2026 Compare Cities Overview:
Champaign, IL vs Portage, MI

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Highlights
Are people in Portage older or younger than people in Champaign?
- The Median Age in Portage is 10.1 years older than in Champaign.

Are housing costs cheaper in Portage or Champaign?
- Portage housing costs are 32.4% more expensive than Champaign housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Portage or Champaign?
- The average commute for residents of Portage is 3.8 minutes longer than it is for residents of Champaign.

Things to do in Champaign?
Champaign, Illinois is a thriving university town located approximately two hours south of Chicago. It has plenty of recreational facilities ranging from libraries to state parks offering access to Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve or Homer Lake.

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!

 Champaign, ILPortage, MIUnited States
 Population  Unlock48,767329,725,481
 Median Income$52,687  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock3738.4
 Avg. Home Price$190,400  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock4.7%6.0%
 Avg. Commute Time15.68  Unlock26.38
Reviews for Champaign    13 Reviews

Over 7 years ago

Pros - close to Chicago, has Parkland community college and lots of places to eat. There is a train station downtown that is really good. Beautiful deciduous trees and  More

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Over 9 years ago

I wonderful city with great  More

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Actually it's barely a nice place to live. The pros: Not terribly expensive - at one point the least expensive place to live in the country among modest sized  More

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Reviews for Portage    3 Reviews

Over 10 years ago

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 21 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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