Jobs, pay and daily life in La Porte, from official statistics with source and year on every table.
Click any dot to open that city: jobs, pay, rent, commute, county economy and climate. Dot size follows population; colours follow the state flag.
By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
La Porte is a city in Indiana with 22,449 residents. The median household earns $59,307 a year and the median rent is $948 a month, which is 19.2% of the median household income. It is part of the Michigan City-La Porte, IN metropolitan area, where BLS counts 40,840 jobs.
How La Porte compares. Among the 80 largest places in Indiana, La Porte is #46 by population, #70 for remote work (#1 = most), #23 for rent (#1 = cheapest), #56 for college degrees (#1 = most). Its county, LaPorte County, is #38 of 92 counties for average pay ($52,978).
La Porte has 22,449 residents (ACS 2020–2024), about 0.3% of the population of Indiana. It covers 13 square miles of land, which works out to roughly 1,774 people per square mile. The median age is 34.6, 9% younger than the state median (34.6 against 38.1).
The median gross rent is $948 a month (rent plus utilities), 11% below the state median ($948 against $1,062). Over a year that is 19.2% of the median household income. US housing guidance treats housing as affordable when it takes 30% of income or less, so the typical household is under that line. The median home value is $157,500, which is 2.7 times the median household income ($59,307); a ratio under 4 usually means ownership is within reach for many households. 60.4% of households own their home, 14% below the state average (60.4% against 70.5%).
The Michigan City-La Porte, IN metropolitan area has 40,840 jobs in the BLS wage survey, and the median pay across all occupations is $45,540 a year, 11% below the national median ($45,540 against $50,980). The biggest occupation groups are production (5,620 jobs, median $45,450); food preparation and serving related (4,250 jobs, median $28,970); sales and related (3,970 jobs, median $34,290). The area is most specialised in production (2.5 times), where the share of workers is well above the national share. The best-paying groups with at least 5,000 jobs are production ($45,450). In 2026M09 the unemployment rate of LaPorte County was 3.9%. 62.9% of residents aged 16 and over are in the labour force. The city lies in LaPorte County; its jobs, pay by industry and GDP are on the county page.
Among workers, 85.4% drive alone, 0.1% use public transit, 2.0% walk, 4.6% work from home. 11.2% of workers commute 45 minutes or more, 12% below the state average (11.2% against 12.7%).
20.1% of adults aged 25 and over hold a bachelor's degree or higher, 32% below the state share (20.1% against 29.5%). 5.9% of residents were born outside the United States, 6% below the state share (5.9% against 6.3%). The poverty rate is 16.4%, 33% above the state rate (16.4% against 12.3%).
The warmest month is Jul, averaging 74°F (23.3°C), and the coolest is Jan at 25°F (-3.7°C). About 984 mm (39 inches) of precipitation falls in a year; May is the wettest month (111 mm) and Feb the driest (56 mm). These values come from NASA satellite-based climatology on a grid of about 50 km, so they describe the wider area, not a weather station in the city.
Closest cities in this guide: Michigan City (11 miles, similar rent); Chesterton (18 miles, rent 34% higher); Valparaiso (20 miles, rent 29% higher); South Bend (23 miles, rent 9% higher). Rent differences are against La Porte; use the Compare tab to put any two cities side by side.
Federal jobs in Indiana (770) →State guide: IndianaCountry guideLaPorte CountyIndiana rankings
These links go to official sources and open in a new window. The first one is the government's or company's own site as listed in Wikidata (property "official website"); check it before relying on it.
There are 770 federal postings open in Indiana (USAJOBS, state level; we do not have a city filter for them). Private-sector jobs are not in this feed.
