Portage County, WI Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze local population trends, population density map, housing costs, and the local economy.
Area Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population: density and quick facts
| Metric | Portage County | Wisconsin Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 70,777 | 5,859,674 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 86.0 | 89.4 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | -0.04% | 0.33% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 36.0 | 40.1 | 37.1 |
| Households | 29,636 | 2,445,541 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Portage County grew by 2.8% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 70,375 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Portage County has a the economy index of B, which means it is quite prosperous.
| Metric | Portage County | Wisconsin Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $73,495 | $75,766 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 4.78% | 4.67% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 3.2% | 3.3% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Portage County is about 3% lower than in Wisconsin.
Housing
| Metric | Portage County | Wisconsin Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $53,235 | $176,921 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $903 | $1,045 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 69.3% | 67.9% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Portage County is about 4.9 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $903 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Portage County spend about 32 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 133 hours, about 5.6 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Portage County | Wisconsin Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 16.0 | 18.8 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 32.0 | 37.6 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 133 | 156 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $4,137 | $4,851 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 11.5% | 11.6% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 4,414 | 6,703 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 747 | 811 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
Wisconsin:
Ashland County (12.5 min), Door County (13.8 min), Eau Claire County (15.3 min).
Slowest:
Oconto County (26.4 min), Pierce County (25.0 min), Columbia County (23.8 min).
The average commute time in Portage County is 16 minutes, shorter than the 19 minutes in Wisconsin.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Portage County has a education index of C, which means it is somewhat educated.
| Metric | Portage County | Wisconsin Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.2% | 29.7% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.28 | 2.35 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
Wisconsin:
Dane County (0.4), Ozaukee County (0.4), Waukesha County (0.4).
Lowest:
Clark County (0.2), Adams County (0.2), Juneau County (0.2).
Health
Portage County has a health index of A, which means it is very healthy.
| Metric | Portage County | Wisconsin Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 81.6 | 79.6 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 11.2% | 13.2% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 16.4% | 18.5% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
Wisconsin:
Dane County (0.8), Waukesha County (0.8), Ozaukee County (0.8).
Lowest:
Menominee County (0.8), Clark County (0.8), Forest County (0.8).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Portage County, Wisconsin.
What is the population of Portage County, Wisconsin?
The population of Portage County, Wisconsin is 70,777, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Portage County, Wisconsin?
The population density of Portage County, Wisconsin is 86.0 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Portage County, Wisconsin?
The median household income in Portage County, Wisconsin is $73,495, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Portage County, Wisconsin?
The median home price in Portage County, Wisconsin is $53,235, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Portage County, Wisconsin?
The unemployment rate in Portage County, Wisconsin is 3.2%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.