Rents are right about where Portage's 10-year trend predicts.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,449 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
Rent in Portage is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in March 2022.
Rent in Portage changed +5.1% over the year to September 2026. Across the 49 Indiana cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.5%.
Rent has risen 3 months in a row, and rose in 10 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($76,276) is $1,907 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($1,600).
East Chicago, 15 miles away, rents for 28% less ($1,040/mo), about $4,900 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Portage. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Portage, IN is majority owner-occupied, 18.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Portage, IN has changed in 5 years
Rent in Portage, IN has climbed 27.0% since 2022, going from about $1,141 per month to roughly $1,449 today. Census figures show median household income at $76,276 today, compared with $63,550 five years earlier. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 7.0 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 37,540 to 38,082 between 2021 and 2024, a 1.4% change. About 27.1% of households rent today, against 30.4% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 15.7% to 18.4%. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2022.
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Can you afford rent in Portage on your salary?
At $1,449/mo, how Portage rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Portage rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Portage. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Portage
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Portage is $1,449/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $870/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,210/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,000/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,490/mo.
At 23% of local median household income ($76,276/yr), Portage ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 5.1% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Portage?
Is rent going up or down in Portage?
How does Portage rent compare to other cities in Indiana?
At $1,449/mo, rent takes ~23% of Portage's median household income ($76,276/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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