2025 Compare Cities Overview:
Bay City, MI vs Portage, MI

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Highlights
Are people in Portage older or younger than people in Bay City?
- The Median Age in Portage is 2.0 years younger than in Bay City.

Are housing costs cheaper in Portage or Bay City?
- Portage housing costs are 172.2% more expensive than Bay City housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Portage or Bay City?
- The average commute for residents of Portage is 0.4 minutes shorter than it is for residents of Bay City.

Things to do in Bay City?
Bay City MI rests near Saginaw Valley known mostly for its historic riverfront district packed with shops & restaurants alongside several Victorian style houses giving visitors an authentic glimpse into Michigan’s past.

Things to do in Portage?
Portage, MI is a peaceful community located in Kalamazoo County near Lake Michigan. Home to numerous parks and recreational areas including Celery Flats Historical Area and Portage Creek Bicentennial Park, Portage provides its residents with plenty of outdoor resources perfect for activities like disc golfing at Milham Park Golf Course or fishing on Pigeon River Country State Game Area. In addition, there are many restaurants, unique shops and other amenities that make living here so enjoyable. Whether you’re looking for rural serenity or just want easy access to nearby cities — Portage has something for everyone!

 Bay City, MIPortage, MIUnited States
 Population  Unlock48,767329,725,481
 Median Income$41,959  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock3738.4
 Avg. Home Price$92,600  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock4.7%6.0%
 Avg. Commute Time19.86  Unlock26.38
Reviews for Bay City    7 Reviews

Bay City offers low prices for homes due to lower population (Current lower demand). Years ago, the population was more than 3x as big due to big lumber industry, etc.  More

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But everything else is going to  More

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There are many pros to Bay City, it is incredibly cheap to live in and most everything is very affordable. The problem is that the economy is terrible and there aren't  More

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Reviews for Portage    3 Reviews

I'm just writing because I think that the people who are in my opinion bashing Kalamazoo, really don't know anything about it. I have vacationed in much larger cities,  More

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Before I moved to Portage in 2007, I didn't have any real breathing problems. I had a minor case of hay fever. I moved here and I am stuck inside most of the summer  More

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Over 20 years ago

Portage is a nice palce to live and raise a family. I don't think it would be a good place for a single  More

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