1st Advantage MortgageThe median Portage County household earns $76,070, and 10% of residents live below the poverty line. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Wisconsin license first.
On this page
- Who lives in Portage County
- Employment and commuting in Portage County
- What Portage County households earn
- What it costs to live in Portage County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Portage County towns compared
- What a median Portage County budget can carry
- More Portage County figures
- Local borrowing considerations for Portage County
- Four steps for Portage County borrowers
- Checking a lender's license in Wisconsin
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Portage County
Roughly 70,832 residents live in Portage County, Wisconsin, 23rd by population among the state's 72 counties and county equivalents. It covers 801 square miles of land, or about 88 people per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Portage County is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 12 Census places inside Portage County, Stevens Point leads by population with about 25,785; 10 of the 12 are incorporated.
Employment and commuting in Portage County
Education and health care employs 22% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 15%. Compared with Wisconsin, the county leans toward finance, insurance and real estate (10% against 6%). The survey's unemployment rate for Portage County averages 3.2% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.2%). Long commutes are the exception here: 8% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 3.9% of the total (6.4% statewide).
| Industry | Share of Portage County workers | vs Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.0% | -1.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 15.1% | -2.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.8% | -0.3 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 10.5% | +4.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.8% | +2.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.4% | -2.0 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Portage County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
What Portage County households earn
The median household income in Portage County is $76,070; statewide it is $77,485, so Portage County runs 2% below Wisconsin as a whole. Only 22 Wisconsin counties post a higher median.
| Yearly household income | Portage County | Gap to Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 19.1% | -1.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.4% | +2.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 29.5% | +1.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.0% | -2.2 pts |
About 19% of households earn under $35,000, while 36% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 10.1%, the same as the state's 10.6%. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
What it costs to live in Portage County
Renters in Portage County pay a median of $940 a month, 14% below the Wisconsin figure of $1,087. 39% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 17% spend half or more. With a median value of $243,100, a typical Portage County house costs 3.2 times what the median household earns in a year. 70% of Portage County households own their home and 30% rent.
| Housing | Portage County | Wisconsin statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $940/mo | $1,087/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $243,100 | $266,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 70% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 39% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 19% | 22% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 7% | 11% | n/a |
Neighboring counties at a glance
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (26 to 42 miles). 1 of the six report a higher median household income than Portage County; Marathon County is highest at $77,884 and Adams County lowest at $59,442.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portage County | - | $76,070 | $940/mo | 70% |
| Waupaca County, WI | 26 mi | $72,830 | $852/mo | 75% |
| Wood County, WI | 27 mi | $67,989 | $856/mo | 73% |
| Waushara County, WI | 28 mi | $67,107 | $796/mo | 84% |
| Marathon County, WI | 32 mi | $77,884 | $999/mo | 73% |
| Adams County, WI | 37 mi | $59,442 | $828/mo | 86% |
| Shawano County, WI | 42 mi | $66,479 | $821/mo | 78% |
Portage County towns compared
The table lists the 12 largest of 12 Census places in Portage County, by population. Together all 12 hold about 46,093 people, so roughly 35% of residents live outside any named place. Polonia has the highest median household income on the list ($119,154) and Stevens Point the lowest ($58,031), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $840 in Bancroft to $1,274 in Polonia. No Portage County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 12.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stevens Point | city | 25,785 | $58,031 | $890 | 4 mi |
| Plover | village | 13,884 | $88,042 | $1,089 | 2 mi |
| Whiting | village | 1,493 | $73,063 | $1,011 | 3 mi |
| Amherst | village | 1,113 | $64,922 | $856 | 11 mi |
| Polonia | CDP | 776 | $119,154 | $1,274 | 8 mi |
| Bancroft | CDP | 673 | $77,059 | $840 | 12 mi |
| Park Ridge | village | 626 | $96,750 | $925 | 4 mi |
| Rosholt | village | 460 | $66,250 | $825 | 14 mi |
| Almond | village | 441 | $72,431 | $675 | 16 mi |
| Amherst Junction | village | 341 | $106,250 | $900 | 9 mi |
| Junction City | village | 311 | $62,778 | $932 | 16 mi |
| Nelsonville | village | 190 | $58,542 | $790 | 10 mi |
What a median Portage County budget can carry
Here is the Portage County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $76,070 a year is $6,339 of gross monthly income
- Median rent: $940, or 15 cents of every gross dollar
- Under a 36% cap, $2,282 total minus rent leaves $1,342
- Under a 43% cap, $2,726 total minus rent leaves $1,786
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
More Portage County figures
Degree holders: 34% of adults over 25. 4.8% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Portage County | Wisconsin | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.0 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 34.0% | 33.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.5% | 6.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.8% | 5.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.9% | 6.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 12.6% | 13.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 10.1% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.2% | 3.2% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 45.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 32.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.1% |
| 60+ min | 4.0% |
Local borrowing considerations for Portage County
What the Portage County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Portage County borrower sees (free reports).
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
Four steps for Portage County borrowers
Steps that save money for Portage County residents:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Wisconsin.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Checking a lender's license in Wisconsin
The Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions is the place to verify any lender's Wisconsin license. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. The Wisconsin guide covers state rules in more detail.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Wisconsin guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Portage County?
$76,070 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $77,485 for Wisconsin. It ranks 23rd of 72 in the state.
Is Portage County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $940 against $1,087 statewide, and 39% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Does this page cover Stevens Point?
Yes, along with the other 11 Census places in Portage County, such as Plover, Whiting, Amherst.
Does living in Portage County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Portage County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Where can someone in Portage County check a lender's license?
With the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.