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D

Is Portage, Indiana Safe?

Population 38,634 · Safer than 20% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

Portage has a crime problem that shows up in the data. The D safety grade reflects a violent crime rate close to the national average and an overall rate of 257 per 1,000 residents. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,641 per 100K.

Portage Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricPortageIndiana AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate393.5309.2363.8
Property Crime Rate2176.62091.51,832.3
Murder Rate8.0--5.7
Assault Rate285.0--268.2
Theft Rate1641.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate366.0--318.3

All rates per 100,000 residents. 2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report + Census Bureau population estimates.

Overall SafetyD

257 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeD+

394/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD

2177/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Portage

Violent crime in Portage is close to the national average. The rate of 393.5 per 100K exceeds the national 363.8.

Property crime is above the national average at 2176.6 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,641 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Portage Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder8
01.4x national avgAvg: 5.7
Assault285
01.1x national avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery43
068% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary258
096% of avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,641
01.2x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft366
01.1x national avgAvg: 318.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. Vertical marker = national average.

How Portage Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Portage
393.5
State
309.2
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Portage
2176.6
State
2091.5
National
1832.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. National averages from 2023 FBI UCR data.

Frequently Asked Questions About Portage Safety

Is Portage safe?
Not especially. Portage earns a D with a crime rate of 257 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs close to the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Portage?
257 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 393.5 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2176.6 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Portage safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Portage's D grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,641 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Portage?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Portage generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Portage police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Portage?
No. Crime in Portage has been trending down, which is good news for the D-rated city.
How does Portage compare to other cities in Indiana?
Below average for the state. Portage ranks behind about 80% of Indiana cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.2x the national rate.
How safe is Portage to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is close to the national average. Crime has been dropping, which helps.
How bad is crime in Portage?
Bad. A D grade and 257 per-thousand rate put Portage below 80% of US cities. Violent crime at 394 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Portage?
393.5 per 100,000, which is 8% above the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (285), robbery (43), and murder (8.0) per 100,000.

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View all Indiana city safety grades

Looking for things to do? See activities, events and places in Portage

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2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report data and Census Bureau population estimates. Safety grades calculated using national and state-level crime rate distributions. Not a substitute for local law enforcement guidance.

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