$301,853Average Value$163Average Price per Sq Ft9Homes 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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Porter is in a prime location just off interstate 94 making commuting across town a breeze.
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.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Nick Scalise,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Hawthorne Park
Baseball/Softball
Basketball
Disc Golf
Porter Cove Park
Baseball/Softball
Basketball
Picnic Area
National Park Service
Trails
Visitor Center
Dogwood Park
Baseball/Softball
Basketball
Grills
Indiana Dunes National Park
Bike Trails
Trails
Nature Center
Indiana Dunes National Park
Bike Trails
Camping
Fishing
Indian Springs Park
Fishing
Picnic Area
Trails
Reviews
Niche Reviews
4.020 Reviews
5.0Niche User
6/29/2014Niche Review
Great campground and very beautiful and conviently located too.
4.0Niche User
6/29/2014Niche Review
there are many sidewalks and cars always yeild for pedestrians.
4.0Niche User
6/29/2014Niche Review
the housing is great. there are a lot of places to buy a house here and some have big yards as well.
5.0Current Resident
4/26/2024Niche Review
Extremely safe, even at night and good public and private schools. We are right along Porter Beach on Lake Michigan. We are a 5 min. drive to the Indiana Dunes National Park and the Indiana Dunes State Park and a 45 minute drive to downtown Chicago. It's just a 1 hour drive to Notre Dame University. We are a 20 min. drive to Valparaiso University. We are a 5 minute drive from a nice commuter train station where you can take a train to downtown Chicago
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Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Porter
US
Homicide
2
4
Sexual Assault
2
4
Assault with Weapon
2
4
Robbery
2
4
Burglary
3
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
3
4
Larceny
3
4
Crime Score
3
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Porter, IN sell after 39 days on the market compared to the national average of 47 days. The average sale price for homes in Porter, IN over the last 12 months is $300,369, up 7% from the average home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Welcome to this impeccably cared-for custom ranch home in the desirable Baillytown neighborhood. This thoughtfully designed residence boasts a timeless brick and cedar exterior and sits on a beautifully landscaped lot curated by the owner, a master gardener, whose stunning yard and garden were featured in the Porter County Master Gardeners' Garden Walk. Step onto the large, private deck and
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
True related living with location and convenience in mind. This ranch home can be enjoyed as a single family or related living/bnb, and has close access to our shore line area beaches or steps away from the adjacent, Hawthrone Park where you can enjoy town festivals, bike trails, or take in some seasonal baseball games. This 4-bedroom home features 2 full kitchens, 2 living rooms, 2 full
WOW!!! Located 1.5 miles from Lake Michigan. Only 1.7 miles from the entrance to the Indiana Dunes National Park and Porter Beach just off Waverly Rd. Only 0.8 mi to the South Shore Train Station.This home sits on a fenced double lot. Completely renovated 2021; a new roof, exterior doors, garage door and opener, furnace, water heater, plumbing and electric. All new 2021 stainless appliances,
This townhouse has 2 bedrooms upstairs with a connecting full bath. First floor has a large eat in kitchen including a dishwasher, living area, half bath and laundry room. Private back patio and own front entrance. Two parking spots right in front of the door. Quiet neighborhood near the bike path and dogwood park.
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Nick Scalise,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
5,515
Median Age
41
Population Density
2 ppl/acre
Population under 18
23.4%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
18.5%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$86,931
Above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$102,344
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
96.6%
Above the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
30.7%
On par with the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
10.7%
% Population in Labor Force
65.4%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
40''
Average Winter Low Temperature
18°F
Average Summer High Temperature
83°F
Annual Snowfall
43''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
45/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
43/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
