Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Valparaiso, IN

    Is Valparaiso a good place to live?

    Watch Valparaiso

    Valparaiso ranks #11 of 40 Indiana cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (62/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population grew 1.1% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $250,500
    +9.0% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $1,142
    per month
    Household income
    $67,664
    median
    Unemployment
    3.4%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Valparaiso

    The median home value in Valparaiso is $250,500 and median rent is $1,142 a month, against a median household income of $67,664. Homes cost about 3.7× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Valparaiso crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across Indiana the 2025 rate was 300 violent and 1,252 property crimes per 100,000 people — #35 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Valparaiso, IN

    Valparaiso has about 34,377 residents, 3.4% unemployment and 25% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Valparaiso with

    Valparaiso vs Indianapolis cityValparaiso vs Fort WayneValparaiso vs EvansvilleValparaiso vs South BendValparaiso vs FishersValparaiso vs CarmelValparaiso vs BloomingtonValparaiso vs Hammond

    More: Where to move in Indiana · Best counties in Indiana

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report