STATS Indiana

Indiana's Public Data Utility

Hoosiers by the Numbers logoGet even more workforce data at Hoosiers by the Numbers

Logo

Choose one of the following geographies and click go to view its profile:

County:

Region:

Map

Porter County, Indiana

Named in 1836 for War of 1812 Commodore David Porter

County Seat: Valparaiso

Largest City: Portage (2023 population: 38,513)

Population per Square Mile: 419.26

Square Miles: 418.20

Go to county's in.gov site

Population over TimeNumberRank in StatePercent of StateIndiana
Yesterday (2020)173,215102.7%6,484,050
Today (2023)175,335102.5%6,880,131
Tomorrow (2030 projection)*178,658112.5%7,013,509
Percent Change 2020 to Today1.2%15 1.4%

*Projection based on 2020 Census population estimates.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau; Indiana Business Research Center

Components of Population Change, 2022-2023NumberRank in StatePercent of StateIndiana
Net Domestic Migration34714 4,268
Net International Migration18214 30,852
Natural Increase (births minus deaths)-3645-0.4%9,159

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Population Estimates by Age, 2023NumberRank in StatePct Dist.
in County
Pct Dist.
in State
Preschool (0 to 4)8,804115.0%5.9%
School Age (5 to 17)28,2271016.1%17.2%
College Age (18 to 24)15,196128.7%9.6%
Young Adult (25 to 44)44,7801125.5%25.8%
Older Adult (45 to 64)45,227825.8%24.2%
Seniors (65 and older)33,101718.9%17.2%
Median Age41.2  Median Age = 38.2

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau; Indiana Business Research Center

Population Estimates by Race and Hispanic Origin, 2023NumberRank of Pct Dist.
in County
Pct Dist.
in State
American Indian or Alaska Native Alone70980.4%0.5%
Asian Alone2,700121.5%2.9%
Black Alone9,045135.2%10.4%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pac. Isl. Alone79180.0%0.1%
White159,371790.9%83.7%
Two or More Race Groups3,431132.0%2.5%
Hispanic or Latino Origin (can be of any race)    
Non-Hispanic154,3311188.0%91.2%
Hispanic21,004712.0%8.8%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Household TypesNumberRank in StatePct Dist.
in County
Pct Dist.
in State
Households in 2023 (Includes detail not shown below)68,0499100.0%100.0%
Married With Children14,045820.6%18.1%
Married Without Children22,436733.0%29.3%
Single Parents5,208127.7%8.9%
Living Alone18,2291026.8%29.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates.

HousingNumberRank in StatePct Dist.
in County
Pct Dist.
in State
Total Housing Units in 2023 (estimate)73,1379100.0%100.0%
Total Housing Units in 2023 (includes vacant units)72,1029100.0%100.0%
Owner Occupied
(Pct. distribution based on all housing units)
52,543672.9%63.9%
Median Value (2023)$261,9004  
Renter Occupied
(Pct. distribution based on all housing units)
15,5061321.5%26.9%
Median Rent (2023)$9666  

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates.

EducationNumberRank in StatePercent of StateIndiana
School Enrollment (2023/2024 Total Reported) 27,67892.5%1,124,877
Public26,06192.5%1,032,265
Adults (25+ in 2023 ACS)121,25082.7%4,559,304
with High School diploma or higher93.8%5 90.2%
with B.A. or higher degree30.1%14 28.8%

Sources: Indiana Department of Education; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates.

Income and PovertyNumberRank in StatePercent of StateIndiana
Per Capita Personal Income (annual) in 2023$66,9066109.2%61,243
Median Household Income in 202379,39810114.3%$69,458
Poverty Rate in 20239.3%7276.2%12.2%
Poverty Rate among Children under 1810.6%7870.2%15.1%
Welfare (TANF) Monthly Average Families in 202436260.7%4,813
Food Stamp Recipients in 20248,931151.5%608,295
Free and Reduced Fee Lunch Recipients in 2023/20245,978181.2%497,203

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis; U.S. Census Bureau; Indiana Family Social Services Administration; Indiana Department of Education

Health and Vital StatisticsNumberRank of Percent of StateIndiana
Births, 20211,670112.1%79,946
Births to Teens, 202148211.2%3,845
Deaths, 20191,57282.4%66,005

Source: Indiana State Department of Health

Labor Force, 2023NumberRank in StatePercent of StateIndiana
Total Resident Labor Force86,290112.5%3,401,387
Employed83,108112.5%3,288,017
Unemployed3,18272.8%113,370
Annual Unemployment Rate3.717112.1%3.3
December 2024 Unemployment Rate4.525112.5%4.0

Source: STATS Indiana, using data from the Indiana Department of Workforce Development

Employment and Earnings by Industry, 2023 EmploymentPct Dist.
in County
Earnings ($000)Pct Dist.
In County
Avg. Earnings Per Job
Total by place of work87,895100.0%$5,482,800100.0%$62,379
Wage and Salary66,96876.2%$3,971,14872.4%$59,299
Farm Proprietors3820.4%$18,7610.3%$49,113
Nonfarm Proprietors20,54523.4%$635,78711.6%$30,946
Farm4550.5%$23,1080.4%$50,787
Nonfarm87,44099.5%$5,459,69299.6%$62,439
Private80,16091.2%$4,986,07790.9%$62,202
  Accommodation, Food Serv.7,3818.4%$204,7243.7%$27,737
  Arts, Ent., Recreation1,1571.3%$20,9670.4%$18,122
  Construction6,3887.3%$588,98710.7%$92,202
  Health Care, Social Serv.9,87011.2%$721,30813.2%$73,081
  Information1,1291.3%$67,8671.2%$60,112
  Manufacturing9,81611.2%$1,041,47519.0%$106,100
  Professional, Tech. Serv.4,5225.1%$386,3457.0%$85,437
  Retail Trade9,31210.6%$343,5486.3%$36,893
  Trans., Warehousing4,8955.6%$324,2845.9%$66,248
  Wholesale TradeData not available due to BEA non-disclosure requirements.
  Other Private (not above)22,392*25.5%*$1,021,465*18.6%*$45,617*
Government7,2808.3%$473,6158.6%$65,057

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
* These totals do not include county data that are not available due to BEA non-disclosure requirements.

Residential Building Permits, 2023UnitsPct Dist.
in County
Pct Dist.
in State
Cost ($000)State Cost ($000)
Total Permits Filed627100.0%100.0%$212,619$7,695,489
Single-Family47976.4%63.0%$186,397$5,961,199
2-Family182.9%2.0%6,078$99,053
3- and 4-Family30.5%0.9%$728$40,460
5+ Family12720.3%34.2%$19,415$1,594,777

Notes: Detail cost may not sum to total due to rounding. Greene County does not currently issue building permits, so it is excluded.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Largest Cities and Towns in Porter County

NamePopulation
in 2023
Percent of County
Beverly Shores6030.3%
Burns Harbor2,1421.2%
Chesterton14,6578.4%
Dune Acres2340.1%
Hebron3,7352.1%
Kouts2,0541.2%
Ogden Dunes1,1730.7%
Portage38,51322.0%
Porter5,2043.0%
Town of Pines5940.3%
Valparaiso34,62719.7%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau annual population estimates

city graph