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Living in
Valparaiso.
About
Life in Valparaiso
If you're considering Valparaiso, you're looking at a genuine mid-sized city with real roots rather than a bedroom suburb. The population has grown steadily over the past two decades, and you'll find a solid job market with 3.6% unemployment and a reasonable 23-minute commute to surrounding areas. Housing costs are moderate for the region—median home values around $267,300 and median rent at $1,224—which reflects the Midwest reasonably well.
Valparaiso at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
14.9%
Foreign-Born
5.5%
Broadband Internet
91.9%
of households
Population Growth
+3.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics5.5% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Valparaiso: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Valparaiso, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (16.9%), and 3.8% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
19.1%
of residents
65 and Older
16.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
27.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
38.4%
of households
Married Couples
41.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.19
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 15% above IN average
Rent, home values, and income in Valparaiso
In Valparaiso, rent runs 15% above the IN average, and home values are 23% above the IN average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
49.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
26.3%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
103.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,745
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
58.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1980
median year built
Vacant Homes
6.1%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $359,786 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for IN
Unemployment in Valparaiso
Unemployment in Valparaiso is close to the IN average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Valparaiso Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute24.8 min avg
How Valparaiso residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Valparaiso, most residents drive alone to work (75%), and 64% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 42 mi
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
Medium hub9.4M passengers boarded in 2025
- 56 mi
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
Major hub40.7M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 61% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Valparaiso runs 61% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
127.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
830.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Valparaiso Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 25 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
81.4 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Porter County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Porter County, which includes Valparaiso, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 25 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 25 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2024 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2022 | 22 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2021 | 18 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2020 | 19 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 16 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | $3.7M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Porter County, county-wide
Air Quality44 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Porter County, which includes Valparaiso, is typically good — 226 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
44
Good Days
226
per year
Moderate Days
128
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Porter County, county-wide
Climate81°F summers, 21°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Valparaiso has warm summers (avg high 81°F) and cold winters (avg low 21°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
60°/39°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
81°/61°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
63°/44°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
35°/21°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
42.3"
Annual Snowfall
40.0"
Hot Days/Year
9
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
124
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
140
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 32°F | 18°F | 2.38" |
| Feb | 36°F | 21°F | 2.24" |
| Mar | 48°F | 29°F | 2.63" |
| Apr | 61°F | 39°F | 3.74" |
| May | 71°F | 49°F | 4.59" |
| Jun | 80°F | 59°F | 4.33" |
| Jul | 83°F | 63°F | 4.10" |
| Aug | 81°F | 62°F | 3.57" |
| Sep | 75°F | 54°F | 2.92" |
| Oct | 64°F | 44°F | 3.93" |
| Nov | 49°F | 34°F | 3.26" |
| Dec | 37°F | 24°F | 2.58" |
Healthcare1 hospital
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Valparaiso
Valparaiso has 1 hospital.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
5.7%
of residents
Porter-starke Services Inc.
Psychiatric
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Northwest Health - Porter
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5 mi away · Valparaiso
St Mary Medical Center Inc.
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 11 mi away · Hobart
Pinnacle Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · 14.5 mi away · Crown Point
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education16.2:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Valparaiso
Valparaiso's student/teacher ratio is 16.2:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 40.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
11
within city limits
Private Schools
4
within city limits
College Degree Rate
40.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.2:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Valparaiso
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,083 students · in-state tuition $50,390 · 70% graduate · median earnings $69,661 (10 yrs after entry)
College of Court Reporting Inc
Private for-profit · 2-year · 175 students · in-state tuition $10,080 · 15% graduate · median earnings $45,758 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Indiana Dunes National Park, 11 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Valparaiso
Valparaiso has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Indiana Dunes National Park (11 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Indiana Dunes National Park
National Park
11 mi awayPullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
32 mi awayPublic Libraries in Valparaiso
Porter County Public Library System
103 Jefferson Street, Valparaiso
Cities Near Valparaiso
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Valparaiso?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Valparaiso FAQ
Is Valparaiso, Indiana affordable?⌄
Valparaiso's median rent is $1,224/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $69,872/year. Median home value is $267,300.
Is Valparaiso, Indiana safe?⌄
Valparaiso's violent crime rate was 128 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 830 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Valparaiso, Indiana?⌄
Valparaiso has an unemployment rate of 3.6%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Valparaiso, Indiana?⌄
The cost of living in Valparaiso is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,224/month and median household income is $69,872/year. The median home value is $267,300. About 50% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Valparaiso, Indiana?⌄
The average commute in Valparaiso is 25 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from