Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Portage, MI has a Safety Score of 15/100 — higher crime than 84% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 3,252.0 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,511 of 2,971 US cities and #90 of 102 in Michigan.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Portage, Michigan Safe?
Portage, Michigan, a Kalamazoo suburb, grew significantly after World War II. It's home to the Air Zoo Aerospace & Science Museum, and its population is predominantly white, with a median age of around 40.
Portage has a safety score of 15/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 3,252.0 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Portage ranks #90 out of 102 cities in Michigan and #2511 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 16th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 84% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Portage is larceny-theft, at 2,545.7 per 100K — 1.6x the national average. Conversely, murder is relatively low at just 0.0x the national rate.
Year over year, Portage's total crime rate decreased by 10.7%, with violent crime rising 2.9%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Portage Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 137 | 277.2 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 24 | 48.6 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 10 | 20.2 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 103 | 208.4 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 1,470 | 2,974.8 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 133 | 269.1 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 1,258 | 2,545.7 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 79 | 159.9 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Portage vs Michigan Average
How does Portage's crime rate compare to the Michigan state average?
| Metric | Portage | Michigan Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 277.2 | 637.8 | -56.5% |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,974.8 | 1,951.4 | +52.4% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 7.5 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 3,252.0 | 2,589.2 | +25.6% |
Portage Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Portage, Michigan.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 49,416 | 3,252.0 | 277.2 | 2,974.8 |
| 2023 | 48,987 | 3,641.8 | 269.5 | 3,372.3 |
| 2022 | 48,811 | 3,630.3 | 317.6 | 3,312.8 |
| 2021 | 50,141 | 3,611.8 | 253.3 | 3,358.5 |
| 2020 | 49,798 | 2,925.8 | 222.9 | 2,702.9 |
| 2019 | 49,583 | 3,398.3 | 274.3 | 3,124.1 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Portage, Michigan safe?
Portage has a safety score of 15/100, meaning it has less crime than about 15% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 3,252.0 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Portage is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Portage, Michigan?
According to FBI data for 2024, Portage has a violent crime rate of 277.2 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 2,974.8 per 100,000 residents.
How does Portage compare to the national average?
Portage's total crime rate of 3,252.0 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 49,416 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Portage?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Portage include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Portage safe to visit?
Like any city, Portage has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 15/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.