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City · 38,082 residents · Porter County, Indiana

Portage , Indiana

In Portage, a typical home is worth $224,200 and typical rent is $1,231 a month. Compared with all of Porter County, the typical home value is 20% lower and typical household income is 13% lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $224,200

    20% below the county

    3% above Indiana

    • Portage
    • Porter
    • Indiana

  • Typical rent

    $1,231a month

    About the same as the county

    16% above Indiana

    • Portage
    • Porter
    • Indiana

  • Typical household income

    $76,276a year

    13% below the county

    6% above Indiana

    • Portage
    • Porter
    • Indiana

  • Households that own their home

    73%

    5 points below the county

    2 points above Indiana

    • Portage
    • Porter
    • Indiana

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$266,172
about the same as 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,449 a month
4.9% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Portage is in Porter County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Porter County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Portage apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Nearby, in Lake Station, the typical home value is $137,400: 39% less than in Portage ($224,200).

  2. Nearby, in Porter, the typical rent is $1,026: 17% less than in Portage ($1,231).

  3. The typical home in Portage is worth $224,200, 20% less than in Porter County as a whole ($281,500).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Portage

What homes there are in Portage, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

The detached house is still the most common home in Portage, but it weighs less than in Porter County: 70% against 75%.

In Portage there are many mobile homes: 8% of homes; in Porter County, 5%.

Year built

In Portage, half of the homes were built before 1981; in Porter County, before 1982.

In Portage, 69% of homes have 3 bedrooms or more, about the same as in Porter County.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

With an FHA limit of $541,287, at least 97% of owner-occupied homes in Portage sit below it: they are worth less than $500,000.

Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$1,539 a month

Porter County: $1,653 a month

Without a mortgage

$547 a month

Porter County: $611 a month

Owners with a mortgage

66%

Porter County: 67%

The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Portage is $1,539 a month, less than in Porter County ($1,653); without one, $547.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

Homes in Portage gained value more slowly than in Porter County: 47% since 2015–2019, against 52%.

Since 2015–2019, the typical rent in Portage rose 37%, more than in Porter County (31%).

Housing prices ran ahead of income in Portage: typical income rose 30%, against +47% for home values and +37% for rent.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasurePortagePorter CountyIndianaUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate4.8%5.6%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate0.9%0.8%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate1.4%1.8%3.4%
People per household 2.532.502.462.53
Drive alone 84%81%76%69%
Carpool 8%7%9%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimate1%1%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate1%2%3%
Work from home 6%10%11%15%
Other means 2%1%1%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Much as in Porter County, a household in Portage has 2.53 people on average.

In Portage, 84% of workers drive alone to work; in Porter County, 81%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Portage?

A typical home is tight for the typical income

We start with a typical home in Portage, worth $224,200, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 29% of the typical household income in Portage, which is $76,276 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $78,812 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Porter County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Portage. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $7,847 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$1,839

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$220,139
Total interest
$316,729
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $3,786 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,780 a month

  • Tight

    $1,780 to $2,288 a month

    Your payment · 29%

  • Hard

    more than $2,288 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Portage ($76,276 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,839
Principal & interest$1,491
Property tax$155
Home insurance$93
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$99

You need at least $7,847 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Portage and Porter County

Portage is in Porter County, Indiana. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Portage's own numbers

Typical home value
$224,200
Typical monthly rent
$1,231
Typical yearly household income
$76,276
Households that own their home
73%
Effective property tax rate
0.83%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Porter County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,429
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+48%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
0.4%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Porter County.

Everything about Porter County

Buying

Buying a home in Portage

A typical home in Portage is worth $224,200: 20% below the county and 3% above Indiana. With the typical household income in Portage ($76,276 a year), a typical home costs 2.9 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Portage 2.9 years
  • Porter 3.2 years
  • Indiana 3.0 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Porter County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Porter County rose 78% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Porter County.

