City · 49,259 residents · Kalamazoo County, Michigan
Portage, Michigan
In Portage, a typical home is worth $262,300 and typical rent is $1,133 a month. Compared with all of Kalamazoo County, typical household income is 15% higher and the typical home value is 8% higher.
Typical home value from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $240,144 to $296,145.
Typical rent
$1,618a month
▲ 5.1% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent from Zillow, March 2024 to September 2026: from $1,397 to $1,618.
From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).
Portage is in Kalamazoo 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 Kalamazoo County. See the county
What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.
1
Nearby, in Three Rivers, the typical home value is $134,900: 49% less than in Portage ($262,300).
2
Nearby, in Three Rivers, the typical rent is $839: 26% less than in Portage ($1,133).
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
Detached houseAttached houseBuilding of 2 to 4Apartments (5 or more)Mobile homeBoat, RV and otherUnreliable estimate
Portage
Kalamazoo County
Michigan
United States
Kind of home: Portage and its comparisons
Measure
Portage
Kalamazoo County
Michigan
United States
Detached house
69%
65%
72%
61%
Attached house
6%
3%
5%
6%
Building of 2 to 4
3%
6%
5%
8%
Apartments (5 or more)
21%
23%
13%
19%
Mobile home
Unreliable estimate
3%
5%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0%
0%
The detached house rules in Portage: 69% of homes, more than in Kalamazoo County (65%).
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or later
Portage
Kalamazoo County
Michigan
United States
Year built: Portage and its comparisons
Measure
Portage
Kalamazoo County
Michigan
United States
Before 1960
19%
32%
36%
26%
1960–1979
35%
26%
26%
24%
1980–1999
25%
23%
22%
25%
2000–2009
13%
12%
10%
14%
2010 or later
9%
8%
6%
11%
By age, homes in Portage look like those in Kalamazoo County: the typical year built is 1978.
In Portage, 66% of homes have 3 bedrooms or more, more than in Kalamazoo County (61%).
What it costs here
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Value of owner-occupied homes
Under the limitOver the limit
Under $100K5%
$100K–$200K23%
$200K–$300K34%
$300K–$500K31%
$500K–$750K5%
FHA limit: $541,287
$750K–$1M1%
$1M or more1%
Value of owner-occupied homes: Portage and its comparisons
Measure
Portage
Under $100K
5%
$100K–$200K
23%
$200K–$300K
34%
$300K–$500K
31%
$500K–$750K
5%
$750K–$1M
1%
$1M or more
1%
By price, most homes in Portage sit under the FHA limit for Kalamazoo County ($541,287): about 94%.
Monthly rent with utilities
Unreliable estimate
Under $500Unreliable
$500–$99930%
$1,000–$1,49941%
$1,500–$1,99916%
$2,000–$2,4995%
$2,500–$2,999Unreliable
$3,000 or moreUnreliable
Monthly rent with utilities: Portage and its comparisons
Measure
Portage
Under $500
Unreliable estimate
$500–$999
30%
$1,000–$1,499
41%
$1,500–$1,999
16%
$2,000–$2,499
5%
$2,500–$2,999
Unreliable estimate
$3,000 or more
Unreliable estimate
With a mortgage
$1,703 a month
Kalamazoo County: $1,616 a month
Without a mortgage
$722 a month
Kalamazoo County: $664 a month
Owners with a mortgage
63%
Kalamazoo County: 61%
The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Portage is $1,703 a month, more than in Kalamazoo County ($1,616); without one, $722.
How it changed
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024
Change since 2015–2019
Typical home value
Portage+60%
Kalamazoo County+52%
Michigan+50%
United States+53%
Typical rent
Portage+35%
Kalamazoo County+35%
Michigan+30%
United States+33%
Typical household income
Portage+32%
Kalamazoo County+28%
Michigan+28%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: Portage and its comparisons
Measure
Portage
Kalamazoo County
Michigan
United States
Typical home value
+60%
+52%
+50%
+53%
Typical rent
+35%
+35%
+30%
+33%
Typical household income
+32%
+28%
+28%
+29%
The typical home value in Portage rose 60% since 2015–2019, more than in Kalamazoo County (52%).
