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Valparaiso, IN


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Valparaiso, Indiana

Introduction to Valparaiso, Indiana

Valparaiso, Indiana, in Porter county, is 17 miles SE of Gary, Indiana and 40 miles SE of Chicago, Illinois. The city benefits from easy access to the nearby cities and towns that it shares the Gary metropolitan area with. Valparaiso contains a population of approximately 27,428.

Valparaiso History

The land on which Valparaiso exits today was purchased by the U.S. Government from Potawatomi Indians in 1832. The first log cabin was built on the land in 1834. It was named the county seat of Portersville in 1836. The present name of Valparaiso was given to the town in 1837.

Valparaiso and nearby Attractions

  • Taltree Arboretum and Gardens
  • Banta Neighborhood
  • 49er Drive-In
  • The Wizard of Oz Festival
  • Sunset Hill Farm County Park
  • Brauer Museum of Art

Things To Do In Valparaiso

The Indiana dunes and Lake Michigan are nearby and have facilities for swimming, hiking and camping. The Banta neighborhood is famous for its historic homes which are made in a variety of architectural styles including Italianate, English/ Cottswald and Arts & Crafts. The Memorial Opera House hosts musical programs regularly.

Valparaiso Transportation

Gary/Chicago International Airport is the nearest major airport.

Valparaiso Higher Education

Valparaiso University is the local university, while Ivy Tech State College-Northwest and Indiana University-Northwest are also in the area.

High Points

Valparaiso strengths, compared to Peers (similar size places nationally) or State (other places in Indiana):

CategoryTrophy
Well-Paid Single Women
(vs. State)		Top 2%trophyValparaiso Well-Paid Single Women
Well-Paid Single Men
(vs. State)		Top 4%trophyValparaiso Well-Paid Single Men
College Educated Adults
(vs. State)		Top 5%trophyValparaiso College Educated Adults
Median Family Income
(vs. State)		Top 7%Valparaiso Median Family Income
Walking and Biking to Work
(vs. Peers)		Top 8%Valparaiso Walking and Biking to Work
Racial Diversity
(vs. State)		Top 16%Valparaiso Racial Diversity
Public Transportation Use
(vs. State)		Top 19%Valparaiso Public Transportation Use

Comparative Profile of Valparaiso, IN

Comparing Valparaiso to similar size places nationwide (Peers) and to other places in Indiana (State):

Ratings range from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).


The People

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Well-Paid Single Women910
Well-Paid Single Men810
Female Share of the Population76
Senior Citizens64
Male Share of the Population45
Age of the Population32
Children Under 5 Years Old32
Racial Diversity29

Families

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Portion of People Married42
Average Household Size22

Wealth

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
College Educated Adults810
Median Family Income710
People in Middle Class or Better79
People Above Poverty65

Commute & Sprawl

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Walking and Biking to Work1010
Short Commute Times78
Working at Home78
Public Transportation Use39

Housing

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
People Living Alone99
Studio & One-Bedroom Rentals810
Seasonal and Vacation Housing87
Affordability of Property Taxes71
Affordability of Rents61
Housing Recently Built69

Crime

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Low Violent Crime64
Low Property Crime66

Detailed pages on related topics: Valparaiso colleges • Valparaiso travel • Valparaiso mortgage and property.

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Additional Details

Valparaiso CollegesValparaiso Colleges
Valparaiso colleges and trade schools.
Valparaiso Hotels & TravelValparaiso Hotels & Travel
Valparaiso hotels, landmarks, tourism, transportation.
Valparaiso MortgageValparaiso Mortgage
Valparaiso property, mortgage, and real estate.

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