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City · 10,236 residents · Columbia County, Wisconsin

Portage , Wisconsin

In Portage, a typical home is worth $204,900 and typical rent is $1,008 a month. Compared with all of Columbia County, the typical home value is 28% lower, typical household income is 24% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 18 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $204,900

    28% below the county

    23% below Wisconsin

    • Portage
    • Columbia
    • Wisconsin

  • Typical rent

    $1,008a month

    3% above the county

    7% below Wisconsin

    • Portage
    • Columbia
    • Wisconsin

  • Typical household income

    $64,722a year

    24% below the county

    16% below Wisconsin

    • Portage
    • Columbia
    • Wisconsin

  • Households that own their home

    59%

    18 points below the county

    9 points below Wisconsin

    • Portage
    • Columbia
    • Wisconsin

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

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$293,556
2.8% more than 12 months ago

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

Portage is in Columbia 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 Columbia 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. 59% of households in Portage own their home, against 77% in Columbia County.

  2. The typical home in Portage is worth $204,900, 28% less than in Columbia County as a whole ($283,200).

  3. The typical household income in Portage is $64,722, 24% less than in Columbia County as a whole ($85,351).

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

In Portage, 6 in 10 homes are single-family detached houses; in Columbia County, 8.

Year built

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

At least 99% of owner-occupied homes in Portage are worth less than $500,000, below the FHA loan limit for Columbia County ($541,287).

Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$1,497 a month

Columbia County: $1,747 a month

Without a mortgage

$540 a month

Columbia County: $673 a month

Owners with a mortgage

62%

Columbia County: 63%

In Portage, 62% of owners have a mortgage, and their typical cost is $1,497 a month, against $1,747 in Columbia County. Without one it drops to $540.

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

Since 2015–2019, homes in Portage gained value faster than in Columbia County: 64% against 47%.

The typical rent in Portage rose 31% over the same time; in Columbia County, it rose 22%.

The typical household income in Portage rose 42% over that time; home values changed +64% and rent +31%.

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

MeasurePortageColumbia CountyWisconsinUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate4.6%4.5%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate0.5%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate1.9%1.7%3.4%
People per household 2.212.352.332.53
Drive alone 80%77%74%69%
Carpool 9%7%7%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate3%3%3%
Work from home 6%13%13%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%1%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Fewer people live in each home here: 2.21 on average, against 2.35 in Columbia County.

In Portage, 80% of workers drive alone to work; in Columbia County, 77%.

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 $204,900, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 34% of the typical household income in Portage, which is $64,722 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $77,882 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Columbia 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 $7,172 (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

$1,817

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$201,188
Total interest
$289,463
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $3,460 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,510 a month

  • Tight

    $1,510 to $1,942 a month

    Your payment · 34%

  • Hard

    more than $1,942 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Portage ($64,722 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,817
Principal & interest$1,363
Property tax$278
Home insurance$85
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$91

You need at least $7,172 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 Columbia County

Portage is in Columbia County, Wisconsin. 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
$204,900
Typical monthly rent
$1,008
Typical yearly household income
$64,722
Households that own their home
59%
Effective property tax rate
1.63%

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

Numbers for all of Columbia County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,136
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+54%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
2.1%

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 Columbia County.

Everything about Columbia County

Buying

Buying a home in Portage

A typical home in Portage is worth $204,900: 28% below the county and 23% below Wisconsin. With the typical household income in Portage ($64,722 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.

  • Portage 3.2 years
  • Columbia 3.3 years
  • Wisconsin 3.4 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Columbia County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Columbia County rose 93% in the 10 years through 2025.

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

Period County Wisconsin U.S.
Last year (2025) +5.7% +5.4% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +54% +57% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +93% +96% +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 Columbia County, Wisconsin and the U.S.

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

Typical home value
  • Portage $204,900
  • Columbia $283,200
  • Wisconsin $266,500
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Portage $1,008
  • Columbia $978
  • Wisconsin $1,087
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Portage $64,722
  • Columbia $85,351
  • Wisconsin $77,485
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Portage next to Columbia County and Wisconsin
Measure Portage Columbia County Wisconsin U.S.
Typical home value $204,900 $283,200 $266,500 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,008 $978 $1,087 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $64,722 $85,351 $77,485 $80,734
Households that own their home 59% 77% 68% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $3,331 $3,855 $3,792 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 1.63% 1.36% 1.42% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 35% 35% 44% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Columbia 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 $204,900 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 $1,817a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $7,172
    Cash to close
    $13,319
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $91

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,780a month

    Down payment
    $10,245
    Cash to close
    $16,392
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $97

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,474a month

    Down payment
    $40,980
    Cash to close
    $47,127
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,664a month

    Down payment
    $30,735
    Cash to close
    $36,882
    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 Columbia County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Portage

1.63%of the home’s value each year

$3,331 a year for the typical owner in Portage.

