Groundwork

County profile · Indiana

Porter County, IN market data

Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in Porter County, each scored against other counties.

Population, 2025
176,049
+1.6% since 2020
Households
68,639
Median household income
$87,972
+23.6% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
Median home value
$281,500
Jobs located here
65,198
Highest market score
83
Chiropractors, #36 of 1,490 scored counties

A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Porter County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Porter County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.

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Survey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure

What this means

An estimated 176,049 people live in Porter County, in 68,639 households. Population estimates put the population change in Porter County from 2020 to 2025 at +1.6%, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). The median household income in Porter County is $87,972 a year, 9% above the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 23.6% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.

Set against the U.S., households in Porter County spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 118, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on child care and other personal services (80).

The highest Groundwork market scores in Porter County are for chiropractors (83), convenience stores (81) and grocery and convenience stores (81). Porter County ranks #36 of 1,490 scored counties for chiropractors.

Porter County is part of the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metro area. For its number of households, Porter County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for HVAC and plumbing companies (56% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for clothing and shoe stores (55% below the U.S. rate).

All 56 business types in Porter County

Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Porter County with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.

Every business type in Porter County, IN, highest Groundwork market score first, with its rank among counties, listings, listings per 10,000 households, spending per listing and official establishments
Business typeScoreRank among countiesListingsPer 10k householdsSpending per listingSpending per listing vs. U.S. (100)Official establishments
Chiropractors83#36 of 1,490253.6$4.1M17310
Convenience stores81#143 of 2,261405.8$10.8M1387
Grocery and convenience stores81#157 of 2,4028512.4$5.1M15028
Grocery stores80#182 of 2,070253.6$17.3M18721
Clothing and shoe stores79#169 of 2,087507.3$2.9M22821
Barbershops75#136 of 1,356233.4$3.2M168Under 3
Clothing, shoes and laundry75#234 of 2,2108211.9$1.8M20128
Nail salons74#105 of 1,328304.4$2.4M1457
Primary care and pediatrics69#271 of 1,656334.8$3.1M17694
Tire shops69#302 of 1,530223.2$3.5M14112
Auto repair shops69#369 of 2,37812818.6$607K13668
Electricians67#217 of 1,160162.3$12.4M10331
Collision repair and body shops67#272 of 1,327182.6$4.3M14020
Gyms67#289 of 1,792476.8$1.5M11419
Coffee shops and cafes67#375 of 2,063517.4$5.7M15338
Gas stations67#478 of 2,358588.5$3.3M14064
Optometrists and eye care66#280 of 1,302294.2$3.6M11412
Auto repair and car care66#497 of 2,40122432.6$347K129103
Property management65#194 of 91091.3Index only20323
Veterinarians63#431 of 1,485243.5$2.6M9718
Laundromats62#234 of 78571.0$20.7M1667
Martial arts and dance studios62#331 of 1,334304.4$2.3M11518
Sit-down restaurants62#651 of 2,40531746.2$909K137133
Restaurants and cafes62#670 of 2,40560988.7$473K128308
Dry cleaners60#162 of 50771.0$20.7M132Under 3
Pet grooming and boarding60#477 of 1,461253.6$2.5M9916
Child care and preschools60#557 of 1,611395.7$818K8223
Pizza60#644 of 2,090568.2$5.1M101135
Fast food and sandwich shops60#742 of 2,2228913.0$3.2M106135
Car washes and detailing59#482 of 1,451284.1$2.8M11014
Gyms, studios and classes59#635 of 2,0889413.7$740K11237
Hair salons59#721 of 2,33913219.2$552K12852
Funeral homes57#533 of 1,472142.0$696K10310
Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios56#268 of 777172.5$4.1M10119
Physical therapy56#563 of 1,422446.4$2.4M9827
Bakeries and dessert shops55#747 of 1,889659.5$4.4M10743
Pet businesses55#867 of 2,2008312.1$760K8741
Dentists and orthodontists52#862 of 1,8868512.4$1.2M12468
Salons, barbers and spas52#1,047 of 2,38527740.4$263K12481
Doctors, dentists and clinics51#1,141 of 2,39455681.0$186K122211
Roofing and gutters50#609 of 1,177365.2$5.5M659
Urgent care and walk-in clinics48#176 of 32560.9$17.3M70Under 3
Oil change and quick lube46#292 of 47981.2$9.7M716
House cleaning46#494 of 847152.2$6M9439
Home inspectors45#241 of 41550.7Index only774
Home repair trades43#1,387 of 2,05711917.3$1.7M69107
Pet stores42#625 of 974202.9$3.2M707
Spas and skin care40#1,250 of 1,7698913.0$818K9322
Real estate agents and brokers40#1,602 of 2,17619728.7Index only9554
Mortgage brokers and lenders39#646 of 887436.3Index only617
Lawn, cleaning and pest control39#1,292 of 1,771679.8$1.3M80125
Insurance agencies39#1,500 of 2,2729113.3$1.3M10265
HVAC and plumbing38#1,291 of 1,707679.8$3M6267
Real estate37#1,804 of 2,22925437.0Index only92106
Landscaping and lawn care36#1,121 of 1,493487.0$1.9M6483
Pest controlNot scoredNot scored40.6$22.5M2203