Rents in Portage rose at about the same pace as in Kalamazoo County: 35% since 2015–2019, against 35%.
While home values in Portage changed +60% and rent +35%, the typical household income rose 32%.
How people live
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
How people live: Portage and its comparisons
Measure
Portage
Kalamazoo County
Michigan
United States
Rental vacancy
Unreliable estimate
5.3%
5.1%
5.5%
Homeowner vacancy
Unreliable estimate
0.5%
0.8%
0.9%
More than one person per room
Unreliable estimate
1.0%
1.6%
3.4%
People per household
2.35
2.38
2.42
2.53
Drive alone
78%
77%
74%
69%
Carpool
5%
6%
8%
9%
Public transit
Unreliable estimate
1%
1%
3%
Walk or bike
Unreliable estimate
3%
2%
3%
Work from home
14%
13%
14%
15%
Other means
Unreliable estimate
1%
1%
2%
Typical commute
10 to 19 minutes
10 to 19 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
A household in Portage has 2.35 people on average, about the same as in Kalamazoo County (2.38).
The car rules in Portage: 78% of workers drive to work alone, and the typical trip takes 10 to 19 minutes.
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 $262,300, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 33% of the typical household income in Portage, which is $83,212 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $99,044 a year.
The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Kalamazoo County.
Change the price, the down payment or the loan: the payment updates right away.
Your numbers
Local data
$
Starts at the typical home value in Portage. Change it to the price you have in mind.
Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.
Down payment
%
That is $9,181 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.
This week's average ± a quarter or half point.
National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.
Adjust advanced details⌄
Estimated monthly payment
Local data
$2,311
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$257,549
Total interest
$370,552
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $4,430 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $1,942 a month
Tight
$1,942 to $2,496 a month
Your payment · 33%
Hard
more than $2,496 a month
Compared with the typical household income in Portage ($83,212 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$1,745
Property tax
$341
Home insurance
$109
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$116
You need at least $9,181 for the down payment, plus closing costs.
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.
Total monthly payment $2,311; principal and interest $1,745.
The city and its county
Portage and Kalamazoo County
Portage is in Kalamazoo County, Michigan. 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
Map of Kalamazoo County, Michigan, with Portage marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
Portage
Kalamazoo County
Other cities with a page
Portage's own numbers
Typical home value
$262,300
Typical monthly rent
$1,133
Typical yearly household income
$83,212
Households that own their home
69%
Effective property tax rate
1.56%
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).
Numbers for all of Kalamazoo County
FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,158
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+51%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
0.7%
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 Kalamazoo County.
A typical home in Portage is worth $262,300: 8% above the county and 13% above Michigan. With the typical household income in Portage ($83,212 a year), a typical home costs 3.2 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.
Portage3.2 years
Kalamazoo3.3 years
Michigan3.2 years
United States4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024
How prices have changed in Kalamazoo County
According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Kalamazoo County rose 93% in the 10 years through 2025.
FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Kalamazoo County.
Yearly change in FHFA’s price index in Kalamazoo County, 2016 to 2025
2016: +4.1% +4.1% 2016
2017: +5.3% +5.3% 2017
2018: +7.2% +7.2% 2018
2019: +4.9% +4.9% 2019
2020: +3.7% +3.7% 2020
2021: +12.1% +12.1% 2021
2022: +15.9% +15.9% 2022
2023: +6.0% +6.0% 2023
2024: +5.6% +5.6% 2024
2025: +3.8% +3.8% 2025
Change in FHFA’s price index in Kalamazoo County, Michigan and the United States
Period
County
Michigan
U.S.
Last year (2025)
+3.8%
+4.7%
+2.9%
5 years (2020–2025)
+51%
+52%
+47%
10 years (2015–2025)
+93%
+97%
+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 Kalamazoo County, Michigan and the U.S.
Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.