Period County Indiana U.S.
Last year (2025) +3.6% +4.3% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +48% +53% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +78% +95% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Portage next to Porter County, Indiana and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Portage $224,200
  • Porter $281,500
  • Indiana $218,200
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Portage $1,231
  • Porter $1,219
  • Indiana $1,062
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Portage $76,276
  • Porter $87,972
  • Indiana $71,957
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Portage next to Porter County and Indiana
Measure Portage Porter County Indiana U.S.
Typical home value $224,200 $281,500 $218,200 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,231 $1,219 $1,062 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $76,276 $87,972 $71,957 $80,734
Households that own their home 73% 78% 71% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $1,850 $2,326 $1,614 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.83% 0.83% 0.74% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 57% 51% 48% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Porter County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Portage

For a typical $224,200 home in Portage, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Portage's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $1,839a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $7,847
    Cash to close
    $14,573
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $99

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,798a month

    Down payment
    $11,210
    Cash to close
    $17,936
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $106

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,464a month

    Down payment
    $44,840
    Cash to close
    $51,566
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,671a month

    Down payment
    $33,630
    Cash to close
    $40,356
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Portage and for Porter County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Portage

0.83%of the home’s value each year

$1,850 a year for the typical owner in Portage.

  • Portage 0.83%
  • Porter 0.83%
  • Indiana 0.74%

What Indiana publishes Homestead standard deduction: the amount drops each year (Indiana Department of Local Government Finance (DLGF), Form HC10)

Exemptions and deadlines in Indiana

Flood risk in Porter County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Porter County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
0.4%
269
Of those, with NFIP insurance
20%
County Indiana U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 0.4% 2.3% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 20% 17% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Portage

Typical rent in Portage is $1,231 a month: about the same as the county. In Portage, 57% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Porter County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,429 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $27.48 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Porter County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $1,117 $21.48 $44,680
1 bedroom $1,176 $22.62 $47,040
2 bedrooms $1,429 $27.48 $57,160
3 bedrooms $1,739 $33.44 $69,560
4 bedrooms $1,898 $36.50 $75,920

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Portage

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Portage is in ZIP code 46368.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,480: $51 more than the fair market rent for Porter County ($1,429).

  • 46368 $1,480$1,800

A ZIP code counts for Portage when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Portage

HUD lists 3 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Portage. These are the largest.

  • Port Crossing Apts II 3300 Portside Ct, Portage 46368 96 low-income homes · 1 bd: 16 · 2 bd: 48 · 3 bd: 32 · In service since 1995
  • Breckenridge Apts 3300 Denise Dr, Portage 46368 168 homes, 68 low-income · 1 bd: 63 · 2 bd: 104 · 3 bd: 1 · In service since 1996
  • Prominence Commons II 6440 Evergreen Ave, Portage 46368 9 low-income homes (219) 286-3301

See all 14 buildings in Porter County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Portage

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Porter County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

A young man and a young woman look something up together on a laptop.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Portage

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Portage or Porter County. The ones below are statewide in Indiana: they work in Portage the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Indiana

  • Next Home

    Statewide in Indiana

    Indiana state agency program with down payment assistance of 2.5% or 3.5% of the price, alongside a 30-year FHA or conventional mortgage. Offered by Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA).

    Type not stated

    See the program Official page

  • First Step

    Statewide in Indiana

    Indiana state agency 30-year FHA or conventional mortgage for first-time buyers (or homes in designated areas), with down payment assistance as a second mortgage with no interest or payments, repaid when the first mortgage ends. Offered by Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Portage

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Portage, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • City of Gary Department of Community Development

    401 Broadway, Gary · 8 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 7 more
    (219) 881-5075

  • HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES, INC dba CoACTION

    5240 Fountain Dr, Crown Point · 14 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 5 more
    (800) 826-7871

  • Northwest Indiana Reinvestment Alliance

    5233 Hohman Ave Ste 104, Hammond · 18 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 7 more
    (219) 750-1206

All counseling agencies in Indiana

Help in Spanish near Portage

1 of the 3 agencies on this list says it serves in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Portage

HUD lists no housing authority with an office in Porter County. One in a neighboring county or the state’s may serve the area.

All housing agencies in Indiana Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Porter County

These cities are also in Porter County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Porter County Housing in Indiana

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Portage, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Porter County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Portage.

All guides
A mother holds hands with her two daughters on the beach at sunset.

Questions

Housing questions about Portage

Short answers with the numbers for Portage and all of Porter County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Portage?

The typical home value in Portage is $224,200, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Porter County it is $281,500.

How much does it cost to rent in Portage?

Typical rent in Portage is $1,231 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Porter County is $1,429.

What is the FHA loan limit in Portage?

Portage uses the FHA limit for all of Porter County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Portage?

The typical homeowner in Portage pays $1,850 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.83% of the home’s value; in Porter County, the rate is 0.83%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Portage?

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Porter County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).