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Valparaiso, IN

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Valparaiso, IN

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Demographics

Predominantly WhiteSimpson's Diversity Index: 34
Population34,377
Foreign Born3.2%
Population Density1,958people per mi²
Median Age37.0 yrs
Demographics Trajectory
StableSince 2010, this city has held a relatively stable population and racial composition.
Current Race / Ethnicity Breakdown
Population Trends

Quality of Life

Overall Quality Of Life
A-
Great

A high quality of life with strong walkability, manageable living costs, healthy neighborhood signals, and solid amenity access.

Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.

Cost of Living

94/100

6% below national average

A

The Real Cost of Living in Valparaiso, Indiana

TierIndividualFamily (4)
Survival $18k$34k
Comfortable $49k$72k
Luxury $122k+$189k+
Elite (Top 5%) $146k+$226k+
Affordability Ratio

95%

The Hood Index™

A metric tracking the socioeconomic signals of the area.

A+
Hood Index scan area
Luxury Lean91%
RisksNeutralGrowth
Premium
40
Positive
29
Poor
5
Negative
5

Groceries

2 within 10 miles

1.9mi

Gas

0 within 10 miles

Hospital

3 within 20 miles

5.5mi

Airport

MDW — Chicago Midway International

41.8mi

Post Office

USPS — Merrillville, IN

14.4mi

Critical Amenities

Golf5Nearest 1.2 mi
Camping20Nearest 10.6 mi
Marina0Nearest 10.3 mi
Winery0 
Ice Rink1Nearest 0.4 mi
Gun Range2Nearest 1.7 mi

Affluence Level

Overall Affluence Grade
C
Average

A middle-class area roughly in line with national averages across income, home values, education, and employment.

Median HHI
$68k+12.9%
10% below US avg
Est. Avg Net Worth
$331k
50% below US avg
College Educated
40.6%
16% above US avg
WFH
9.3%
35% below US avg
Homeownership
58.6%
10% below US avg
Median Home
$251k
11% below US avg

Crime

Overall Crime Grade
A-
Very Safe

Lower crime rates than 76% of comparable U.S. locations.

Crime Rate
9.5
Incidents per 1,000 residents
5yr Trend
−24.0%
Overall crime change since 2020

Violent Crime

5yr−28.3%
Homicide
0.03 / 1k Residents22% below state avg
Robbery
0.11 / 1k Residents50% below state avg
Aggravated Assault
0.85 / 1k Residents52% below state avg

Property Crime

5yr−19.7%
Burglary
0.79 / 1k Residents33% below state avg
Larceny-Theft
7.20 / 1k Residents4% above state avg
Motor Vehicle Theft
0.26 / 1k Residents80% below state avg
Source: FBI Crime Data · 2025

Political Climate

Cook PVI: D+1Tilts Liberal

District shown is the primary district for this city’s centroid. Cities may span multiple districts.

Presidential Voting Trends for Valparaiso, Indiana
Dem Rep
30%40%50%60%70%2000200420082012201620202024

Personal Sovereignty

Personal Sovereignty measures your capacity for self-reliance and independence with minimal government friction. Higher scores mean fewer barriers between you and the way you want to live... but it assumes you have the space you need and good neighbors.

Overall Sovereignty Grade
B
Self-Reliant

Viable for self-reliance. Generally workable, though some barriers may limit total independence.

State Policy

Tax Burden
B-
Fair9.3% of income
Property Rights
B
GoodIJ Grade B
Firearm Rights
A
GreatFPC Grade A
Homeschooling
A+
GreatNo notice required

Energy independence: Importer (35% of energy produced in-state)

Personal Liberty

Raw Milk
F
ProhibitedIllegal
Gambling Laws
A
Broadly OpenCasinos · Poker · Sportsbetting
Marijuana Laws
F
ProhibitedIllegal

Homesteading

Growing Season186 days241 frost-free
Annual Rainfall46.3"
Elevation810 ft

Strategic Assessment

Strategic Assessment grades tactical survivability using Joel Skousen's Strategic Relocation framework. Major population centers, blast zones, natural disasters, and border exposure all drive risk — lower exposure means a more defensible position in a crisis.

Learn more about Strategic Relocation ($)
Overall Strategic Grade
D+
Vulnerable

Multiple tactical vulnerabilities. Population density, target proximity, or disaster risk are likely compounding. A retreat property and exit planning is required.

Strategic Pillars

City Proximity
F
Poor41 mi to nearest major city
Pop. Density
C-
Weak1,958/sq mi
Fallout Danger
B+
Fair8 within ~30 mi
Natural Disaster
F
PoorInland Flooding
Border / Coast
A+
Greatborder 261 mi · coast 642 mi
FEMA Expected Loss$58.2M/yrfor the county

Key Distances

Nearest Major CityChicago2.7M people are 41 mi away
Nearest Major AirportMDW42 mi away
Distance to State Capital127 miIndianapolis, IN
Nearest Prison8.5 mi2 within 25 mi

* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-04-19T19:56:08.000Z

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