Northwestern Indiana
Regional Planning Commission

 

                                                           ECONOMIC INDICATORS
                                          LAKE, PORTER, AND LA PORTE COUNTIES
       
Population  2005 Estimate Census 2000 1990
         Lake 493,297 484,564 475,594
         La Porte 110,512 110,106 107,066
         Porter 157,772 146,798 128,932
         Total 761,581 741,468 711,592
Housing Units   2003 Estimate Census 2000 1990
         Lake 200,407 194,992 183,014
         La Porte 46,699 45,621 42,268
         Porter 61,242 57,616 47,240
         Total 308,348 298,229 272,522
Housing Permits Issued 2000-2005   Units   Value
         Lake 14,951 2,143,326,288
         La Porte 2,752 322,342,163
         Porter 7,177 1,128,304,862
         Total                24,880 $3,593,973,313
Average Home Price    2004
          3 Bedrooms 
              Lake $118,903
              Porter $150,432
              La Porte $114,343
          4 or more Bedrooms
              Lake $184,894
              Porter $219,654
              La Porte $185,097
Land in Farms (Acres) 2002 1997 1992
         Lake 127,782 148,872 144,305
         La Porte 243,447 247,756 267,695
         Porter 145,779 134,505 142,482
         Total 519,010 533,130 556,474
Total Individual Adjusted Gross Income
Tax Year 2004
         Lake $8,568,136,541
         La Porte $1,848,126,098
         Porter $3,447,642,898
         Total $13,863,905,538
Total Personal Income 2004
         Lake $14,013,780,000
         La Porte $2,933,213,000
         Porter $5,146,818,000
         Total $22,093,811,000
Inflation Rate   2005 3.2%
Labor Force  2005
         Lake 226,280
         La Porte 53,250
         Porter 80,310
         Total 359,840 321,700 (1983)
Employed   2005
         Lake 212,360
         La Porte 50,030
         Porter 76,550
         Total 338,940 272,400 (1983)
Unemployed   2005
         Lake 13,920
         La Porte 3,220
         Porter 3,760
         Total 20,900 49,300 (1983)
Unemployment Rate 2005
         Lake 6.2%
         La Porte 6.0%
         Porter 4.7%
         Total 5.8% 15.3% (1983)
Employment by Industry 2004 within
Lake, La Porte and Porter Counties        Employment
         Total 288,674
         Natural Resources/Mining 874
         Construction 20,076
         Manufacturing 44,826 121,100 (1979)
                Steel Mills 18,000 71,200 (1979)
         Trans, Utilities 13,382
         Retail/Wholesale Trade 46,895
         Information 3,806
         Finance, Insurance, Real Estate 10,998
         Professional/Business Services 23,642
         Education/Health Services 61,302
         Leisure/Hospitality 35,336
                Riverboat Casinos 7,700
         Other Services 10,880
         Public Administration 16,657
Percent of Total Employment 2004
     Manufacturing 15%
     Service Producing 85%
Workers by Commute to Workplace    Census 2000 1990 Census 1980 Census
      NW Indiana Residents to NW Indiana     268,800 255,960 251,965
      NW Indiana Residents to Illinois      52,138 42,910 24,604
      Ilinois Residents to NW Indiana     14,665 13,399 19,187
Steel Shipments 2004 
         Net Tons Indiana 27,560,000
         Net Tons US Total 112,500,000
         Indiana as % of US 24.5
Northwest Indiana Riverboat Casinos     (1996-2005)
     Admissions 147,371,069
     Admission Tax 442,262,142
     Wagering Tax 1,522,428,796
     Total Tax $2,112,062,007
Prepared by: NORTHWESTERN INDIANA REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION

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