$304,405Average Value$168Average Price per Sq Ft2Homes For Sale
Railroad town with local businesses by the beach
Initially settled in the 1850s with the expansion of the local railroad, Porter has winding rivers, flourishing forests and peaceful beaches in this small suburban enclave. Porter is 46 miles southeast of downtown Chicago, just south of Lake Michigan’s southern shores. With a community-oriented lifestyle and outdoor havens to explore, residents work and live in a quiet neighborhood with various local businesses, restaurants and nightlife that add personality and charisma to this rural neighborhood in the Westchester Township.
Find unique sea glass and shells at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore
Enjoy a drink at The Village Tavern in Porter.
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Smoky barbecue ribs at Wagner's
There is a variety of restaurants and bars frequented by locals on Lincoln Street. At Wagner’s Ribs, guests can order a black Angus ribeye or a rack of sweet and smoky barbecue ribs. For a night out, locals go to Leroy’s “Hot Stuff,” a festive Mexican cantina with live music, local beer and tacos at an affordable price. Residents can have a drink and satisfy their appetite at the Village Tavern, famous for its fried fish and casual atmosphere.
Porter Zip Foods is a family-owned convenience store in town for any last-minute cooking essentials. Jewel-Osco and ALDI are 2 miles west on Indian Boundary Road for supermarket shopping and a longer grocery list.
Porter is home to Wagners BBQ with award wining ribs and much more.
Wagners BBQ has award winning ribs with home made sauce.
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Pop-up events at Hawthorne Park
The Young Entrepreneur, Craft, and Maker Fair happens every summer in Hawthorne Park, and young artists can showcase their work. “Hawthorne Park, is a big part of Porter," says Kelly Sieman, a local who has lived in the area for 20 years and Accounting Manager at the Chesterton Duneland Chamber of Commerce. They do an annual art show and tons of events.” Porter’s Perfect Pint Fest at Leroy’s “Hot Stuff” is an event where customers taste beer from 50 different breweries to raise money for the community.
Cabins on winding roads or luxurious communities
Homes in Porter sit in residential communities separated by forests, rivers and creeks. The largest cluster of houses is central to the neighborhood and an extension of north Chesterton with grid streets and more modest yards. Further, in the outskirts of town, cabins sit on wooded lots off winding roads or spaced out on manicured lawns in luxurious planned communities. Home styles consist of split-level ranch, cape cods and bi-level, new traditional homes with large yards, and land is often available or part of the property’s purchase. Homes prices fall between $175,000 - $450,000. Potential homeowners can find a 2-bedroom ranch home with a deck and 2-car garage for $175,000, with prices increasing to $445,000 for a 3-bedroom ranch home with 2,500 square feet on a 2-acre property only one mile from the beach.
Homes in Porter can often sit on acreage.
Areas of Porter have larger homes with generous sized yards.
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Excellent schools for Porter kids
Kids can attend Newton Yost Elementary School, which has a B-plus overall Niche grade and was recently recognized as a Model PLC school, with a professional learning community demonstrating advanced student learning. Chesterton Middle School has an A-minus overall grade, and students can play cello or violin in the orchestra. Chesterton Senior High School receives an A overall grade, and students can join the show choir team. Chesterton Senior also takes the #2 spot on Niche’s Best Public High Schools in Porter County.
Yost Elementary School fosters a caring and nurturing environment for its students.
Chesterton High School has many after school sports and activities with an A rating on Niche.
Chesterton Middle School is a top rated school in the area with 908 students.
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Playgrounds, fishing, hiking and the Indiana Dunes
Residents who need to get outside and feel the sunshine can go to Hawthorne Park for a playground, volleyball and basketball courts and nine holes of disc golf. From Hawthorne Park, wanderers can take a footpath to the Little Calumet River for shoreline fishing. Visitors can have a picnic in one of the spacious shelters at the park or check out the Hawthorne Park Community Center, a popular event venue for Porter’s most significant celebrations. Porter Cove Park is perfect for children, with a large, shady playground that has an obstacle course and a zipline by a sizeable field with a pavilion. Residents can take a fishing rod to Indian Springs Park and cast a line in the 6-acre lake surrounded by tall grass and willow trees. Residents can also drive north on Waverly Road to reach Porter Beach, a clean and serene shoreline on the lake and an ideal place to watch a golden sunset. “Out-of-towners are always impressed when they see our beaches,” says Sieman.
Porter’s backyard is the Indiana Dunes National Park, full of sandy trails and quiet woodlands around Lake Michigan, spanning across 15 miles of Indiana’s coastline. Here, folks from across the United States come to camp, hike and learn about the park’s wildlife.
Indian Ridge Park is a beautiful park with a pond full of fish.
Kids can enjoy playing basketball at Kids Cove at Hawthorne Park in Porter.
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To the city
Commuters can take Interstate 94 west to Chicago or Route 20 for a scenic route to more nearby towns. The Gary/Chicago International Airport is only 20 miles west when residents need to take a trip.
Porter is in a prime location just off interstate 94 making commuting across town a breeze.
Written By
Jillian Pillow
Video By
Jacob McAllister
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Gina Ziobro,
an experienced agent in this area.
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On average, homes in Porter, IN sell after 47 days on the market compared to the national average of 50 days. The median sale price for homes in Porter, IN over the last 12 months is $255,000, down 9% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Built in 2021, this stylish 3 bedroom, 3 bath home offers a bright open-concept floor plan with soaring cathedral ceilings across the living, dining, and kitchen areas. The kitchen boasts stylish gray cabinetry, island, quartz countertops, & convenient eat-in dining. A spacious back deck overlooks the nicely sized yard, perfect for relaxing or entertaining. The lower level provides excellent
Just minutes from the Indiana Dunes State and National Parks, the Dune Park South Shore Double Track, and only 3 miles from Porter Beach, this stunning 3-bedroom, 3-bath home offers over 3,000 square feet of beautiful living space! Significant updates completed in 2024 include a new front door, updated half bath, new outside lighting, new carpet (family room, stairs, loft, hall and primary
Discover comfort and convenience in this delightful 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom ranch home, perfectly situated in a highly sought-after subdivision. Recently updated with a fresh coat of paint and new carpet throughout, this home welcomes you with a vibrant and airy atmosphere.Step into the heart of the home, where a beautifully updated kitchen awaits. Equipped with modern fixtures. The seamless flow
Build your dream home on this rare 1.46 acre wooded corner lot with public utilities and the peaceful Coffee Creek running through the property. Located just a hop, skip, and a jump from everything Chesterton has to offer including the highly sought after Duneland School District, the charming downtown area and Dunes National Lakeshore! Whether you're heading to the city for work or play,
LOOK at this! All the "BIGS" have been done, new roof April 2025, new upstairs windows, new HVAC system last year, new garage door. Just come put your personal touch on this Beauty.
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