Open federal jobs in Indiana →
| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 1,520 | 1.50 | $28,250 | $21,810 | $35,250 | -9% |
| Retail Salespersons | 1,460 | 1.43 | $29,840 | $22,840 | $44,370 | -16% |
| Cashiers | 1,040 | 1.28 | $28,520 | $22,080 | $35,130 | -13% |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 930 | 0.82 | $35,170 | $29,710 | $37,290 | -2% |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 870 | 1.12 | $37,820 | $28,850 | $47,320 | -6% |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | 850 | 2.31 | $41,060 | $34,020 | $55,660 | -8% |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 790 | 1.07 | $34,540 | $27,500 | $44,280 | -7% |
| Registered Nurses | 790 | 0.89 | $82,300 | $67,940 | $100,690 | -16% |
| Office Clerks, General | 750 | 1.15 | $41,480 | $28,460 | $61,290 | -8% |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 700 | 1.20 | $34,880 | $27,400 | $45,440 | -5% |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 680 | 1.14 | $28,260 | $17,240 | $47,140 | -20% |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 620 | 1.14 | $58,240 | $35,960 | $73,370 | -1% |
| General and Operations Managers | 580 | 0.63 | $95,370 | $52,640 | $211,760 | -10% |
| Maintenance and Repair Workers, General | 530 | 1.31 | $47,050 | $35,320 | $73,950 | -5% |
| Cooks, Restaurant | 490 | 1.32 | $29,860 | $23,860 | $43,120 | -20% |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | 470 | 1.29 | $59,480 | $46,530 | $75,660 | -7% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | 470 | 2.63 | $63,240 | $45,900 | $92,460 | -15% |
| Food Batchmakers | 460 | 10.13 | $43,390 | $38,060 | $46,710 | +3% |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | 440 | 1.36 | $74,430 | $38,340 | $134,120 | +3% |
| Construction Laborers | 430 | 1.48 | $58,240 | $36,350 | $78,260 | +24% |
| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General and Operations Managers | 580 | 0.63 | $95,370 | $52,640 | $211,760 | -10% |
| Registered Nurses | 790 | 0.89 | $82,300 | $67,940 | $100,690 | -16% |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 620 | 1.14 | $58,240 | $35,960 | $73,370 | -1% |
| Maintenance and Repair Workers, General | 530 | 1.31 | $47,050 | $35,320 | $73,950 | -5% |
| Office Clerks, General | 750 | 1.15 | $41,480 | $28,460 | $61,290 | -8% |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | 850 | 2.31 | $41,060 | $34,020 | $55,660 | -8% |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 870 | 1.12 | $37,820 | $28,850 | $47,320 | -6% |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 930 | 0.82 | $35,170 | $29,710 | $37,290 | -2% |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 700 | 1.20 | $34,880 | $27,400 | $45,440 | -5% |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 790 | 1.07 | $34,540 | $27,500 | $44,280 | -7% |
| Retail Salespersons | 1,460 | 1.43 | $29,840 | $22,840 | $44,370 | -16% |
| Cashiers | 1,040 | 1.28 | $28,520 | $22,080 | $35,130 | -13% |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 680 | 1.14 | $28,260 | $17,240 | $47,140 | -20% |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 1,520 | 1.50 | $28,250 | $21,810 | $35,250 | -9% |
These figures are for the whole Michigan City-La Porte, IN metropolitan area, not the city alone.
Median pay across all occupations: $45,540 (US $50,980); unemployment 3.9% (2026M09).
| Industry (residents) ⇅ | Share of employed residents ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 25.8% |
| Education and health care | 21.6% |
| Retail trade | 11.0% |
| Arts, entertainment, accommodation, food | 9.7% |
| Professional, scientific, management, administrative | 7.7% |
| Construction | 6.6% |
| Transportation, warehousing, utilities | 5.7% |
| Finance, insurance, real estate | 3.9% |
| Other services | 3.5% |
| Public administration | 2.9% |
| Information | 0.9% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining | 0.5% |
| Wholesale trade | 0.3% |
Cities have no official GDP or payroll count of their own. These figures are for the county where La Porte lies and cover the whole county, not only the city.
