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City · 34,733 residents · Porter County, Indiana

Valparaiso , Indiana

In Valparaiso, a typical home is worth $267,300 and typical rent is $1,224 a month. Compared with all of Porter County, typical household income is 21% lower, the typical home value is 5% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 20 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $267,300

    5% below the county

    23% above Indiana

    • Valparaiso
    • Porter
    • Indiana

  • Typical rent

    $1,224a month

    About the same as the county

    15% above Indiana

    • Valparaiso
    • Porter
    • Indiana

  • Typical household income

    $69,872a year

    21% below the county

    3% below Indiana

    • Valparaiso
    • Porter
    • Indiana

  • Households that own their home

    58%

    20 points below the county

    13 points below Indiana

    • Valparaiso
    • Porter
    • Indiana

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$359,786
2.5% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,459 a month
4.3% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Valparaiso is in Porter County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Porter County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Valparaiso apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Nearby, in Westville, the typical home value is $139,300: 48% less than in Valparaiso ($267,300).

  2. 58% of households in Valparaiso own their home, against 78% in Porter County.

  3. Nearby, in Westville, the typical rent is $1,019: 17% less than in Valparaiso ($1,224).

  4. The typical household income in Valparaiso is $69,872, 21% less than in Porter County as a whole ($87,972).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Valparaiso

What homes there are in Valparaiso, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

The detached house is still the most common home in Valparaiso, but it weighs less than in Porter County: 55% against 75%.

Year built

The typical year built in Valparaiso is 1980, about the same as in Porter County (1982).

In Valparaiso, 17% of homes have 1 bedroom or none (studios); 54% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 72% in Porter County.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

By price, most homes in Valparaiso sit under the FHA limit for Porter County ($541,287): about 93%.

Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$1,580 a month

Porter County: $1,653 a month

Without a mortgage

$676 a month

Porter County: $611 a month

Owners with a mortgage

66%

Porter County: 67%

In Valparaiso, 66% of owners have a mortgage; their typical cost is $1,580 a month, about the same as in Porter County.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

Homes in Valparaiso gained value more slowly than in Porter County: 44% since 2015–2019, against 52%.

The typical rent in Valparaiso rose 32% since 2015–2019, about the same as in Porter County (31%).

Here income did not keep up with housing: it rose 17%, while home values changed +44% and rent +32%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureValparaisoPorter CountyIndianaUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate4.8%5.6%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate0.9%0.8%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate1.4%1.8%3.4%
People per household 2.192.502.462.53
Drive alone 75%81%76%69%
Carpool 10%7%9%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimate1%1%3%
Walk or bike 4%1%2%3%
Work from home 10%10%11%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%1%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Households in Valparaiso are smaller: 2.19 people on average; in Porter County, 2.50.

To get to work, 75% of workers in Valparaiso drive alone; in Porter County, 81%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Valparaiso?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Valparaiso, worth $267,300, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 38% of the typical household income in Valparaiso, which is $69,872 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $95,872 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Porter County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Valparaiso. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $9,356 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$2,237

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$262,458
Total interest
$377,616
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $4,514 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,630 a month

  • Tight

    $1,630 to $2,096 a month

  • Hard

    more than $2,096 a month

    Your payment · 38%

Compared with the typical household income in Valparaiso ($69,872 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$2,237
Principal & interest$1,778
Property tax$229
Home insurance$111
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$118

You need at least $9,356 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Valparaiso and Porter County

Valparaiso is in Porter County, Indiana. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Valparaiso's own numbers

Typical home value
$267,300
Typical monthly rent
$1,224
Typical yearly household income
$69,872
Households that own their home
58%
Effective property tax rate
1.03%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Porter County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,429
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+48%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
0.4%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Porter County.

Everything about Porter County

Buying

Buying a home in Valparaiso

A typical home in Valparaiso is worth $267,300: 5% below the county and 23% above Indiana. With the typical household income in Valparaiso ($69,872 a year), a typical home costs 3.8 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Valparaiso 3.8 years
  • Porter 3.2 years
  • Indiana 3.0 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Porter County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Porter County rose 78% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Porter County.

Period County Indiana U.S.
Last year (2025) +3.6% +4.3% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +48% +53% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +78% +95% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Valparaiso next to Porter County, Indiana and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Valparaiso $267,300
  • Porter $281,500
  • Indiana $218,200
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Valparaiso $1,224
  • Porter $1,219
  • Indiana $1,062
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Valparaiso $69,872
  • Porter $87,972
  • Indiana $71,957
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Valparaiso next to Porter County and Indiana
Measure Valparaiso Porter County Indiana U.S.
Typical home value $267,300 $281,500 $218,200 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,224 $1,219 $1,062 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $69,872 $87,972 $71,957 $80,734
Households that own their home 58% 78% 71% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $2,745 $2,326 $1,614 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 1.03% 0.83% 0.74% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 54% 51% 48% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Porter County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Valparaiso

For a typical $267,300 home in Valparaiso, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Valparaiso's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $2,237a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $9,356
    Cash to close
    $17,375
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $118

  • Conventional, 5% down $2,188a month

    Down payment
    $13,365
    Cash to close
    $21,384
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $127

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,789a month

    Down payment
    $53,460
    Cash to close
    $61,479
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $2,037a month

    Down payment
    $40,095
    Cash to close
    $48,114
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Valparaiso and for Porter County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Valparaiso

1.03%of the home’s value each year

$2,745 a year for the typical owner in Valparaiso.

