A growing suburban city along the shores of Lake Michigan
Indigenous peoples first settled Portage the area and utilized its surrounding rivers to transport goods. When the French arrived, they renamed the area Portage, which translates as “to carry” in French. The arrival of the railway in 1852 continued its transportation history, as farms and steel mills sent agricultural goods and building materials to Chicago. Today, the city flows in the opposite direction, with people coming in from the Windy City to escape its hustle and bustle, totaling Portage’s current population to 38,000. Situated along Lake Michigan, residents value proximity to its sandy shorelines and other recreational opportunities throughout the city. “The steel mill history is not all there is to Portage,” says Sam Geraci, a Realtor with INcoast Homes. “It’s also a city built around parks.”
Portage is situated on the sandy shores of Lake Michigan.
Train Museums in Portage pay homage to the locomotive past at the Duneland Garden Club.
Portage is a great place to raise a family with many amenities in the area.
Portage Indiana is an ideal area to escape the hustle and bustle of neighboring Chicago.
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Indiana Dunes National Park's trails and beach access
Greenspaces throughout the city offer abundant ways to spend time outdoors. Woodland Park caters to an all-around experience, from its large playground and dog park to a sledding hill that becomes a hot spot on snowy days. Imagination Glen Park is the city’s largest, combining busy youth athletics facilities with natural immersion along its hiking and mountain biking trails. Similarly, Indiana Dunes National Park offers miles of trails and parking for access to Lake Michigan. “The lake is an important aspect of the city, and a lot of people frequent the beaches there,” says Kelly White, a local Realtor with McColly Real Estate. Throughout summer, the parking lots of West Beach and Portage Lakefront & Riverwalk fill with locals toting umbrellas and towels to lay out on the lake’s sandy shorelines, which offer distant views of the Chicago skyline.
Residents of Portage enjoy the distant view of the Chicago Skyline from their private beach.
Sledding at Devil's slide is great for speed at Indiana Dunes National Park.
Indiana Dunes State Park is just north of West Chesterton, and gives Portage residents access to acres of sandy beaches.
Portage residents enjoy plenty of green in the city's robust park district.
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Mid-century suburbs and waterfront subdivisions
The median home price in Portage is $295,000. Much of its residential landscape features mid-to-late 20th-century suburbs with homes showcasing architectural styles of the era. Prospective buyers will also find New Traditional-style homes in newly built subdivisions like Dunewood Trails and Brookside, typically selling around and above $400,000. “Many of the newer homes are different styles from the norm back in the day and are more energy efficient, with updated technology,” White says. Waterfront communities like Ogden Dunes typically present higher home prices, with some reaching just under $1 million. “It’s a highly sought-after community, and there’s no more room to expand there,” White says. “However, in Marina Shores, they are building condos and homes along the marina and water. The city is growing, but slow enough to where it’s not getting out of control.”
New Traditional-style homes in newly built subdivisions sell around $400,000.
A row of newer built homes that tend to be a bit larger than the classic home of North Portage.
Waterfront homes in Ogden Dunes can see home prices near 1 million.
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From Bacon Fest Portage to the city's summer farmers market
Annual city-wide events also keep residents busy throughout the year. “They always have the big Christmas parade in winter and the farmers market every weekend during summer,” White says. She also notes Bacon Fest Portage at Founders Square Park as an anticipated event. Northwest Indiana restaurants create unique menu items centered around bacon for the late-September event. Attendees also look forward to live music and dance performances.
Portage's south side restaurants and north side developments
No-frill comfort food is easy to come by in Portage, with many local and chain spots situated along Willow Creek Road. The corridor intersects with the big-box retailers and grocers of Grand Army of the Republic Highway on the city’s southern side. “That’s where most people in the city do their shopping,” White says. “There are also a handful of restaurants and stores next just south of AmeriPlex at The Port on the city’s northside.” This light industrial and business park houses several of the area’s major employers, including the U.S. Steel Midwest Plant. The city continues to promote the industrial park to companies like World's Finest Chocolate and Amazon, which plans to open a $87 million data center soon.
Schoop's brings the old school Burger and shakes to Portage.
Schoops is the local burger favorite for casual dining in Portage.
U.S Steel is a major employer and part of Portage's history.
There are a handful of restaurants at the AmeriPlex at The Port on Portages North side.
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Portage High School’s dual enrollment offerings
Portage Township School serves approximately 7,000 students across the city. Niche gives the district a B-minus and ranks it the 11th most diverse school district in the state. Eight elementary schools, two middle schools and Portage High School comprise the district. The high school offers many programs, including over 180 course offerings and dual enrollment partnerships with Indiana University and Purdue Northwest, the area’s main higher education institutions. Those seeking private options can enroll their students at Portage Christian School or Nativity of Our Savior School.
Portage High School is highly rated by Niche and offers great after school programs.
Higher education is not far from Portage with Purdue University Northwest campus nearby.
Indiana University Northwest brings higher education to the area on its sprawling campus.
Nativity of Our Savior School in Portage provides a faith based approach to education.
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Commuting along Interstate 90 and the South Shore Line
Interstate 90 cuts through Portage, linking residents to neighboring cities and Chicago 41 miles northwest. Daily commuters can also reach the Windy City along the South Shore Line, part of the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District. Those traveling out of the area can catch flights at Gary/Chicago International Airport 15 miles northwest or Chicago Midwest Airport, which sits 40 miles out in the same direction and offers a wider selection of destinations. Medical care is easily accessible at Northwest Health hospitals — a Porter and a Portage location are both located off Highway 6.
Portage's crime statistics and pollution concerns
FBI statistics show that violent and property crime rates in Portage fall below the state average. More specifically, these statistics show violent crimes fluctuating over the last 4 years while property crimes continue on a six-year downward trend. One of the few environmental concerns is pollution along the East Arm Little Calumet River caused by discharge from neighboring industrial facilities on Burns Waterway Harbor. However, nonprofits like Save the Dunes are actively working to preserve and protect the river and its surrounding wildlife.
Written By
Matthew Simmons
Photography Contributed By
Brett Bulthuis
Video By
Patrick Johnson
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
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On average, homes in Portage, IN sell after 37 days on the market compared to the national average of 56 days. The median sale price for homes in Portage, IN over the last 12 months is $307,250, up 2% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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