| County ⇅ | Population ⇅ | GDP (2024) ⇅ | GDP per resident ⇅ | Jobs (QCEW 2024) ⇅ | Employer sites ⇅ | Average annual pay ⇅ | Job change vs 2023 ⇅ | Unemployment rate ⇅ | Labour force ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LaPorte County | 111,917 | $5,780 million | $51,641 | 40,632 | 2,494 | $52,978 | -0.6% | 3.9% | 52,491 |
| Industry ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Share of private jobs ⇅ | Average annual pay ⇅ | Concentration vs US (location quotient) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 8,461 | 25.6% | $66,086 | 2.53 |
| Health care and social assistance | 5,448 | 16.5% | $60,313 | 0.94 |
| Retail trade | 4,902 | 14.8% | $32,797 | 1.21 |
| Accommodation and food services | 4,045 | 12.2% | $21,863 | 1.09 |
| Construction | 2,197 | 6.6% | $72,993 | 1.03 |
| Wholesale trade | 1,663 | 5.0% | $57,577 | 1.04 |
| Administrative and waste services | 1,592 | 4.8% | $43,049 | 0.67 |
| Other services (except public administration) | 1,276 | 3.9% | $40,346 | 1.04 |
| Arts, entertainment, recreation | 865 | 2.6% | $39,349 | 1.27 |
| Professional and technical services | 824 | 2.5% | $76,630 | 0.29 |
| Finance and insurance | 820 | 2.5% | $75,670 | 0.50 |
| Real estate and rental | 387 | 1.2% | $60,400 | 0.61 |
| Educational services | 333 | 1.0% | $37,578 | 0.40 |
| Information | 140 | 0.4% | $39,779 | 0.18 |
| Management of companies | 89 | 0.3% | $76,134 | 0.13 |
QCEW counts jobs covered by unemployment insurance; sectors with too few employers are withheld by BLS. Latest-month unemployment is preliminary.
| How residents get to work ⇅ | Share ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Drive alone | 85.4% |
| Public transit | 0.1% |
| Walk | 2.0% |
| Work from home | 4.6% |
| Commute of 45 minutes or more | 11.2% |
Shares are of workers aged 16 and over; they describe residents, wherever they work.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median household income | $59,307 |
| Income per person | $30,823 |
| Median gross rent per month | $948 |
| Yearly rent as share of median household income | 19.2% |
| Median home value | $157,500 |
| Homeowners | 60.4% |
| Poverty rate | 16.4% |
| Price level of the metro area (US = 100) | 91.7 |
| Metro median pay, all occupations | $45,540 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
State tax: Flat 2.95%.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median age | 34.6 |
| High school or higher (25+) | 88.5% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) | 20.1% |
| Born abroad | 5.9% |
| Labour force participation (16+) | 62.9% |
Work permits are federal: see permits and first steps.
| Month ⇅ | Mean temperature (°C) ⇅ | Mean temperature (°F) ⇅ | Precipitation (mm) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | -3.7 | 25 | 58 |
| Feb | -2.8 | 27 | 56 |
| Mar | 2.8 | 37 | 62 |
| Apr | 9.0 | 48 | 90 |
| May | 14.9 | 59 | 111 |
| Jun | 20.5 | 69 | 98 |
| Jul | 23.3 | 74 | 101 |
| Aug | 22.7 | 73 | 108 |
| Sep | 18.9 | 66 | 80 |
| Oct | 11.7 | 53 | 95 |
| Nov | 4.9 | 41 | 65 |
| Dec | -0.9 | 30 | 60 |
Satellite-reanalysis climatology on a grid of roughly 50 km, so it smooths local effects (hills, coast, city heat). It is not a weather-station record.
| City ⇅ | State ⇅ | Distance (straight line) ⇅ | Population ⇅ | Median household income ⇅ | Median rent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan City | IN | 11 mi | 31,814 | $53,089 | $967 |
| Chesterton | IN | 18 mi | 14,446 | $91,060 | $1,274 |
| Valparaiso | IN | 20 mi | 34,733 | $69,872 | $1,224 |
| South Bend | IN | 23 mi | 103,085 | $55,786 | $1,033 |
| Portage | IN | 24 mi | 38,082 | $76,276 | $1,231 |
| Lake Station | IN | 28 mi | 13,185 | $59,591 | $1,124 |
| Mishawaka | IN | 29 mi | 51,021 | $54,291 | $1,070 |
| Niles | MI | 29 mi | 11,803 | $51,376 | $855 |
| Hobart | IN | 30 mi | 29,558 | $75,160 | $1,206 |
| Granger | IN | 31 mi | 30,321 | $123,318 | $1,656 |
Straight-line distance in miles, not driving distance.
Pick two cities.
vs
22,449 (Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimate).
$948 a month (ACS 2020–2024), which is 19.2% of the median household income.
$59,307 (ACS 2020–2024, in 2024 dollars).
3.9% (BLS county, LaPorte County (latest month 2026M09)).
Indiana. See the state guide for minimum wage, taxes and pay.