RANK #168 / 996 · POP 112,215 · IN
PROJECTED GROWTH: +2.4%
LaPorte County, Indiana, often called "The Door" by early French explorers due to a natural forest opening, offers a blend of historic charm and natural beauty. The city of La Porte, the county seat, is known as "Maple City" for its tree-lined avenues and features a downtown historic district with buildings from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including the distinctive red sandstone LaPorte County Courthouse. Located in Northwest Indiana, it is part of the Chicago metropolitan area, with commutes to Chicago possible via the South Shore Line from Michigan City. The county boasts access to Lake Michigan, the Kankakee River, and parts of the Indiana Dunes National Park, providing extensive outdoor recreation opportunities like hiking, boating, and fishing across its numerous lakes and parks.
Life in LaPorte County offers a quieter pace with a focus on community and outdoor activities. The area attracts families and individuals seeking affordability and a connection to nature. The local economy is experiencing new investment, particularly in technology and energy sectors, which is creating new job opportunities and driving demand for housing. Educational institutions like the La Porte Community School Corporation are partnering with companies to develop career-focused programs, preparing students for these emerging industries.
Below national median (4.7x)
Well below national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Housing is fairly valued at 4.2x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Microsoft Data Center Campus
Microsoft
|
$1,000M | Planned |
|
Project Maize Hyperscale Data Center
Undisclosed
|
$832M | Planned |
|
Bluestem Solar Farm (400 MW solar, 100 MW battery storage)
RWE Clean Energy LLC
|
$500M | Planned |
|
Monroe Power Battery Energy Storage System (131 MW/524 MWh)
Open Road Renewables and Monroe Power / Leeward Renewable Energy LLC
|
$150M | Planned |
|
Kingsbury Bioenergy Complex (Renewable Natural Gas Plant)
Nexus W2V
|
$140M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
LaPorte County has a Boom Town Index score of 83/100, ranking #168 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at -0.6% and a median household income of $66,854, it's an above-average county on economic indicators.
The median home value in LaPorte County is $166,200 with median rent at $860/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.4023, which is more affordable than the national average.
Population growth: +0.0% year-over-year. Job growth: -0.6%. Home values changed +3.7% in the past 12 months.
Yes — 4.74% of LaPorte County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.