LaPorte County, Indiana
The French word meaning "the door" gave the county its name when formed in 1832
County Seat: La Porte
Largest City: Michigan City (2024 population: 31,466)
Population per Square Mile: 186.11
Square Miles: 598.30
Go to county's in.gov site
| Population over Time | Number | Rank in State | Percent of State | Indiana |
|---|
| Yesterday (2020) | 112,417 | 15 | 1.7% | 6,484,050 |
| Today (2024) | 111,348 | 16 | 1.6% | 6,934,754 |
| Tomorrow (2030 projection)* | 110,589 | 16 | 1.6% | 7,013,509 |
| Percent Change 2020 to Today | -1.0% | 50 | | 2.2% |
*Projection based on 2020 Census population estimates.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau; Indiana Business Research Center
| Components of Population Change, 2023-2024 | Number | Rank in State | Percent of State | Indiana |
|---|
| Net Domestic Migration | -107 | 79 | | 12,197 |
| Net International Migration | 88 | 33 | | 17,852 |
| Natural Increase (births minus deaths) | -220 | 90 | -2.6% | 8,561 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
| Population Estimates by Age, 2024 | Number | Rank in State | Pct Dist.
in County | Pct Dist.
in State |
|---|
| Preschool (0 to 4) | 5,654 | 14 | 5.1% | 5.9% |
| School Age (5 to 17) | 17,552 | 14 | 15.8% | 17.0% |
| College Age (18 to 24) | 8,642 | 17 | 7.8% | 9.7% |
| Young Adult (25 to 44) | 28,762 | 15 | 25.8% | 25.9% |
| Older Adult (45 to 64) | 27,871 | 14 | 25.0% | 23.9% |
| Seniors (65 and older) | 22,867 | 13 | 20.5% | 17.5% |
| Median Age | 41.4 | | | Median Age = 38.3 |
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau; Indiana Business Research Center
| Population Estimates by Race and Hispanic Origin, 2024 | Number | Rank of | Pct Dist.
in County | Pct Dist.
in State |
|---|
| American Indian or Alaska Native Alone | 570 | 15 | 0.5% | 0.5% |
| Asian Alone | 763 | 28 | 0.7% | 3.1% |
| Black Alone | 12,660 | 9 | 11.4% | 10.6% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pac. Isl. Alone | 42 | 33 | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| White | 94,074 | 16 | 84.5% | 83.2% |
| Two or More Race Groups | 3,239 | 15 | 2.9% | 2.5% |
| Non-Hispanic | 102,342 | 17 | 91.9% | 90.9% |
| Hispanic | 9,006 | 11 | 8.1% | 9.1% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
| Household Types | Number | Rank in State | Pct Dist.
in County | Pct Dist.
in State |
|---|
| Households in 2024 (Includes detail not shown below) | 43,633 | 16 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| Married With Children | 6,040 | 20 | 13.8% | 17.9% |
| Married Without Children | 13,683 | 15 | 31.4% | 29.3% |
| Single Parents | 4,520 | 15 | 10.4% | 8.8% |
| Living Alone | 12,918 | 17 | 29.6% | 29.6% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
| Housing | Number | Rank in State | Pct Dist.
in County | Pct Dist.
in State |
|---|
| Total Housing Units in 2024 (estimate) | 50,380 | 16 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| Total Housing Units in 2024 (includes vacant units) | 50,038 | 16 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
Owner Occupied
(Pct. distribution based on all housing units) | 32,614 | 14 | 65.2% | 64.4% |
| Median Value (2024) | $195,500 | 38 | | |
Renter Occupied
(Pct. distribution based on all housing units) | 11,019 | 17 | 22.0% | 26.9% |
| Median Rent (2024) | $782 | 21 | | |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
| Education | Number | Rank in State | Percent of State | Indiana |
|---|
| School Enrollment (2024/2025 Total Reported) | 16,523 | 14 | 1.5% | 1,132,621 |
| Public | 15,383 | 14 | 1.5% | 1,033,552 |
| Adults (25+ in 2024 ACS) | 79,325 | 15 | 1.7% | 4,596,004 |
| with High School diploma or higher | 90.8% | 37 | | 90.4% |
| with B.A. or higher degree | 22.7% | 29 | | 29.5% |
Sources: Indiana Department of Education; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
