Is Portage Safe? Crime Rates & Safety Report

It’s easy to write off Portage, Indiana, as an industrial town along the South Shore region of northern Indiana.

When you look closer, you see a lot more than smokestacks and a lot safer community than some others nearby.

Portage is home to 38,000 people and is on the main interstate and rail line to the Chicago area.

It also has beautiful beaches lapping up the waves from Lake Michigan and Instagram spot after Instagram spot along the riverwalk.

You can drive 30 minutes and be in the tourist retreat of Michigan City, Indiana as well.

From the beach to a historic barn, you can find a wide variety of things to do in this small town with some restaurants that are making me hungry two hours before lunchtime.

With so many outdoor adventures to be found here, it’s a good thing the Bass Prop Shop is right in town.

Hotels are conveniently located right on the interstate.

Be sure when you’re researching Portage you are looking at Portage, Indiana, as there are cities with the same name in Michigan and Wisconsin.

The industrial footprint here is critical to the livelihood of the city and the products many Americans use every day.

As one local told me, “The smokestacks might be annoying for some, but those smokestacks burning means there’s progress being made,” and I thought that was a quote worth sharing.

Warnings & Dangers in Portage

OVERALL RISK: LOW

There's a low overall risk in Portage. None of the crime categories go above the national or state average. It ranks in the top 15 Safest Cities in Indiana.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW

There's a rail line that goes into Chicago and throughout the South Shore region. Coach USA is a shuttle service that stops in Portage and goes to many places, from Michigan City to Chicago to Notre Dame. You can also call a taxi or rideshare. There's low risk with any option.

PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW

There was just one pickpocket reported in 2020 and the thief didn't even get away with any money. I love reading statistics where clearly the person who was a victim was smart enough to not carry around a lot of money. There's a low risk it will happen to you.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM

Winter is going to be cold, brutally cold, at times. The city gets more than three feet of snow a year. You have to worry about flooding, severe thunderstorms, and tornadoes as well, mostly in spring and summer. An average day will have a low risk, but if there's a weather watch, it goes up to medium risk.

MUGGING RISK: LOW

I think this is the first time I've seen this statistic - there were no robberies in public places in 2020. On top of that, the city had just 10 robberies in 2020, which is almost three times less than the national average.

TERRORISM RISK: LOW

There's a low-risk Portage would be a target of terrorists. Large cities like Chicago are more likely to be hard targets.

SCAMS RISK: LOW

Reports of email scams, phone scams, and service call scams are widely reported in Portage, but there's nothing to concern a local/tourist about being scammed. It is important to know that if anyone ever asks you to buy a gift card for them or for a service, it's likely a scam.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW

Women should feel relatively safe visiting here. It's much safer than nearby Gary. You should always protect yourself with basic security steps, like avoiding walking around alone at night.

TAP WATER RISK: LOW

American Water provided the tap water for this entire region. No violations were found as reported in the 2021 Annual Water Quality Report. I really like the way American Water does its reports because it's more than just information about chemicals or contaminants, it's detailed information that an average person can read about how water gets to customers and ways to make it safer for everyone.

Safest Places to Visit in Portage

Founder’s Square is the grassy area in the center of Portage’s downtown area, though it’s not your typical town square.

However, if there’s an event going on in Portage, it’s likely to happen in this park.

You can check the city website or chamber of commerce for upcoming events.

The Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk is the highlight of the city, with nearly 60 acres to explore.

This area is relatively new, having just opened in 2008.

Yes, the industrial area is right next to it, but the way the land is laid out there are plenty of views that don’t include factories.

You are also very close to Indiana Dunes National Park, which is a wider area of trails and beachfront public areas.

The Port of Indiana is the largest in Indiana and there’s also a local marina for boaters.

Two public golf courses and several city parks make the great outdoors pretty great here through all seasons.

The Alton Goin Museum is tucked into a barn on 33 acres of countryside.

You can learn about the history and see the artifacts of the Portage area.

Portage also has the only IMAX theater in this section of the state.

The Bass Pro Shop is another popular spot for people who just want to dream about owning a boat or those looking to do some shopping for recreational items.

Places to Avoid in Portage

The higher crime rates are on the south and southeast sides of the city limits.

Portage is a blue-collar working-class town with a strong community spirit.

There might be neighborhoods that aren’t pleasant to look at, but there’s rarely a place where it’s not safe to drive.

You should still stick to the surface streets and highways, just to be safe.

If you want to explore the beach, it’s best to stay in Portage and go east if you want more beach action.

Going west is going to take you closer to Gary, which has a very high crime and homicide rate.

I’d suggest avoiding Gary, even if you just need gas.

It’s too easy to wander into a bad situation there as a tourist.

You should check the Lake Michigan Water Quality through the Indiana Department of Environmental Management before you get into the water.

There’s an IDEM Beach Alert app to download so you can check all beach access points along the South Shore.

There have been at least two spills from the Portage steel mill since 2017 that put contaminants into the water.

One of them resulted in U.S. Steel getting a $600,000 fine.

Safety Tips for Traveling to Portage

So... How Safe Is Portage Really?

Indiana can be really hit or miss when trying to find a safe place.

There have been growing gun crimes and drug problems in many cities in the state.

Portage has avoided the worst of it by having lower than average crime rates in all categories.

Here’s how the risks break down:

• Violent Crime: 1 in 462 risk
• Robbery: 1 in 3,792 risk
• Theft: 1 in 80 risk

25% of the thefts were related to car break-ins, so you’ve got to lock doors and roll-up windows when parking and NOT leave valuables behind.

34% of the thefts were shoplifting, so if you see a shoplifter you should alert the police.

60% of all violent crimes happened in private homes based on 2020 data, which means there’s an even less chance of a tourist being affected by the crimes.

However, crime rates can change quickly.

It’s important to review the social media sites of local law enforcement and check out that interactive crime map before you go.

There’s also a very engaging Facebook page called Portage 411 that has a bunch of locals talking about issues that impact the city.

They’d be a great resource right before your trip.

How Does Portage Compare?

Useful Information

Visas

Plan ahead four months to start the visa process so you make all the deadlines for your trip. You'll need your visa at the airport so don't pack it in checked bags. You won't need to show your visa to travel between the cities of Indiana.

Currency

You can only use the U.S. Dollar here and there's not a lot of reason to bring cash. You can mobile pay or use a credit card for all purchases.

Weather

People in Northern Indiana don't let something like bitter cold below 0°(F) temperatures keep them from going outside, so bring thick winter layers of clothing when you visit. Spring and fall can be volatile with temperatures, so bring plenty of layers. Summer will be warm and muggy. You'll definitely need bug spray to keep the mosquitos away.

Airports

You can get to the Chicago area airports, either Midway or O'Hare, in less than two hours. Midway is closer, but O'Hare is bigger, so that's up to you.

Travel Insurance

You'll be thankful you have travel insurance with all the weather risks that can cancel or delay flights.

Portage Weather Averages (Temperatures)

Average High/Low Temperature

Indiana - Safety by City