  • Valparaiso 1.03%
  • Porter 0.83%
  • Indiana 0.74%

What Indiana publishes Homestead standard deduction: the amount drops each year (Indiana Department of Local Government Finance (DLGF), Form HC10)

Exemptions and deadlines in Indiana

Flood risk in Porter County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Porter County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
0.4%
269
Of those, with NFIP insurance
20%
County Indiana U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 0.4% 2.3% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 20% 17% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Valparaiso

Typical rent in Valparaiso is $1,224 a month: about the same as the county. In Valparaiso, 54% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Porter County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,429 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $27.48 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Porter County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $1,117 $21.48 $44,680
1 bedroom $1,176 $22.62 $47,040
2 bedrooms $1,429 $27.48 $57,160
3 bedrooms $1,739 $33.44 $69,560
4 bedrooms $1,898 $36.50 $75,920

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Valparaiso

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Valparaiso has 2 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,470 in 46383 to $1,590 in 46385.

2 of the 2 are above the fair market rent for Porter County ($1,429).

  • 46383 $1,470$1,790
  • 46385 $1,590$1,940

2 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Valparaiso when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Valparaiso

HUD lists 8 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Valparaiso. These are the largest.

  • Jamestown Apartments Valparaiso 2810 Winchester Dr, Valparaiso 46383 201 homes, 200 low-income · For older adults (219) 462-6149
  • Windridge Village Apts 2210 Beech St, Valparaiso 46383 120 low-income homes · 1 bd: 32 · 2 bd: 64 · 3 bd: 24 · In service since 1994
  • Anderson Crossing 785 Baltimore Rd, Valparaiso 46385 92 low-income homes · 1 bd: 92 · In service since 2012 · For families
  • Masters Apts I 2700 Gleneagles Blvd, Valparaiso 46383 96 homes, 88 low-income · 1 bd: 32 · 2 bd: 32 · 3 bd: 32 · In service since 2002
  • Masters Apts II 2700 Gleneagles Blvd, Valparaiso 46383 64 homes, 54 low-income · 1 bd: 16 · 2 bd: 48 · In service since 2008 · For people with disabilities, families, people experiencing homelessness

See all 14 buildings in Porter County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Valparaiso

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Porter County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

A man shakes hands with the specialist who helped him with his loan, in the kitchen of his new home.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Valparaiso

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Valparaiso or Porter County. The ones below are statewide in Indiana: they work in Valparaiso the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Indiana

  • Next Home

    Statewide in Indiana

    Indiana state agency program with down payment assistance of 2.5% or 3.5% of the price, alongside a 30-year FHA or conventional mortgage. Offered by Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA).

    Type not stated

    See the program Official page

  • First Step

    Statewide in Indiana

    Indiana state agency 30-year FHA or conventional mortgage for first-time buyers (or homes in designated areas), with down payment assistance as a second mortgage with no interest or payments, repaid when the first mortgage ends. Offered by Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Valparaiso

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Valparaiso, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • City of Gary Department of Community Development

    401 Broadway, Gary · 17 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 7 more
    (219) 881-5075

  • HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES, INC dba CoACTION

    5240 Fountain Dr, Crown Point · 18 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 5 more
    (800) 826-7871

  • Northwest Indiana Reinvestment Alliance

    5233 Hohman Ave Ste 104, Hammond · 26 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 7 more
    (219) 750-1206

All counseling agencies in Indiana

Help in Spanish near Valparaiso

1 of the 3 agencies on this list says it serves in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Valparaiso

HUD lists no housing authority with an office in Porter County. One in a neighboring county or the state’s may serve the area.

All housing agencies in Indiana Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Porter County

These cities are also in Porter County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Porter County Housing in Indiana

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Valparaiso, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Porter County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Valparaiso.

All guides
Two girls write and draw together at the living-room table.

Questions

Housing questions about Valparaiso

Short answers with the numbers for Valparaiso and all of Porter County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Valparaiso?

The typical home value in Valparaiso is $267,300, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Porter County it is $281,500.

How much does it cost to rent in Valparaiso?

Typical rent in Valparaiso is $1,224 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Porter County is $1,429.

What is the FHA loan limit in Valparaiso?

Valparaiso uses the FHA limit for all of Porter County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Valparaiso?

The typical homeowner in Valparaiso pays $2,745 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.03% of the home’s value; in Porter County, the rate is 0.83%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Valparaiso?

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Porter County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).