What are the schools like in Valparaiso, IN?

Valparaiso is served primarily by Valparaiso Community Schools. The district operates 8 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 16.0:1.

What is the median household income in Valparaiso?

The median household income in Valparaiso, IN is $59,943 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 3.0%.

What is the weather like in Valparaiso, IN?

Valparaiso has an average high temperature of 32.1°F in January and 82.9°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 42.3 inches and annual snowfall averages 40.0 inches.

Valparaiso, IN Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Valparaiso, IN affordable or expensive?

Valparaiso's cost of living index is 103, where 100 represents the national average. This means Valparaiso is 3% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $229,900 and the median rent is $1,082 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Valparaiso, IN?

Valparaiso has a violent crime rate of 66.1 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 807.8 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Valparaiso, IN a Good Place to Live?

Valparaiso is a small city of 33,991 in Indiana, with a median household income of $59,943 and a 3.0% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 103 (US average = 100), which is 3% above the national average.

Strengths: Valparaiso stands out for below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B+), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Valparaiso is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Valparaiso city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 102.6

Valparaiso's overall cost of living index is 102.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Valparaiso costs roughly 3% more than the average American city.

Metric	Valparaiso, IN	National Avg
Median Home Value	$229,900	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,082	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	55.7%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$59,943	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Valparaiso's violent crime rate is 66.1 per 100,000 residents — 83% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

66.1 /100k

Property Crime

807.8 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Valparaiso is served primarily by Valparaiso Community Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.0:1 .

Metric	Valparaiso, IN	National Avg
School District	Valparaiso Community Schools	—
Elementary Schools	8	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	16.0:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	41.8%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	94.1%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Valparaiso sees average highs of 32.1°F in January and 82.9°F in July, with 42.3 inches of annual precipitation and 40.0 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Valparaiso, IN
Average High — January	32.1°F
Average High — July	82.9°F
Annual Precipitation	42.3"
Annual Snowfall	40.0"

Demographics

Metric	Valparaiso, IN	National Avg
Population	33,991	—
Median Age	36.8	38.9
Unemployment Rate	3.0%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	23.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	84.4%	59.3%
Black or African American	4.9%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	5.3%	18.9%
Asian	3.4%	6.3%
Under 18	18.8%	22.2%
65 and over	17.6%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Aberdeen, IN 4 mi Salt Creek Commons, IN 5 mi Shorewood Forest, IN 5 mi South Haven, IN 6 mi Wheeler, IN 7 mi

ZIP Codes in Valparaiso

Valparaiso, IN is covered by 2 ZIP codes:

46383 46385

Valparaiso vs Other Cities

Valparaiso, IN vs Aberdeen, IN Valparaiso, IN vs Salt Creek Commons, IN Valparaiso, IN vs Shorewood Forest, IN Valparaiso, IN vs South Haven, IN Valparaiso, IN vs Wheeler, IN

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Valparaiso, IN affordable or expensive?

Valparaiso's cost of living index is 103, where 100 is the national average. That puts Valparaiso roughly 3% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $229,900 and median rent is $1,082/month.

What is the crime rate in Valparaiso, IN?

Valparaiso's violent crime rate is 66.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 807.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Valparaiso?

Public schools in Valparaiso are operated by Valparaiso Community Schools. The district has 8 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.0:1. 41.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Valparaiso, IN a good place to live?

Valparaiso, IN has a population of 33,991, a median household income of $59,943, and an unemployment rate of 3.0%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Valparaiso?

Valparaiso averages 32.1°F in January and 82.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 42.3 inches with about 40.0 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Valparaiso?

Valparaiso, IN is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 46383, 46385.

What is the population of Valparaiso?

The population of Valparaiso, Indiana is 33,991 with a median age of 36.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Valparaiso?

Key numbers for living in Valparaiso: cost of living index 103 (100 = US average), median home $229,900, median household income $59,943, crime index 26 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Valparaiso side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.