Typical home value
Portage$262,300
Kalamazoo$241,800
Michigan$231,600
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
Portage$1,133
Kalamazoo$1,093
Michigan$1,129
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
Portage$83,212
Kalamazoo$72,532
Michigan$72,875
United States$80,734
See the full table
Portage next to Kalamazoo County and Michigan
Measure
Portage
Kalamazoo County
Michigan
U.S.
Typical home value
$262,300 ▲8% above the county
$241,800
$231,600
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$1,133 ▲4% above the county
$1,093
$1,129
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$83,212 ▲15% above the county
$72,532
$72,875
$80,734
Households that own their home
69% ▲5 points above the county
65%
73%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$4,082 ▲17% above the county
$3,498
$2,904
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
1.56% ▲0.11 points above the county
1.45%
1.25%
0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income
43% ▼9 points below the county
52%
50%
51%
“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Kalamazoo 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 $262,300 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$2,311a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$9,181
Cash to close
$17,050
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $116
Conventional, 5% down$2,263a month
Down payment
$13,115
Cash to close
$20,984
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $125
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$1,872a month
Down payment
$52,460
Cash to close
$60,329
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$2,114a month
Down payment
$39,345
Cash to close
$47,214
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Portage
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Least cash to close
$2,311
$9,181
$257,549
7.18%
FHA MIP · $116
$17,050
580
Conventional, 5% down
$2,263
$13,115
$249,185
7.18%
PMI · $125
$20,984
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$1,872
$52,460
$209,840
7.18%
None
$60,329
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$2,114
$39,345
$222,955
8.18%
None
$47,214
Set by the lender
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.
Typical rent in Portage is $1,133 a month: 4% above the county. In Portage, 43% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Kalamazoo County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,158 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $22.27 an hour working full time.
What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.
HUD fair market rent in Kalamazoo County (Fiscal year 2027)
Size
Fair rent a month
Hourly wage
Yearly income
Studio
$885
$17.02
$35,400
1 bedroom
$1,013
$19.48
$40,520
2 bedrooms
$1,158
$22.27
$46,320
3 bedrooms
$1,545
$29.71
$61,800
4 bedrooms
$1,637
$31.48
$65,480
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 has 2 ZIP codes with their own.
For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,050 in 49002 to $1,300 in 49024.
1 of the 2 is above the fair market rent for Kalamazoo County ($1,158).
Fair market rent by ZIP code and size in Portage, fiscal year 2027.
49002
$770
$900
$1,050
$1,380
$1,440
49024
$990
$1,140
$1,300
$1,730
$1,840
ZIP code2 bd3 bd
49002 $1,050$1,380
49024 $1,300$1,730
1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. 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 2027Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship fileData from 2020 dataCensus Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (external site)
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.
There is 1 HUD-approved agency with an office in Kalamazoo County; none says it serves in Spanish.
No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Portage or Kalamazoo County. The ones below are statewide in Michigan: they work in Portage the same as in the rest of the state.
Michigan state agency loan of up to $10,000, with no interest and no monthly payments, for the down payment, closing costs and prepaid expenses; it goes with MSHDA's MI Home Loan mortgage and is repaid in certain cases, such as when you pay off the first mortgage, sell or refinance the home, or no longer live in it.Offered by Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA).
Michigan state authority certificate that lets you take 20% of the interest you pay each year on your mortgage off your federal taxes, for the life of the loan; you apply with an approved lender before you buy.Offered by Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA).
No legal help resource on our list is for Portage or Kalamazoo County in particular.
If you have a problem with your landlord, an eviction notice or a scam, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) search shows the free legal aid offices that serve your area.
Short answers with the numbers for Portage and all of Kalamazoo 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 $262,300, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Kalamazoo County it is $241,800.
How much does it cost to rent in Portage?
Typical rent in Portage is $1,133 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Kalamazoo County is $1,158.
What is the FHA loan limit in Portage?
Portage uses the FHA limit for all of Kalamazoo 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 $4,082 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.56% of the home’s value; in Kalamazoo County, the rate is 1.45%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Portage?
There is 1 HUD-approved counseling agency with an office in Kalamazoo County. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.
