The Town FilesValparaiso, Indiana
City in Porter County · population 34,151 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $267,300
- Household income
- $69,872
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 40 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 26
- Median age
- 37.0
Valparaiso is a city of 34,151 people in Porter County, Indiana. The median home is worth $267,300, above the typical Indiana town ($150,400). It ranks better for young professionals than 97% of Indiana towns, more vibrant than 93% of Indiana towns, hipper than 92% of Indiana towns.
How Valparaiso ranks
Percentile among Indiana towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Indiana towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Valparaiso is worth $267,300, above the typical Indiana town ($150,400). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $69,872, which is more affordable than 5% of Indiana towns. Median rent is $1,224 a month. 58.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Valparaiso | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $267,300 | $150,400 |
| Median rent | $1,224 | $888 |
| Median household income | $69,872 | $61,953 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 58.0% | 73.4% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1966 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.3% | — |
Who lives in Valparaiso
| People | Valparaiso | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.0 | 38.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.9% | 17.1% |
| Under 18 | 19.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 40.6% | 17.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.9% | 11.6% |
| Veterans | 4.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.5% | — |
| Work from home | 10.4% | 6.2% |
| Average commute | 24.8 min | 24.7 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.9% | 89.2% |
Weather in Valparaiso
July highs average 82.9°F and January lows 17.6°F. About 40.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 40.0 inches of snow (typical Indiana town: 21.1 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 124 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Valparaiso since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Indiana town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on June 11, 2026 about 9.9 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 2 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 11, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 52 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on March 6, 2026.
Severe weather in Porter County since 1996
Porter County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 25, 2026 | Flood | DR-4933: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| August 15, 2026 | Flood | EM-3651: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3641: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4515: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3456: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Porter County
Porter County had 63,768 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,217 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Valparaiso itself the ACS puts it at 3.6%.
Public schools in Valparaiso
24 public schools with 10,756 students, about 15.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valparaiso High School | 9-12 | 2,151 | 18.5 |
| Benjamin Franklin Middle School | 6-8 | 806 | 14.1 |
| Thomas Jefferson Middle School | 6-8 | 641 | 13.1 |
| Cooks Corners Elementary School | K-5 | 494 | 20.6 |
| Heavilin Elementary School | K-5 | 480 | 16.6 |
| Boone Grove High School | 9-12 | 475 | 13.2 |
| Flint Lake Elementary School | K-5 | 471 | 13.5 |
| Memorial Elementary School | K-5 | 470 | 20.4 |
| Washington Twp Middle/High School | 6-12 | 433 | 14.4 |
| Morgan Township Middle/High School | 6-12 | 431 | 14.9 |
| Wheeler High School | 9-12 | 417 | 11.6 |
| Union Center Elementary School | K-5 | 407 | 17.7 |
Towns near Valparaiso
- Shorewood Forest, IN5.2 mi · 3,033 people · home $479,100
- South Haven, IN6.1 mi · 5,084 people · home $178,200
- Chesterton, IN8.3 mi · 14,241 people · home $300,900
- Westville, IN8.6 mi · 5,257 people · home $139,300
- Portage, IN10.0 mi · 37,926 people · home $224,200
- Lakes of the Four Seasons, IN10.2 mi · 7,091 people · home $337,300
- Porter, IN10.3 mi · 5,210 people · home $267,700
- Hobart, IN11.8 mi · 29,752 people · home $215,200
Valparaiso questions
Is Valparaiso, Indiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Valparaiso scores better for retirees than 68% of Indiana towns and quieter than 7%. 16.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.0).
How much does a house cost in Valparaiso?
The median owner-occupied home in Valparaiso is valued at $267,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $69,872, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $1,224 a month.
What is the weather like in Valparaiso?
July highs average 82.9°F and January lows 17.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.3 inches of precipitation a year and 40.0 inches of snow.
Does Valparaiso get tornadoes?
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Valparaiso since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on June 11, 2026. The typical Indiana town has had 23.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)