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EconPulse

Local economy signal dashboard

Saved
PLACEStable

Portage, IN

Stable overall. Federal Funds is the clearest support signal, while jobs needs the most attention. Housing reads as affordable for a median-income household.

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Overall score54out of 100
Compare
53
15
76
73
91

Population

38,082

Data freshness

Unknown

GDP / Output

+2.0% YoY

53

$9.9B

Output changed +2.0% in 2024.

Vintage date unknown

State growth4.6%
U.S. growth5.3%

Jobs

Unemployment rate

15

7.4%

Unemployment is 7.4% for Latest available.

Vintage date unknown

State avg3.3%
U.S. avg5.2%

Population

+4.3% 5-year

76

38,082

Population moved +4.3% over the latest ACS window.

Vintage date unknown

State population6,851,073
U.S. population334,922,499

Housing

Rent share of income

73

19.4%

Median rent consumes 19.4% of median household income: Affordable.

Vintage date unknown

State rent$1.1K
U.S. rent$1.4K
HUD_API_TOKEN missing; ACS median gross rent is used as the housing affordability fallback.

Federal Funds

$7.0K per resident

91

$1.2B

$1.2B in federal obligations flowed here in FY2025.

Vintage date unknown

State total$207.1B
U.S. total$5.3T

Population and output

Trend Snapshot

Reported share

Industry Breakdown

FY2025

Federal Money

Federal obligations

$1.2B

$7.0K per resident in reported federal flow.

Top agencies

Dollars
1. Social Security Administration$1.0B
2. Department of Veterans Affairs$81.6M
3. Department of Transportation$29.8M

Top recipients

Dollars
1. INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION$27.1M
2. REDACTED DUE TO PII$8.3M
3. TABATCHNICK FINE FOODS INC$6.6M

Affordable

Housing Affordability

19.4%

of median income

1BR estimate$1,009
2BR estimate$1,329
Median income$76,276
Median home value$224,200

ACS context

Quick Facts

Population

38,082

Median age

39.8

Bachelor's degree+

18.4%

Poverty rate

11.6%

Labor force participation

64.5%

Prime rate

6.8%

CPI YoY

+3.2%

U.S. GDP YoY

+6.5%

Sources and warnings

Data Provenance

Census ACS 5-year

2024

BLS LAUS / CPS

Latest available

BEA regional CAGDP1

2024

USAspending

FY2025

FRED

2026-07-30

HUD Fair Market Rent

Latest available

Data notes
  • HUD_API_TOKEN missing; ACS median gross rent is used as the housing affordability fallback.

5-year compound growth

Historical Trends

Population CAGR

+0.8%

GDP CAGR

+6.7%

Federal flow

5 years

Population (5 years)
202036,524
202137,540
202237,737
202337,951
202438,082
GDP (5 years)
2020$7.1B
2021$8.4B
2022$9.3B
2023$9.7B
2024$9.9B

2-year linear forecast

Predictive Outlook

Population forecast

202438,082
202538,625 *
202638,978 *

R² = 81.3% · * projected

GDP forecast

2024$9.9B
2025$10.9B *
2026$11.6B *

R² = 90.4% · * projected

Linear regression over available historical data. Projections are estimates based on past trends and do not account for policy changes, economic shocks, or other external factors.

housing affordability breakdown

Cost of Living

Median household income$76,276/yr
Median rent$1,231/mo
Rent share of income19.4%
Est. mortgage (30yr, 6.5%)$13,604/yr
Mortgage share of income17.8%

Rent data from Census ACS 5-year. Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 6.5% APR, 30-year fixed.

employment snapshot

Job Market

Unemployment rate7.4%
State avg3.3%
U.S. avg5.2%
Labor force participation64.5%
Poverty rate11.6%

Data from BLS LAUS / CPS. Latest available.

valuation snapshot

Real Estate

Median home value$224,200
Median monthly rent$1,231
Price-to-rent ratio15.2x

Moderate price-to-rent ratio — buying and renting are roughly balanced in this market.

composite score

Investment Climate

Investment climateModerate
Composite score48/100
Economic growth53/100
Labor market15/100
Population momentum76/100
Overall stability54/100

Composite score weighs economic growth, labor market health, population momentum, and overall stability. Not financial advice.

Location Context

Portage city, Indiana

City/Town

Part of

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN

Nearby locations

Ogden Dunes, INBurns Harbor, INLake Station, INSouth Haven, INNew Chicago, IN