Household spending in Porter County

What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).

Annual household spending in Porter County, IN by line, per household, and against the U.S.
Spending lineA year, all householdsPer householdIndex vs. U.S. (100)
Vehicle maintenance and repairs$77.6M$1,131118
Gasoline and other fuels$193.4M$2,818109
Food away from home$288.3M$4,200103
Groceries$433.4M$6,314100
Personal care products and services$72.8M$1,061106
Child care and other personal services$31.9M$46580
Memberships, classes and admissions$69.6M$1,014103
Medical and dental services$103.5M$1,508117
Pets$63.1M$919101
Clothing, shoes and related services$145M$2,112103
Vehicle insurance$116.8M$1,70287
Home repairs, maintenance and insurance$198.5M$2,89296
Lawn care, cleaning and other household services$90.1M$1,31393
Rent and homeowner costs$1B$14,79289

Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.

Population and households in Porter County

Population, 2025 estimate
176,049+1.6% since 2020
Households
68,639
Median age
41.5
Homes lived in by their owners
78%
Vehicles per household
1.9
Land area
418 sq. mi.
People per square mile
418
Median household income
$87,972+23.6% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
Average household income
$110,512
Median home value
$281,500
Jobs located here
65,198
Daytime population
160,058Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here

Looking at a specific site in Porter County?

These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.

Or open the report at the center of Porter County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.

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Porter County is part of the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area.

Questions

How fast is Porter County, IN growing?

Population estimates put Porter County at 176,049 people in 2025, up 1.6% since 2020, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 68,639 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 23.6%, before inflation.

How much do households in Porter County, IN spend?

Households in Porter County spend about $1B a year on rent and homeowner costs, $433.4M on groceries and $288.3M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in Porter County runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 118, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on child care and other personal services (80).

Which business types have the highest market scores in Porter County, IN?

Of the business types scored in Porter County, chiropractors (83), convenience stores (81) and grocery and convenience stores (81) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For chiropractors, that ranks #36 of 1,490 scored counties.

How does Porter County, IN compare with the U.S.?

Median household income in Porter County is $87,972, 9% above the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 1.6% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $281,500, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for HVAC and plumbing companies (56% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for clothing and shoe stores (55% below the U.S. rate).

What is the Groundwork market score?

The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 55 of the 56 business types have a score in Porter County, each ranked against other counties.

How can I see the market around a specific site?

Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Porter County. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.

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Screening a site or an acquisition in Porter County?

A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.

The button opens the report at the center of Porter County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.