Valparaiso 55+ Retirement Communities

Valparaiso is a city in Northwest Indiana. It is popular among retirees for its local theaters, museums, and craft breweries as well as its proximity to the excitement of Chicago. Besides this, active adults enjoy numerous parks, an arboretum, and the nearby Indiana Dunes State Park.

Climate & Geography

Valparaiso has a humid continental climate typical of the midwest. Summers are warm to hot with some extended humidity, and winters are cold. The city receives 40 inches of rain, 39 inches. of snow, and 176 sunny days each year.

Valparaiso is located on the Valparaiso Moraine, which is characterized by high, hilly terrain. The city is 15 miles south of Lake Michigan and the Indiana Dunes State Park.

Recreation, Culture, & Entertainment

The most popular outdoor destination in Valparaiso is the Taltree Arboretum and Gardens, which has over 330 acres of formal gardens, wetlands, and restored woodlands. Forest Park and Central Park Plaza have open fields, trails, gardens, and concerts. For beachside activities and expansive nature trails, active adults can head a half-hour to the Indiana Dunes State Park.

Valparaiso has an abundance of craft breweries for retirees to enjoy. There are also multiple museums and art centers, including the Porter County Museum, Chicago Street Theatre, and Memorial Opera House. For shopping, there are several vintage stores throughout the city, and residents can find brand names at the Silhavy Square shopping center.

For more entertainment and high-end shopping, residents can head an hour to Chicago.

Cost of Living & Taxes

The overall cost of living in Valparaiso matches the national average, but housing and health care costs are below average. The city does have a higher cost of living than the rest of Indiana.

Indiana imposes a flat-rate income tax. Social Security benefits are exempt, but all other forms of retirement income are taxed at 3.23 percent. Property taxes are below average, and homeowners qualify for a homestead deduction. The sales tax rate across the state is 7 percent.

Health Care

According to Gallup's Well-Being Index, Indiana ranks in the top 33 states on the community factor of the survey.

Valparaiso has one hospital that is rated high performing by U.S. News: Porter Regional Hospital. Additional nearby high performing hospitals include St. Mary Medical Center-Hobart and Methodist Hospitals, both of which are within 20 miles of the city.