Portage County, Ohio: commercial real estate data.
Portage County, Ohio had an estimated 163,839 residents on July 1, 2024, up 1.3 percent since the 2020 census base of 161,798, across 487 square miles. County output reached $8.79 bn in 2024, 3,051 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 364 7(a) approvals worth $103.1 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Portage County
How many people live in Portage County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024161,956
- Households65,249
- Average household size2.48
- Median household income$75,766
- Median age39.6
- Median gross rent$1,064 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$227,000
- Home value to household income3.0 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income16.9 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher32.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree12.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over108,400
- Population under 1829,466
- Share under 1818.2 percent
- Population 65 and over29,702
- Share 65 and over18.3 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 64102,788
- Civilian labor force87,728
- Unemployment rate5.3 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over66.2 percent
- Rank by population among Ohio counties20th of 88
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included428th of 3,222
Portage County is the 20th largest of 88 Ohio counties by population. A median home costs 3.0 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 18.3 percent against 18.2 percent, which points demand at health care, services and single story product rather than schools.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Portage County
Is Portage County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 2024163,839
- Census 2020 base population161,798
- Population change since the 2020 census base1.26 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024764
- Births, 20241,348
- Deaths, 20241,652
- Natural change, 2024-304
- Net domestic migration, 2024372
- Net international migration, 2024694
- Total net migration, 20241,066
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20241,865
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1400th of 3,144
The county has grown 1.26 percent since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 and the population still grew, so all of the growth came from people moving in. A market held up by migration is more sensitive to a change in relative cost than one growing from household formation.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Portage County
Where are people moving to Portage County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving4,839
- People arriving, from those returns7,920
- Tax returns filed by households leaving4,746
- Net household movement93
- Adjusted gross income arriving$320.3 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$25.0 m
- Average income of an arriving household$66,197
- Average income of a leaving household$62,228
- Largest single originSummit County (1,566 households)
- Largest single destinationSummit County (1,461 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summit County | 1,566 | 2,606 | $104.0 m |
| Cuyahoga County | 763 | 1,323 | $54.8 m |
| Stark County | 257 | 421 | $13.7 m |
| Trumbull County | 215 | 337 | $9.9 m |
| Geauga County | 178 | 325 | $16.9 m |
| Mahoning County | 123 | 189 | $13.1 m |
| Franklin County | 76 | 103 | $4.0 m |
| Lake County | 75 | 119 | $4.8 m |
Households arriving report $3,969 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Summit County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Portage County
What is the Portage County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$8.79 bn
- County GDP, 2023$8.48 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20243.7 percent
- GDP change over five years31.2 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Ohio areas BEA publishes22nd of 88
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes492nd of 3,127
- GDP per resident$54,293
Output grew 3.7 percent in the latest year and 31.2 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Portage County
Employment by industry in Portage County
- Covered employment, annual average56,561
- Establishments reporting3,770
- Average annual pay$57,670
- Average weekly wage$1,109
- Manufacturing, employment10,209
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$69,029
- Retail trade, employment7,000
- Retail trade, average annual pay$36,578
- Health care and social assistance, employment5,899
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$45,483
- Accommodation and food services, employment5,748
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$20,690
- Wholesale trade, employment3,019
- Professional, scientific and technical services, employment2,403
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 10,209 | 284 | $69,029 |
| Retail trade | 7,000 | 440 | $36,578 |
| Health care and social assistance | 5,899 | 303 | $45,483 |
| Accommodation and food services | 5,748 | 351 | $20,690 |
| Wholesale trade | 3,019 | 230 | $98,855 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 2,403 | 394 | $81,820 |
| Construction | 2,273 | 380 | $73,201 |
| Other services, except public administration | 1,560 | 285 | $37,421 |
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 10,209 jobs, 18.0 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Portage County
How many businesses are in Portage County?
