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, IN Population, Income & Demographics 2026

CSAChicago-Naperville MSAChicago-Naperville-Elgin#39/341 Population

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

38,082

Median Agei

39.8

Race & Ethnicityi

White

64.8%24,693

Hispanic/Latino

21.3%8,124

Black

9.3%3,546

Two or More

2.7%1,044

Asian

1.2%474

Other

0.5%198

American Indian/Alaska Native

0%3

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

5.5%1,463

High School Diploma

31.9%8,540

Some College (<1 yr)

11.1%2,969

Some College (1+ yr)

15.5%4,145

Associate's Degree

8.2%2,202

Bachelor's Degree

12.3%3,309

Master's Degree

4.6%1,235

Professional Degree

0.4%109

Doctorate

1.1%286

HS or Higher

90.5%

BA or Higher

18.4%

Graduate+

6.1%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$224,200

Median Renti

$1,231

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

72.9%10,887

Renter-Occupied

27.1%4,051

Total Units

15,790

Homeownership

72.9%

Vacancy Rate

5.4%

Home Values

Under $50K

10.2%1,107

$50K–$100K

2.2%235

$100K–$150K

9.6%1,048

$150K–$200K

17.1%1,859

$200K–$300K

37.1%4,037

$300K–$500K

21.2%2,304

$500K–$1M

1.8%192

$1M+

1%105

Rent Distribution

Under $500

$500–$750

138

$750–$1,000

622

$1,000–$1,250

1,086

$1,250–$1,500

843

$1,500–$2,000

751

$2,000+

149

Year Built

2020 or later

0.8%124

2010–2019

8.2%1,293

2000–2009

13.7%2,160

1990–1999

15.9%2,504

1980–1989

12.7%2,011

1970–1979

16.8%2,653

1960–1969

14.7%2,324

1950–1959

11.1%1,753

1940–1949

1.7%265

1939 or earlier

4.5%703

Heating Fuel

Utility Gas

87%13,002

Electricity

10.9%1,632

Bottled/LP Gas

0.8%125

Solar

0.6%88

No Fuel

0.6%84

Wood

0%7

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$76,276

Mean Household Incomei

$91,051

Per Capita Incomei

$36,293

Poverty Ratei

11.5%

Unemploymenti

7.4%

Labor Forcei

20,005

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

3.1%467

$10K–$15K

3.2%480

$15K–$20K

2.7%401

$20K–$25K

4.6%694

$25K–$30K

2.5%373

$30K–$35K

6.1%907

$35K–$40K

5.4%808

$40K–$45K

3.7%560

$45K–$50K

3.9%585

$50K–$60K

5.8%865

$60K–$75K

7.6%1,135

$75K–$100K

16%2,390

$100K–$125K

12.8%1,910

$125K–$150K

7%1,049

$150K–$200K

7.6%1,129

$200K+

7.9%1,185

Ancestry & Heritage

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

Foreign-Born Populationi

Foreign-Borni

1,5504.1%

By Region

Top Countries

Mexico

822

Philippines

Germany

Poland

Canada

China

United Kingdom

India

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

18,118

Avg. Commutei

27.3 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

18,468

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

1,769(5.9% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

94.2%Insured

5.8%Uninsured