County · Indiana
Porter County, Indiana
Porter County, Indiana. Porter County had 176,049 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 1.6% since 2020, slower than Indiana (+2.8%). It holds 32 places (11 cities, villages and boroughs, 12 towns and townships and 9 census-designated) and 43 census tracts. GEOID 18127.
Porter County is one of the 13 counties of the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).
Residents, July 2025 estimate
176,049
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 173,215 · ACS 2020-2024: 174,818
Median household income
$87,972
±$3,058 (90% margin)
Indiana: $71,957
Median home value
$281,500
±$4,859 (90% margin)
Indiana: $218,200
Median gross rent
$1,219
±$26 (90% margin)
Indiana: $1,062
How many people live in Porter County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 173,215 residents in Porter County. The Census Bureau estimates 176,049 for July 1, 2025, up 1.6% since 2020, slower than Indiana (+2.8%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 174,818 over 418 square miles of land.
| Measure | Porter County | Indiana | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 174,818 | 6,851,073 | +6,182 |
| Households | 68,639±517 | 2,716,009 | +4,122 |
| Average household size | 2.50±0.02 | 2.46 | −0.05 |
| Housing units | 72,662±53 | 2,976,568 | +3,942 |
Porter County's population since 2000
From 146,798 in 2000 to 176,049 in 2025: up 19.9%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov
What cities and towns are in Porter County?
Porter County holds 32 places: 11 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places), 12 towns and townships (county subdivisions with their own government) and 9 census-designated places. The largest is Portage Township, Porter County with 48,733 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Portage Township, Porter County | 47,946 | $76,594 |
|---|---|---|
| Center Township, Porter County | 46,272 | $80,022 |
| Portage | 37,926 | $76,276 |
| Valparaiso | 34,151 | $69,872 |
| Westchester Township | 20,635 | $83,129 |
| Chesterton | 14,241 | $91,060 |
| Liberty Township, Porter County | 10,908 | $96,563 |
| Porter Township | 9,626 | $123,075 |
| Union Township, Porter County | 9,403 | $115,664 |
| Boone Township, Porter County | 6,104 | $74,631 |
| Washington Township, Porter County | 5,799 | $109,879 |
| Jackson Township, Porter County | 5,573 | $132,961 |
| Porter | 5,210 | $74,542 |
| South Haven | 5,084 | $76,003 |
| Pleasant Township, Porter County | 4,478 | $87,389 |
| Morgan Township, Porter County | 3,988 | $112,951 |
| Hebron | 3,755 | $73,812 |
| Lakes of the Four Seasons | 7,091 | $121,750 |
| Shorewood Forest | 3,033 | $165,972 |
| Pine Township, Porter County | 2,483 | $75,274 |
| Aberdeen | 2,117 | $94,926 |
| Burns Harbor | 2,055 | $98,500 |
| Kouts | 2,028 | $77,607 |
| Salt Creek CommonsGEOID 1867608 | 1,979 | $94,167 |
| Ogden Dunes | 1,168 | $117,000 |
| Beverly Shores | 599 | $119,948 |
| Town of Pines | 594 | $55,000 |
| Lake ElizaGEOID 1841112 | – | not published |
| WheelerGEOID 1883600 | 435 | not published |
| Dune AcresGEOID 1818982 | 234 | $163,333 |
| MaldenGEOID 1846296 | – | $95,288 |
| Boone GroveGEOID 1806598 | – | $72,143 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Porter County?
The median resident of Porter County is 40.8 years old; 21.3% are under 18 and 18.3% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 79.1%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 11.7%. 4.0% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Porter County | Indiana | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.8±0.3 | 38.1 | +1.3 |
| Under 18 years | 21.3% | 23.3% | – |
| 65 years and over | 18.3% | 16.8% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 11.7% | 8.6% | +1.7 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 79.1%±0.5 pts | 75.4% | −4.1 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 4.3%±0.2 pts | 9.1% | +0.8 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.4%±0.1 pts | 2.6% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.1%±0.5 pts | 3.8% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.4%±0.2 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 4.0%±0.5 pts | 6.3% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 7.3%±0.6 pts | 10.3% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 5.9%±0.4 pts | 6.3% | – |
| With a disability | 11.5%±0.7 pts | 14.2% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 5.0%±0.5 pts | 7.4% | −0.8 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 94.0%±0.6 pts | 90.4% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 31.1%±1.1 pts | 29.5% | +2.7 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 11.6%±0.8 pts | 10.8% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.8%±0.3 pts | 2.1% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Porter County earn?
Half of Porter County's 68,639 households earn less than $87,972 a year (±$3,058), against $71,957 in Indiana. In 2015-2019 it was $87,566 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 9.6% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Porter County | Indiana | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $87,972±$3,058 | $71,957 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $110,512±$3,315 | $95,247 | – |
| Per capita income | $44,216±$1,316 | $38,351 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 9.6%±1.0 pts | 12.3% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 11.9%±2.2 pts | 16.0% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 5.6%±0.9 pts | 9.1% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 93.0%±0.8 pts | 89.9% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Porter County?
Owners occupy 77.7% of Porter County's occupied homes and renters 22.3%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $281,500 by its owner (±$4,859). The median renter pays $1,219 a month including utilities, and 37.9% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Porter County | Indiana | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $281,500±$4,859 | $218,200 | +$53,329 |
| Median gross rent | $1,219±$26 | $1,062 | +$71 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 37.9%±3.4 pts | 38.9% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,653±$29 | $1,404 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 77.7%±1.2 pts | 70.6% | +2.6 pts |
| Housing units | 72,662±53 | 2,976,568 | +3,942 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.9%±0.4 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 4.8%±1.7 pts | 5.6% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 74.7%±1.1 pts | 72.6% | – |
| Mobile homes | 4.5%±0.6 pts | 4.4% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.7%±0.3 pts | 1.7% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 8.2%±0.9 pts | 16.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Porter County building?
Builders took permits for 564 new housing units across Porter County in 2025 (564 single-family), 3.2 per 1,000 residents.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Porter County get to work?
81.0% of Porter County's workers drive alone and 9.5% work from home. The average trip to work takes 28.4 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.7%.
| Measure | Porter County | Indiana | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 62.9%±1.0 pts | 63.8% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.7%±0.8 pts | 4.3% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 81.0%±1.4 pts | 76.3% | – |
| Carpooled | 6.6%±0.9 pts | 9.1% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.6%±0.2 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Walked | 1.2%±0.2 pts | 1.9% | – |
| Worked from home | 9.5%±1.1 pts | 10.7% | +4.9 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 28.4 min±0.8 | 24.1 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What are Porter County's census tracts?
Porter County is divided into 43 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $41,705 (Tract 509.01) to $137,917 (Tract 510.05).
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Porter County compare with Indiana's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 10th of 92 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 39th of 92 |
| Residents per square mile | 11th of 92 |
| Median household income | 7th of 92 |
| Median home value | 6th of 92 |
| Median gross rent | 5th of 92 |
| Poverty rate | 70th of 92 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14th of 92 |
| Median age | 52nd of 92 |
Source: PlainCities ranks from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Porter County are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.