Portage vs Valparaiso
Portage, Indiana versus Valparaiso, Indiana: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Portage and Valparaiso score about the same overall (51 vs 54 of 100) — the differences are in the individual factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Portage | Valparaiso |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $71k | $60k |
| Cost of Living | $46k | $46k |
| Home Value | $189k | $230k |
| Monthly Rent | $1k | $1k |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $1k | $2k |
| Property Tax Rate | 0.87% | 1.05% |
| Income Tax | 5.20% | 5.20% |
| Sales Tax | 7.00% | 7.00% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 9.81% | 11.53% |
| Unemployment | 6.6% | 3.0% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 26°F | 26°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 75°F | 75°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8 in | 42.3 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 40.3 in | 40.0 in |
| Sunny Days | 208 days | 208 days |
| Summer Humidity | 62°F | 62°F |
| Comfortable Days | 91 days | 92 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 40.7 | 34.4 |
| Air Quality | 34 AQI | 39 AQI |
| School Quality | 45.2 | 48.6 |
| Violent Crime | 872/100k | 553/100k |
| Property Crime | 1147/100k | 833/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 37,737 | 33,991 |
| Median Age | 38.7 | 36.8 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.38 | 0.28 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.95 | 0.89 |
| Political Leaning | Even | Even |
| White (%) | 67.6% | 79.9% |
| Black (%) | 9.4% | 4.7% |
| Hispanic (%) | 19.2% | 8.8% |
| Asian (%) | 0.9% | 3.4% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 2.9% | 3.3% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 29 min | 23 min |
| Walkability | 8.3/20 | 7.5/20 |
| Airport Distance | 33 mi | 42 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 88.3% | 88.3% |
| Amenities Nearby | 21.20 | 32.95 |
| Park & Nature Access | Excellent | Good |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Portage or Valparaiso more affordable?
- Valparaiso has the lower cost of living: its index is $46k, compared with Portage's $46k and Valparaiso's $46k. Median rent is $1k in Portage versus $1k in Valparaiso.
- Is Portage or Valparaiso safer?
- Valparaiso has the lower violent crime rate. Portage reports 872/100k and Valparaiso reports 553/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Portage or Valparaiso?
- The median home value is $189k in Portage and $230k in Valparaiso, so homes are more affordable in Portage.