Porter County is one of about 3,141 counties and county equivalents in the United States. It has 418.1 sq. miles in land area and a population density of 387.9 per square mile. In the last three decades of the 1900s its population grew by 68.5%. On the 2000 census form, 98.7% of the population reported only one race, with 0.9% of these reporting African-American. The population of this county is 4.8% Hispanic (of any race). The average household size is 2.62 persons compared to an average family size of 3.08 persons. In 2008 manufacturing was the largest of 20 major sectors. It had an average wage per job of $74,628. Per capita income grew by 11.4% between 1997 and 2007 (adjusted for inflation).

People & Income Overview (By Place of Residence)	Value	Rank in U.S.	Industry Overview (2008) (By Place of Work)	Value	Rank in U.S.
Population (2008)	162,181	371	Covered Employment	57,073	423
Growth (%) since 1990	25.8%	772	Avg wage per job	$39,585	451
Households (2000)	54,649	377	Manufacturing - % all jobs in County	17.0%	879
Labor Force (persons) (2008)	83,710	373	Avg wage per job	$74,628	60
Unemployment Rate (2008)	4.8	2005	Transportation & Warehousing - % all jobs in County	3.6%	846
Per Capita Personal Income (2007)	$39,497	289	Avg wage per job	$40,400	1181
Median Household Income (2007)	$59,992	219	Health Care, Social Assist. - % all jobs in County	11.8%	947
Poverty Rate (2007)	9.1	2688	Avg wage per job	$39,475	545
H.S. Diploma or More - % of Adults 25+ (2000)	88.3	226	Finance and Insurance - % all jobs in County	2.0%	2048
Bachelor's Deg. or More - % of Adults 25+ (2000)	22.6	523	Avg wage per job	$42,714	826