City profile · Indiana · Census ACS 2023

Valparaiso, IN

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Valparaiso - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

34,377
Residents
$67,664
Median income
$250,500
Median home
$1,317
Median rent (state)

Valparaiso - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Valparaiso lands in the 47th percentile for household income and the 69th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

47th
percentile, household income
56th
percentile, home value
47th
percentile, median rent
69th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Valparaiso, IN

Valparaiso is a small city in Indiana, home to 34,377 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Valparaiso brings in $67,664 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 11.7%. Home values in Valparaiso run a median of $250,500, and the median resident age is 37.0 years. About 40.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 58.7% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 182 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Building Boom), up 82% from five years earlier. Valparaiso reports a comparatively low crime rate: per-100,000 total crime stands at 873.9 in FBI UCR data, below the national average (a voluntary reporting program, read this as reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Living costs in Indiana run below the national norm: the state registers 93.3 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,317 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Indiana's average monthly utility costs around $235 (state average). Natural-hazard exposure scores 81.4 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (High).

Population

34,377 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Indiana

Median Household Income

$67,664 /yr

Poverty 11.7%

Cost of Living Index (state)

93.3 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Indiana average

How does Valparaiso compare to other US cities?

Where Valparaiso sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 47% higher than other cities
Home value 56% pricier than other cities
Median rent 47% pricier than other cities
Safety 69% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Indiana, Valparaiso ranks #45 of 109 Indiana cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Valparaiso against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Indiana only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Indiana-relative analysis

Bachelor's Degree or Higher is Valparaiso's strongest outlier among Indiana cities

Among the 850 Indiana cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, Valparaiso ranks #75 - the 91st percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Valparaiso only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#297 of 766
61st percentile in Indiana
Median Gross Rent
#118 of 850
81st percentile in Indiana
Median Home Value
#88 of 771
89th percentile in Indiana
Poverty Rate
#243 of 849
71st percentile in Indiana
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#75 of 850
91st percentile in Indiana

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Indiana only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

47thIncome percentile
69thSafety percentile

47th percentile nationally for median household income · 69th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Valparaiso's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Valparaiso's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 55 Avg. percentile National median
Valparaiso's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Valparaiso's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$250,500 44th percentile more affordable than 44% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). This entry sits in this band. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Valparaiso $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Valparaiso, IN Valparaiso, IN's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Valparaiso, IN-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Valparaiso, IN median $67,664/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Valparaiso, IN's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Valparaiso, IN. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 40.6%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 11.7%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 58.7%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
34,377
Median Income
$67,664
Median Home Value
$250,500
Median Age
37.0
Poverty Rate
11.7%
Labor force participation
58.7%
Bachelor's Degree+
40.6%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
873.9
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
66.1
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
807.8
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
23
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
34,000 residents34,500 residents35,000 residents35,500 residents 202020212022202320242025 34,138 residents 35,177 residents ▲ +3.0%
Valparaiso's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
182
housing units authorized
Single-Family
182
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
5.3
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 100
2020 173
2021 158
2022 84
2023 299
2024 182

Permit volume increased 82% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
74.6%
Carpool
10.7%
Public Transit
0.7%
Walk
3.3%
Work from Home
9.3%
Other
1.4%

Based on 16,578 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Indiana - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$110
avg/month
Natural Gas
$80
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$235
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Indiana state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Indiana state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Valparaiso sits in

Cost of Living Index
93.3
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,317/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
81.4 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Indiana

Goshen
34,374 people
Crown Point
34,042 people
Richmond
35,551 people
Plainfield
35,783 people
Merrillville
36,343 people
Michigan City
31,894 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Valparaiso's 34,377 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

College Park, MD
34,397 people
Dalton, GA
34,402 people
Pleasant Hill, CA
34,335 people
Spanaway, WA
34,322 people
Stow, OH
34,317 people
Westmont, CA
34,291 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Valparaiso's $67,664 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Greenwood, PA
$67,661 median income
Marysville, PA
$67,670 median income
Aspermont, TX
$67,670 median income
Mattydale, NY
$67,672 median income
Chimney Rock Village, NC
$67,656 median income
Forgan, OK
$67,656 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Valparaiso, IN Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Valparaiso, IN - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 84.8% 7.1% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 9.0% White 84.8% Black or African American 3.5% Asian 3.5% American Indian 0.1% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.0% Two or more races 7.1% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Valparaiso compares to nearby Indiana cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Valparaiso (this city) 34,377 $67,664
Goshen 34,374 $55,436
Crown Point 34,042 $95,757
Richmond 35,551 $46,395
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IN FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Valparaiso, IN?

What is the population of Valparaiso, IN? +

34,377 people live in Valparaiso, IN according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Valparaiso, IN? +

Valparaiso households earn a median of $67,664 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Valparaiso? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Valparaiso; the closest available measure is the Indiana state average, a cost of living index of 93.3 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Indiana vary by metro area.

Is Valparaiso, IN safe? +

Valparaiso has a total crime rate of 873.9 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Valparaiso, IN? +

The median home value in Valparaiso is $250,500, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.