- Establishments, all industries3,051
- Employment at those establishments48,660
- Annual payroll$2.56 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents18.8
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Portage County
Building permits in Portage County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024200
- Declared construction value permitted$78.0 m
- Single family units authorized181
- Multifamily units authorized19
- Multifamily share of units9.5 percent
- Average declared value per unit$390,128
- Units authorized per 1,000 households3.1
Single-family homes are 90.5 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Portage County
SBA loans in Portage County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded364
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$103.1 m
- Average 7(a) approval$283,358
- Median 7(a) approval$75,400
- 10th percentile approval$20,000
- 90th percentile approval$735,150
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)2,477
- Jobs per approval6.8
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active43
- Distinct industries receiving approvals113
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer9.6 percent
- Loans on real estate terms35
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter323
- Franchise loans27
- Franchise share of approvals7.4 percent
- Leading industry by approval countGeneral Freight Trucking, Long-Distance, Truckload (27)
- Most active lenderThe Huntington National Bank (256)
- 504 approvals recorded43
- 504 gross approval dollars$36.5 m
- Average 504 approval$849,256
- Median 504 approval$538,000
- Distinct CDCs active6
- 504 jobs per approval10.1
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved11.9
- Most active CDCCascade Capital Corporation (25)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$139.7 m
The average approval of $283,358 sits well above the median of $75,400, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 9.6 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Portage County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Portage County
Do SBA loans in Portage County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded97
- Paid in full86
- Charged off11
- Charge-off rate on resolved loans11.3 percent
- Status: Paid in full86
- Status: Exempt from disclosure215
- Status: Cancelled30
- Status: Charged off11
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed22
Of the 97 loans that have reached a final outcome, 11.3 percent were charged off. This is computed only over resolved loans, because a loan still running has not yet succeeded or failed and counting it either way would be wrong.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Portage County
SBA lending by place in Portage County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending23
- Ravenna, approvals71
- Kent, approvals63
- Streetsboro, approvals62
- Aurora, approvals44
- Mogadore, approvals23
- Mantua, approvals22
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Ravenna | 71 | $10,750,700 |
| Kent | 63 | $23,641,700 |
| Streetsboro | 62 | $34,310,300 |
| Aurora | 44 | $11,441,200 |
| Mogadore | 23 | $2,323,200 |
| Mantua | 22 | $7,653,000 |
| Garrettsville | 18 | $4,863,500 |
| Atwater | 11 | $3,433,100 |
| 15 other borrower cities | 50 | $4,725,500 |
Ravenna accounts for 71 approvals against 63 in Kent. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Portage County
How large is Portage County?
- Land area487 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Ohio counties30th of 88
- Width, east to west20.4 mi
- Height, north to south24.9 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary5
- Residents per square mile of land333
- Establishments per square mile6.26
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Portage County
Flood risk in Portage County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Portage County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 390453
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book9
- Of those, participating in the NFIP8
- NFIP participation rate88.9 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Portage County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/LZone 2
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Portage County (community 390453), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Portage County in radon zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 88.9 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Portage County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Portage County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024161,956
- Households65,249
- Average household size2.48
- Median household income$75,766
- Median age39.6
Common questions
Portage County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Portage County, Ohio?
The Census Bureau estimates 163,839 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 161,956, in 65,249 households, ranking 20th of 88 Ohio counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Portage County's population growing?
The population has grown 1.26 percent since the 2020 census base of 161,798, to 163,839 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 1,348 births against 1,652 deaths, with net migration of 1,066. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Portage County?
$75,766. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $227,000, which is 3.0 times income, and median gross rent is $1,064 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Portage County?
3,051 establishments, employing 48,660 people with an annual payroll of $2.56 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Portage County?
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 10,209 jobs, 18.0 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 56,561 jobs at an average annual pay of $57,670, or $1,109 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Portage County?
364 7(a) approvals totaling $103.1 m since FY2020, across 43 lenders, with a median approval of $75,400, plus 43 504 approvals worth $36.5 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
Do SBA loans in Portage County get paid back?
Of the 97 loans that have reached a final outcome, 86 were paid in full and 11 charged off, a charge-off rate of 11.3 percent. Loans still running are excluded, because they have not yet succeeded or failed.
How many building permits were issued in Portage County?
200 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $78.0 m. Multifamily was 9.5 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Portage County?
Zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Portage County come from?
The largest single origin is Summit County, with 1,566 households. Arriving households report an average income of $66,197 against $62,228 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Portage County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Portage County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Portage County
Cities and places in Portage.
15 Census places lie wholly or partly in Portage County. All 15 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kent | city | 27,116 | 63 | Wholly in this county |
| Tallmadge | city | 18,335 | None recorded | 3.4 percent here, 96.6 percent Summit County |
| Streetsboro | city | 17,661 | 62 | Wholly in this county |
| Aurora | city | 17,581 | 44 | Wholly in this county |
| Ravenna | city | 11,274 | 71 | Wholly in this county |
| Mogadore | village | 3,806 | 23 | 26.1 percent here, 73.9 percent Summit County |
| Brimfield | CDP | 2,979 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Garrettsville | village | 2,752 | 18 | Wholly in this county |
| Windham | village | 2,020 | 11 | Wholly in this county |
| Hiram | village | 1,201 | 7 | Wholly in this county |
| Suffield | CDP | 1,126 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Brady Lake | CDP | 831 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Atwater | CDP | 745 | 11 | Wholly in this county |
| Mantua | village | 661 | 22 | Wholly in this county |
| Sugar Bush Knolls | village | 328 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 31 of the county's 364 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Portage County, the largest being Diamond (9), Rootstown (4), Wadsworth (3). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.
Nearby