Affordable Portage Storage Units

Moving and storage go hand in hand. Whether traveling across town or the country, moving is an exciting and fresh start. While Storage Rentals of America is here to help you with all your storage needs, we also want to help you get familiar with the area. That's why we put together this resource guide for Portage.

About Portage, MI.

Portage, Michigan, is much more than just the twin city of Kalamazoo in the Kalamazoo-Portage Metropolitan Statistical Area. Though it is true its population of 46,292 is only a small portion of the region's 326,589 people, this city is an essential part of Michigan's manufacturing and farming industries.

It also contains many beautiful outdoor activities and unique amenities that make it worth visiting or living in. In some ways, it works as a great alternative to Kalamazoo's college town atmosphere, as it is close enough to many of the same facilities that serve this city without being too densely populated or overrun by college students.

What to Do in Portage, MI.

There are plenty of fun things to do in Portage, particularly many outdoor fun destinations. These options include:

• Portage Bikeway: This over 50-mile trail provides plenty of places to bike, hike, canoe, camp, and picnic. It is the primary outdoor destination in the area and is over five times as long as the city's expressways!
• Kalamazoo Air Zoo: Celebrate Michigan and Kalamazoo's contribution to the air industry by exploring this fun and exciting museum. It has many unique features and is fun for the whole family.
• Airway Fun Center: If you have kids or just like having fun, this entertainment facility includes bowling alleys, escape games, and miniature golf, all of which should keep you having fun.
• Sky Zone Kalamazoo: Like the Airway Fun Center, Sky Zone features many fun and engaging activities, including miniature golf, arcade games, tasty pizza and snacks, and other options your family may enjoy.

Working in Portage, MI.

Portage hosts Pfizer's largest manufacturing facility, a 1,300-acre behemoth that employs many people throughout the area. In addition, it hires research specialists to help create new medicines and entry-level individuals, such as secretaries, janitors, and other experts who keep the facility operational. This area was an essential part of the COVID-19 fight, as it was the primary production option for Pfizer's vaccine.

Portage is also home to the biggest celery production farms in Michigan and is one of the primary celery growers in the nation. These farms hire growing experts who help increase celery output and quality and daily workers who tend fields and ensure Portage's celery is healthy. Education, healthcare, and public service industries also make up a significant portion of Portage's economy.

Portage, MI. Neighborhoods

Portage includes over ten different neighborhoods with varying real estate purchase and rental prices. When moving to the area, consider these three neighborhoods, as they provide the top, median, and lowest prices in the area:

• Ramona Park: Ramona Park has a median real estate price of $304,688, which is more expensive than 81.7% of all neighborhoods in Michigan. This suburban neighborhood includes many single-family homes and an apartment complex with an average rental price of about $1,447 (higher than 68% of Michigan neighborhoods).
• Marilynn Center/East Osterhout Avenue: This neighborhood's median real estate price ($214,798) is higher than 61.8% of Michigan neighborhoods. With a dense suburban-style living environment, rental prices are higher than 68.4% of the state at $1,450.
• Downtown: Downtown Portage has a median purchase price of $146,672, less expensive than 59.7% of all Michigan areas. The rent is also suitably lower at $1079, or lower than 74.6% of Michigan. Expect medium-sized homes in this neighborhood.

Portage, MI. School District

The Portage Public School District serves this city with various elementary, middle, and high schools. A handful of private schools also serve the area, as do several colleges. Here are your educational options when moving to this city:

• Elementary Schools: Portage is served by 12th Street, Amberly, Angling Road, Central, Haverhill, Lake Center, Moorsbridge, and Woodland elementary schools.
• Middle Schools: Your children can get middle-school education in Portage at Central, North, and West middle schools.
• High Schools: Help your children prepare for college by sending them to either Central, Community, or Northern high schools.
• Private Schools: Portage also includes several private schools, including Otis Montessori Academy, Kalamazoo County Day School, and St. Michael Lutheran School.
• Higher Education: Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo is the area's primary higher education course, though Franklin University and Kalamazoo College are also nearby.

Moving to Portage, MI. Resource Guide

Portage includes many helpful resources for people moving to the area, including a city assessor, clerk, and manager who can help manage many property-related issues. You can also work with community development, finance, human resources, public safety, public works, and technology groups to provide yourself with more assistance.

Visitors and new residents may also enjoy many parks and recreational activities, including baseball, basketball, soccer, football, and hockey fun. Michigan has a strong sporting tradition, and Portage contributes to its many outdoor fun areas. In these parks, you can hike, skate, picnic, or play sports on one of many sports fields:

• Liberty Park
• Millennium Park
• Ice Rink at Millennium Park
• Oakland Drive Park
• Portage Creek Bicentennial Park
• Ramona Park
• Schrier Park
• South Westnedge Park
• South Westnedge Dog Park
• South Westnedge Ball Diamonds
• South Westnedge Skate Park
• Veterans Memorial Park
• West Lake Nature Preserve
• Westfield Park

Portage, MI. Housing

Portage's cost of living (87.1) is pretty close to Michigan's average (89.6), with its housing rate (74.3 or $233,100 median purchase price) being slightly over Michigan's (65.5 or $207,800 median purchase price). In addition, the transportation cost in Portage (91.6) is much lower than Michigan's rate (115.1) due to a robust public transportation system. This system serves most homes throughout Portage, making this a great town to move to if you rely on public transportation.