  • Portage 1.63%
  • Columbia 1.36%
  • Wisconsin 1.42%

What Wisconsin publishes Lottery and Gaming Credit for your primary residence (Wisconsin Department of Revenue)

Exemptions and deadlines in Wisconsin

Flood risk in Columbia County

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

Homes in the high-risk zone
2.1%
456
Of those, with NFIP insurance
23%
County Wisconsin U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 2.1% 1.4% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 23% 19% 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 $1,008 a month: 3% above the county. In Portage, 35% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Columbia County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,136 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $21.85 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Columbia 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 $791 $15.21 $31,640
1 bedroom $868 $16.69 $34,720
2 bedrooms $1,136 $21.85 $45,440
3 bedrooms $1,573 $30.25 $62,920
4 bedrooms $1,623 $31.21 $64,920

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 53901.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,170: $34 more than the fair market rent for Columbia County ($1,136).

  • 53901 $1,170$1,620

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 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 8 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Portage. These are the largest.

  • Riverwood Apartments 215 W Mullett St, Portage 53901 60 low-income homes · For older adults (608) 742-4454
  • Village House Apartments 2830 Village Rd, Portage 53901 48 low-income homes · For older adults (608) 836-1152
  • Portage Commons Apt Homes 575 E Slifer St, Portage 53901 46 low-income homes · 1 bd: 10 · 2 bd: 20 · 3 bd: 8 · In service since 2002
  • The Phoenix 104 W Cook St, Portage 53901 44 low-income homes · 1 bd: 35 · 2 bd: 9 · In service since 1996
  • Howard Woods Apts 450 Jackson St, Portage 53901 40 homes, 37 low-income · For families (608) 848-4500

See all 22 buildings in Columbia 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 Columbia County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

A man listens closely, seated at a meeting table.

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 Columbia County. The ones below are statewide in Wisconsin: they work in Portage the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Wisconsin

  • WHEDA Easy Close Advantage DPA

    Statewide in Wisconsin

    Wisconsin state agency second mortgage for the down payment: up to 6% of the price, over 10 years with a monthly payment and the same rate as the WHEDA first mortgage. Offered by Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA).

    Repayable

    See the program Official page

  • WHEDA Capital Access DPA

    Statewide in Wisconsin

    Limited funds remain, per the source

    $7,500 loan from the Wisconsin state agency for the down payment and closing costs, over 30 years, at 0% and with no monthly payments, alongside a WHEDA mortgage; limited funds, first come, first served. Offered by Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA).

    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.

  • Movin' Out, Inc.

    902 Royster Oaks Dr, Madison · 33 miles away · Spanish

    Also serves in Hmong.

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Budget and credit workshops
    • and 5 more
    (608) 518-4446

  • Urban League of Greater Madison

    2222 S Park St Ste 200, Madison · 35 miles away · Spanish

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Budget and credit workshops
    • and 4 more
    (608) 729-1200

  • Foundation for Rural Housing Inc

    156 N Main St, Oregon · 43 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 1 more
    (608) 238-3448

All counseling agencies in Wisconsin

Help in Spanish near Portage

2 of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve 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 Columbia County. One in a neighboring county or the state’s may serve the area.

All housing agencies in Wisconsin Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Columbia County

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

Everything about Columbia County Housing in Wisconsin

Nearby cities

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

Neighboring counties

If Columbia 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
Three women of one family talk as they cook vegetables in the kitchen.

Questions

Housing questions about Portage

Short answers with the numbers for Portage and all of Columbia 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 $204,900, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Columbia County it is $283,200.

How much does it cost to rent in Portage?

Typical rent in Portage is $1,008 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Columbia County is $1,136.

What is the FHA loan limit in Portage?

Portage uses the FHA limit for all of Columbia 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 $3,331 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.63% of the home’s value; in Columbia County, the rate is 1.36%.

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

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Columbia 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).