South Lake County, Porter County growing fast

Porter County’s two largest cities both attracted thousands of new residents since the turn of the century. Valparaiso’s population has grown by 5,198 residents, or 18 percent, over the last 15 years, while Portage’s population has increased by 3,242 residents, or 9.6 percent, during that period.

Most dramatically, St. John's population has nearly doubled, shooting up by 90 percent since 2000.

Officials in government, academia, and the real estate industry chalked the growth in those communities up to new housing stock, good school systems and amenities like restaurants, shopping and the new ice skating rink in downtown Valparaiso. The towns that are growing also have relatively little crime, less traffic and available land where developers can build new subdivisions. They cautioned however that growth may push out even further as the growing communities in South Lake and Porter Counties become more congested.

“The main reason these communities are growing is that they are relatively desirable places to live. Factors that include good schools, low crime, convenient location and excellent amenities like shopping, restaurants, green spaces, etc. make these cities attractive to varying degrees,” Indiana University Northwest assistant professor of economics Micah Pollak said. “As a result, you have a combination of more families relocating to these communities from other nearby areas and families already there are more likely to remain.”

Mature, built-out suburban communities like Munster haven’t been growing as much because they just don’t have enough land for new housing, Pollak said. But people still need to have an easy commute to jobs.

“One factor that is likely to increase the desirability and ultimately population growth more in the future is better access to transportation,” he said. “The West Lake expansion of the South Shore Line will open up access to Chicago in communities like Munster, Dyer and St. John, while the double tracking of the existing South Shore Line will decrease the commuting time from places like Michigan City.”

Schererville been growing over the last few decades largely because of its location on U.S. 30 and proximity to Illinois, Town Manager Robert Volkmann said. The town has added 3,940 residents over the last 15 years, a 15.7 percent jump in population. 

“It’s probably because of its location,” he said. “It’s strategically located.”

Schererville and the other Tri-Town communities are close to the job market in northern Lake County but have newer subdivisions that are ideal for families, Volkmann said.

“It has the suburban feel, nice neighborhoods and good schools,” he said. “That’s the main reason why people move, good schools.”

Over the last 10 to 15 years, people have been flocking to communities with good schools and land to grow, Greater Northwest Indiana Association of Realtors Chief Executive Officer Peter Novak said.

Lake County's northern communities are landlocked and filled with older homes younger families aren’t as interested in, he said. But people are also looking to move to communities with amenities.

“Statistics show us now more than ever quality of life factors into home buying,” Novak said. “In previous generations, the job was a bigger factor.”

The low cost of living in Indiana contributes greatly to quality of life, which is why the Region continues to see an influx of new residents from Illinois, he said.

But the success of some communities in drawing residents may only ultimately push people even further away from the urban core, Novak said.

“Many people who moved from North Lake County to South Lake County because it was less populated, thinking they were getting away from traffic and noise 10 years ago, are now moving farther out into more rural areas,” he said. “Traffic followed them to Crown Point and Valparaiso.”