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Porter County, Indiana

Named in 1836 for War of 1812 Commodore David Porter

County Seat: Valparaiso

Largest City: Portage (2021 population: 38,192)

Population per Square Mile: 416.65

Square Miles: 418.20

Go to county's in.gov site

Population over TimeNumberRank in StatePercent of StateIndiana
Yesterday (2010)164,28892.5%6,484,050
Today (2021)174,243102.6%6,813,532
Tomorrow (2030 projection)*191,83592.7%7,143,795
Percent Change 2010 to Today6.1%15 5.1%

*Projection based on 2010 Census counts.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau; Indiana Business Research Center

Components of Population Change, 2020-2021NumberRank in StatePercent of StateIndiana
Net Domestic Migration1,3377 5,230
Net International Migration2126 15,490
Natural Increase (births minus deaths)-38089-37.1%1,024

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Population Estimates by Age, 2021NumberRank in StatePct Dist.
in County
Pct Dist.
in State
Preschool (0 to 4)8,785115.0%6.0%
School Age (5 to 17)28,862916.6%17.3%
College Age (18 to 24)15,530128.9%9.7%
Young Adult (25 to 44)44,5611125.6%25.7%
Older Adult (45 to 64)46,064726.4%24.9%
Seniors (65 and older)30,441817.5%16.4%
Median Age40.5  Median Age = 38.1

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

Population Estimates by Race and Hispanic Origin, 2021NumberRank of Pct Dist.
in County
Pct Dist.
in State
American Indian or Alaska Native Alone66180.4%0.4%
Asian Alone2,623131.5%2.7%
Black Alone8,425134.8%10.2%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pac. Isl. Alone69190.0%0.1%
White159,209791.4%84.2%
Two or More Race Groups3,256131.9%2.3%
Hispanic or Latino Origin (can be of any race)    
Non-Hispanic155,0401189.0%92.3%
Hispanic19,203611.0%7.7%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Household TypesNumberRank in StatePct Dist.
in County
Pct Dist.
in State
Households in 2021 (Includes detail not shown below)67,0099100.0%100.0%
Married With Children13,998920.9%18.2%
Married Without Children21,735732.4%29.8%
Single Parents5,74098.6%9.2%
Living Alone17,4611026.1%29.1%

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 2021 (estimate)72,1389100.0%100.0%
Total Housing Units in 2021 (includes vacant units)70,9449100.0%100.0%
Owner Occupied
(Pct. distribution based on all housing units)
50,603771.3%62.9%
Median Value (2021)$210,1004  
Renter Occupied
(Pct. distribution based on all housing units)
16,4061023.1%27.2%
Median Rent (2021)$8446  

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

EducationNumberRank in StatePercent of StateIndiana
School Enrollment (2021/2022 Total Reported) 28,06092.5%1,120,155
Public26,62692.6%1,036,519
Adults (25+ in 2021 ACS)118,88982.6%4,501,214
with High School diploma or higher94.1%5 89.8%
with B.A. or higher degree30.3%12 27.8%

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 2021$61,2506108.4%56,497
Median Household Income in 202180,8785128.9%$62,723
Poverty Rate in 20219.7%6480.2%12.1%
Poverty Rate among Children under 1812.0%7476.4%15.7%
Welfare (TANF) Monthly Average Families in 202242191.1%3,933
Food Stamp Recipients in 20229,148151.5%611,203
Free and Reduced Fee Lunch Recipients in 2021/20229,450102.0%481,568

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, 20191,642112.0%80,851
Births to Teens, 201763161.2%5,152
Deaths, 20191,57282.4%66,005

Source: Indiana State Department of Health

Labor Force, 2021NumberRank in StatePercent of StateIndiana
Total Resident Labor Force83,182112.5%3,355,642
Employed79,974112.5%3,225,060
Unemployed3,20872.5%130,582
Annual Unemployment Rate3.913100.0%3.9
January 2023 Unemployment Rate3.821111.8%3.4

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

Employment and Earnings by Industry, 2021 EmploymentPct Dist.
in County
Earnings ($000)Pct Dist.
In County
Avg. Earnings Per Job
Total by place of work82,464100.0%$4,719,403100.0%$57,230
Wage and Salary63,71777.3%$3,404,08872.1%$53,425
Farm Proprietors3870.5%$21,2740.5%$54,972
Nonfarm Proprietors18,36022.3%$536,90211.4%$29,243
Farm4680.6%$23,8590.5%$50,981
Nonfarm81,99699.4%$4,695,54499.5%$57,266
Private74,78690.7%$4,259,21090.2%$56,952
  Accommodation, Food Serv.6,8748.3%$179,2333.8%$26,074
  Arts, Ent., Recreation1,1401.4%$15,7770.3%$13,839
  Construction5,7887.0%$499,73410.6%$86,340
  Health Care, Social Serv.9,85812.0%$641,96313.6%$65,121
  Information9251.1%$60,7621.3%$65,689
  Manufacturing9,54311.6%$936,88019.9%$98,175
  Professional, Tech. Serv.4,1185.0%$258,2185.5%$62,705
  Retail Trade9,17611.1%$324,4166.9%$35,355
  Trans., WarehousingData not available due to BEA non-disclosure requirements.
  Wholesale Trade2,4553.0%$205,1774.3%$83,575
  Other Private (not above)20,681*25.1%*$836,619*17.7%*$40,454*
Government7,2108.7%$436,3349.2%$60,518

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, 2021UnitsPct Dist.
in County
Pct Dist.
in State
Cost ($000)State Cost ($000)
Total Permits Filed653100.0%100.0%$206,126$7,583,249
Single-Family63597.2%74.4%$201,761$6,692,956
2-Family182.8%2.4%4,366$117,031
3- and 4-Family00.0%0.4%$0$30,324
5+ Family00.0%22.7%$0$742,937

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 2021
Percent of County
Beverly Shores6010.3%
Burns Harbor2,1251.2%
Chesterton14,3758.2%
Dune Acres2350.1%
Hebron3,7502.2%
Kouts2,0451.2%
Ogden Dunes1,1690.7%
Portage38,19221.9%
Porter5,2343.0%
Town of Pines5950.3%
Valparaiso34,42819.8%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau annual population estimates

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