I’m Kayla, and last year I hunted for land in LaPorte County, Indiana. I walked fence lines. I stepped in mud. I even got stuck behind a tractor. Twice. I still smile thinking about it.
That scouting trip turned into a deeper dive for ALCO—catch my full run-down here.
I’ll share what I saw, what I bought, and what I wish I knew. Real spots. Real numbers. No fluff.
Why LaPorte County pulled me in
It felt right. You get farmland, woods, and beaches all in one county. I could hit Washington Park Beach in Michigan City, get sweet corn on US-20, and still hear coyotes at night. Prices were more friendly than Porter County to the west. Not cheap-cheap. But fair for what you get.
And the commute isn’t bad. My brother rides the South Shore train from Michigan City. I drive. Chicago on a good day? Right around 1 hour 20. South Bend? About 35 to 45 minutes. And if the mood strikes for a down-and-back food adventure, Indianapolis sits just far enough for a day-trip; I once ate my way through the city’s “newish” spots and still made it home by bedtime.
Three real parcels I toured
I saw more than a dozen. But these three stuck with me.
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Westville, 2.3 acres, listed at $74,900
Corner of CR 250 W and a quiet side road. The soil felt sandy. Easy to dig. The agent said it perked fine last year. NIPSCO power on the pole. No gas line though. I stood there and heard a steady hum from US-30. Not loud, but there. Bonus: a few oaks on the back line. Downside: a shallow swale kept water after storms. The county said I’d need a driveway permit and a culvert. -
Rolling Prairie, 10 acres, $189,000
Half field, half woods. Pretty, with deer trails. Kingsbury Fish & Wildlife Area was a short drive away. The back two acres showed on the IDEM wetland map. I wore boots and still sank. A neighbor said “Bring bug spray in June.” Power by LaPorte County REMC was on the road. Internet was spotty, unless I went with a fixed wireless tower. Price felt high, but the layout was sweet for a barndo or a house with a pole barn. -
Near Kingsbury, 5 acres, $89,500
Long rectangle off CR 600 S. Soybeans across the street. The seller had a 2022 perk test that failed on one corner. The other corner passed with a mound system. That means the septic would sit raised with clean sand and a pump. It works. It just costs more and looks like a gentle bump in the yard. Train noise from a CSX line rolled by a couple times. Short bursts. Not awful.
The one I bought
I landed a 5.4-acre piece south of Rolling Prairie, off CR 450 E. I paid $92,000 in spring 2024. It had a scruffy pine windbreak, a sunny meadow, and a slight rise that felt right for a home site. Test holes were good. I got a standard septic approved. Electric by REMC, set within four weeks. No natural gas. I put in a 500-gallon propane tank. The well is 110 feet deep and tastes clean. Cold, too. Feels like a tiny miracle every morning.
The NIPSCO folks were polite when I called about gas. But the line was too far to be worth it. I cook on propane now. It’s fine. Honestly, I like it.
You know what made me grin? Sandhill cranes flying over at dusk. That and the La Porte County Fair corn dogs. Both are hard to beat.
Stuff I wish I knew sooner
Here’s the thing. Land looks simple until it doesn’t. A few lessons saved me cash.
- Wetlands are real. IDEM maps gave me a heads-up. But my boots told the truth. If it squishes in May, plan for it.
- Perk tests matter. The LaPorte County Health Department was helpful. Call them. Ask about soil types and your septic options.
- Driveway permits take time. The Highway Department wanted a culvert size set first. I waited three weeks. Not awful. Just plan ahead.
- Drainage tiles hide. A farmer down the road pointed to a line he dug 20 years ago. That line kept my meadow dry. Gold.
- Trains, wind, and lake-effect snow. Sounds silly. But noise and snow drift patterns matter. I stood on the lot on a windy day. I’m glad I did.
If you need the official word on what counts as a regulated wetland, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management keeps a clear guide at its wetlands page.
Prices I saw while shopping
This is what I saw with my own eyes in 2024–2025. Your mileage may vary.
- Small 1–3 acre build sites near Westville and La Porte: $55k to $110k, depending on road access and tests.
- Wooded 5–10 acre parcels south of Rolling Prairie or near Union Mills: $85k to $220k, based on timber, trails, and “buildable” area.
- Tillable farmland: I saw $9k to $13k per acre for bigger pieces. Smaller “hobby” chunks cost more per acre.
Taxes on my 5.4 acres are just under $600 a year right now. No farm credit. No exemptions yet. That may change when I finish the house.
The good, the bad, the honest
Pros:
- Mix of lakes, fields, and woods. Pretty in fall. Quiet nights.
- Fair prices compared to nearby counties.
- Real food stands. Blueberries in July. Sweet corn by August.
- Craving city flavor? Use one carefree Saturday to slurp soup dumplings and more in Indy’s best Chinese spots before retreating to quiet back roads.
- Decent commute choices. Drive or train.
Cons:
- Some parcels hide wetlands or poor soils. Tests add time and cost.
- Internet can be hit or miss. Fixed wireless worked for me. Fiber is spotty.
- Lake-effect snow piles up on open roads. Plows are quick, but drifts are real.
- Train and highway noise in some pockets. Stand on the lot and just listen.
Living on a rural road can also feel isolating if you’re single and used to a bigger dating pool. More than one neighbor told me they rely on apps to meet people these days. If you’re specifically interested in connecting with Asian singles, this rundown of the best Asian hookup apps highlights which platforms actually have active users outside major cities and offers safety tips for first-time meet-ups, saving you from endless trial-and-error swiping. Closer to home, I’ve met a few folks who skip swipe culture altogether and use local classifieds instead; if you want to see how that old-school format works in a Midwestern market, this practical guide to Doublelist Belleville explains posting etiquette, safety steps, and how to craft an ad that actually gets replies—useful intel you can borrow when setting up your own listing in LaPorte or any nearby county.
A few names that helped me
- LaPorte County Health Department for septic guidance.
- LaPorte County Planning for zoning questions. Mine was Agricultural, with rules on setbacks.
- NRCS Web Soil Survey to peek at soil maps. The “sandy loam” squares gave me hope.
- The land-buying checklists at ALCO gave me a quick primer on easements and deed restrictions.
One of my first stops online was the NRCS Web Soil Survey, which let me pull up free soil maps for every parcel in minutes.
Also, talk to neighbors. They know where the water sits, which roads drift, and who fixes wells fast. A guy named Dave down my road told me about a local well driller who actually answered his phone during a freeze. He was right.
Who should buy here?
- Folks who want some elbow room, not ten neighbors on one block.
- Hunters who care about deer movement and edge habitat.
- People who like a quiet road, but also want a grocery run in 15 minutes.
- Builders who can work with sandy soil or a mound system if needed.
If you want city water and fiber at the pole on day one, you might get frustrated. If you can live with a well, a septic plan, and a little mud, you’ll be happy.
My final take
I’m glad I bought here. The land feels calm. Mornings smell like hay and pine. Some days, I hear a tractor. Some nights, a train. It’s not perfect. But it’s honest ground.
If you’re scanning listings for “LaPorte County land for sale,” go walk the lots. Kick the