| Income and Poverty | Number | Rank in State | Percent of State | Indiana |
|---|
| Per Capita Personal Income (annual) in 2023 | $53,144 | 53 | 86.8% | 61,243 |
| Median Household Income in 2024 | 68,116 | 56 | 94.7% | $71,958 |
| Poverty Rate in 2024 | 13.6% | 24 | 112.4% | 12.1% |
| Poverty Rate among Children under 18 | 20.4% | 14 | 129.1% | 15.8% |
| Welfare (TANF) Monthly Average Families in 2025 | 87 | 14 | 1.8% | 4,863 |
| Food Stamp Recipients in 2025 | 11,622 | 11 | 2.0% | 578,293 |
| Free and Reduced Fee Lunch Recipients in 2024/2025 | 7,607 | 16 | 1.6% | 488,145 |
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis; U.S. Census Bureau; Indiana Family Social Services Administration; Indiana Department of Education
| Health and Vital Statistics | Number | Rank of | Percent of State | Indiana |
|---|
| Births, 2021 | 1,179 | 14 | 1.5% | 79,946 |
| Births to Teens, 2021 | 59 | 13 | 1.5% | 3,845 |
| Deaths, 2019 | 1,249 | 13 | 1.9% | 66,005 |
Source: Indiana State Department of Health
| Labor Force, 2024 | Number | Rank in State | Percent of State | Indiana |
|---|
| Total Resident Labor Force | 51,753 | 16 | 1.5% | 3,455,992 |
| Employed | 49,320 | 16 | 1.5% | 3,310,992 |
| Unemployed | 2,433 | 17 | 1.7% | 145,000 |
| Annual Unemployment Rate | 4.7 | 12 | 111.9% | 4.2 |
| December 2025 Unemployment Rate | 3.1 | 12 | 114.8% | 2.7 |
Source: STATS Indiana, using data from the Indiana Department of Workforce Development
| Employment and Earnings by Industry, 2023 | Employment | Pct Dist.
in County | Earnings ($000) | Pct Dist.
In County | Avg. Earnings Per Job |
|---|
| Total by place of work | 54,682 | 100.0% | $3,272,691 | 100.0% | $59,850 |
| Wage and Salary | 42,910 | 78.5% | $2,373,047 | 72.5% | $55,303 |
| Farm Proprietors | 611 | 1.1% | $47,235 | 1.4% | $77,308 |
| Nonfarm Proprietors | 11,161 | 20.4% | $316,299 | 9.7% | $28,340 |
| Farm | 798 | 1.5% | $61,594 | 1.9% | $77,185 |
| Nonfarm | 53,884 | 98.5% | $3,211,097 | 98.1% | $59,593 |
| Private | 47,355 | 86.6% | $2,779,842 | 84.9% | $58,702 |
| Accommodation, Food Serv. | 4,229 | 7.7% | $151,909 | 4.6% | $35,921 |
| Arts, Ent., Recreation | 1,247 | 2.3% | $49,050 | 1.5% | $39,334 |
| Construction | 3,116 | 5.7% | $276,323 | 8.4% | $88,679 |
| Health Care, Social Serv. | 6,024 | 11.0% | $421,622 | 12.9% | $69,990 |
| Information | 391 | 0.7% | $16,803 | 0.5% | $42,974 |
| Manufacturing | 8,452 | 15.5% | $696,915 | 21.3% | $82,456 |
| Professional, Tech. Serv. | 1,777 | 3.2% | $120,749 | 3.7% | $67,951 |
| Retail Trade | 6,126 | 11.2% | $221,874 | 6.8% | $36,218 |
| Trans., Warehousing | Data not available due to BEA non-disclosure requirements. |
| Wholesale Trade | 1,932 | 3.5% | $144,084 | 4.4% | $74,578 |
| Other Private (not above) | 11,385* | 20.8%* | $468,353* | 14.3%* | $41,138* |
| Government | 6,529 | 11.9% | $431,255 | 13.2% | $66,052 |
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, 2024 | Units | Pct Dist.
in County | Pct Dist.
in State | Cost ($000) | State Cost ($000) |
|---|
| Total Permits Filed | 296 | 100.0% | 100.0% | $91,133 | $8,133,071 |
| Single-Family | 221 | 74.7% | 75.4% | $81,633 | $6,951,719 |
| 2-Family | 0 | 0.0% | 1.9% | 0 | $100,498 |
| 3- and 4-Family | 0 | 0.0% | 0.8% | $0 | $45,624 |
| 5+ Family | 75 | 25.3% | 21.9% | $9,500 | $1,035,231 |
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 LaPorte County
| Name | Population
in 2024 | Percent of County |
|---|
| Kingsbury | 186 | 0.2% |
| Kingsford Heights | 1,323 | 1.2% |
| La Crosse | 558 | 0.5% |
| La Porte | 22,444 | 20.2% |
| Long Beach | 1,168 | 1.0% |
| Michiana Shores | 305 | 0.3% |
| Michigan City | 31,466 | 28.3% |
| Pottawattomie Park | 235 | 0.2% |
| Trail Creek | 2,010 | 1.8% |
| Wanatah | 980 | 0.9% |
| Westville | 5,260 | 4.7% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau annual population estimates
Hoosiers by the Numbers