7.6 |
| West BarabooVillage | 16 mi | 1.3 |
| Wisconsin DellsCity | 16 mi | 7.8 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Portage, WI in?
- Portage is in Columbia County, Wisconsin.
- What is the population of Portage, WI?
- About 10,236 people live in Portage, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Portage?
- Nearby places include Dekorra (6.7 mi), Pardeeville (8.2 mi), Wyocena (8.7 mi), Briggsville (9.7 mi), Poynette (11 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023