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CITY

Valparaiso

Indiana · 35,177 residents (2025 est.) · 16.779 sq mi
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The short version

Valparaiso has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $69,872. Population has grown 27% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $267,300.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 37.0
US median: 38.9
More educated
41% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
34,733
+27%since 2000
from 27,428 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
2,070 / sq mi
+27%since 2000
from 1,635 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
37.0
+13%since 2000
from 32.7 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:35,177 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
23K26K30K33K36K1990201020202024Valparaiso
202435K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$69,872
−16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $45,799 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$38,894
+73%since 2000
from $22,509 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
45.1%
+16.2 ptssince 2009
from 28.9% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
14.9%
+5.8 ptssince 2000
from 9.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.441
−2%since 2010
from 0.449 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade13%
US avg: 9.9%
Information10.4%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance6.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Other services5.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Wholesale trade4.5%
US avg: 6.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4.2%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration4%
US avg: 4.8%
Education & health services2.1%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food1.7%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing1.6%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.1%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.1%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$267,300
+21%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $121,000 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,224
+8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $625 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
58.0%
+2.9 ptssince 2000
from 55.1% in 2000
42.0% rent
Vacancy rate
6.1%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 7.6% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
17.7%
−6.7 ptssince 2009
from 24.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
49.7%
+3.8 ptssince 2009
from 45.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.8
+45%since 2000
from 2.6 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
47
RELATED:See current rent listings in Valparaiso on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic92.1%(25,271)
Black1.6%(435)
Hispanic / Latino3.3%(917)
Asian1.5%(408)
Other0%
Diversity Score15.5%(4,263)
2024
White, non-Hispanic80.1%(27,805)
Black3.3%(1,148)
Hispanic / Latino9.9%(3,433)
Asian2.4%(842)
Other4.3%(1,505)
Diversity Score43.2%(15,014)
Diversity Score
43
+178%since 2000
from 16 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
40.6%
+6.0 ptssince 2000
from 34.5% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
94.7%
+4.1 ptssince 2000
from 90.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
15.6%
+1.1 ptssince 2000
from 14.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
24.8 min
+63%since 2000
from 15.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
74.8%
−5.5 ptssince 2009
from 80.3% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.5%
+2.5 ptssince 2009
from 7.0% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.5%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 2.1% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
10.4%
+4.6 ptssince 2009
from 5.8% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.5%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 3.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.8%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.7%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 5.1% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.6%
−3.1 ptssince 2011
from 6.7% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
62.7%
−0.8 ptssince 2011
from 63.4% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
13.9%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 14.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
43.0%
−25.3 ptssince 2009
from 68.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
47.4%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 48.5% in 2009
Female
52.6%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 51.5% in 2009
Foreign born
5.5%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 4.8% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
4.6%
−42.8 ptssince 2009
from 47.4% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
12.6%
+2.3 ptssince 2012
from 10.3% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.7%
−79.9 ptssince 2013
from 85.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
91.9%
+11.7 ptssince 2017
from 80.2% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
91.7%
−1.4 ptssince 2016
from 93.2% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
3.8%
+1.2 ptssince 2016
from 2.6% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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Compare Valparaiso to nearby cities

VALPARAISO VS
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Income$91,060+30%
Home value$300,900+13%
Population14,635−58%
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VALPARAISO VS
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Home value$224,200−16%
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VALPARAISO VS
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Home value$215,200−19%
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VALPARAISO VS
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Income$135,870+94%
Home value$409,500+53%
Population9,140−74%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Valparaiso, Indiana?

Valparaiso, Indiana has about 34,733 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Valparaiso, Indiana?

The typical household in Valparaiso, Indiana earns about $69,872 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Valparaiso, Indiana expensive?

In Valparaiso, Indiana, the median home is worth about $267,300, and the typical rent is about $1,224 a month.

How educated are people in Valparaiso, Indiana?

About 40.6% of adults age 25 and over in Valparaiso, Indiana hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Valparaiso, Indiana?

About 14.9% of people in Valparaiso, Indiana live below the federal poverty line.

Has Valparaiso, Indiana grown since 1990?

Yes, Valparaiso, Indiana has grown since 1990. The population has added about 10,319 residents, a change of about 42 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →