La Porte, Indiana Short-Term Rental Market
La Porte, IN STRs averaged $157/night at 54.5% occupancy in April 2026, with all three core metrics growing year-over-year in this lake-country market.
Quick Answer: La Porte, Indiana is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Indiana Area market area is 62%. average monthly revenue in the Indiana Area market area is $3,810. average daily rate in the Indiana Area market area is $231. the top operator in the Indiana Area market area is Evolve with 168 listings. market score is 78/100 (grade B).
Market data reflects the Indiana Area regional market, which includes La Porte. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to La Porte.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
La Porte is a city of 22,449 residents in northwestern Indiana, notable for having nearly half a dozen lakes within city limits, including Pine Lake, Stone Lake, Clear Lake, Lily Lake, and others. This embedded lake geography makes La Porte a genuine summer leisure destination for Chicago-area visitors and regional tourists, differentiating it from most small Midwest cities. Additional draws include the Hesston Steam Museum, the LaPorte County Historical Society Museum, Garwood Orchards agritourism destination, and an active downtown district.
The STR market recorded an average daily rate of $157 and occupancy of 54.5% in April 2026, generating RevPAR of $85.48 and average monthly revenue of $2,181 per listing. Year-over-year, all three core metrics grew: occupancy up 5.0 percentage points, ADR up 3.1%, and revenue up 3.9%. This positive three-way trend distinguishes La Porte from several other markets in this batch.
The market hosts 7,816 active listings. Entire-place rentals represent 7,121 units (91.1% of total), with 693 private-room listings and 2 shared rooms. Airbnb is the primary channel with 4,181 Airbnb-only listings; 3,139 list on both Airbnb and VRBO, and 496 are VRBO-only.
By bedroom count, 1-bedroom units lead at 2,451 listings, followed by 2-bedroom (2,187), 3-bedroom (1,826), 4-bedroom (786), and 5-bedroom (552). The 5-bedroom share of 7.1% reflects meaningful group-lake-house demand.
The composite market score of 78.0 is supported by an investability rating of 96.8 and a demand score of 79.4. The regulation score of 66.2 reflects a light-touch state preemption framework with no confirmed local ordinance.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 39% | $129 | $1,542 |
| Feb | 48% | $129 | $1,541 |
| Mar | 51% | $135 | $1,848 |
| Apr | 51% | $143 | $1,893 |
| May | 53% | $170 | $2,256 |
| Jun | 62% | $214 | $3,402 |
| Jul | 67% | $221 | $3,994 |
| Aug | 59% | $212 | $3,451 |
| Sep | 50% | $183 | $2,482 |
| Oct | 51% | $165 | $2,400 |
| Nov | 47% | $153 | $2,017 |
| Dec | 45% | $147 | $1,887 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Indiana Area market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Indiana Area market as a whole, which includes La Porte, so these counts are not La Porte-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 168 | 6,280 | ★ 4.69 |
| 2 | Beachwalk Vacation Rentals | 139 | 4,328 | ★ 4.72 |
| 3 | General Manager of Hills O' Brown Vacation Rentals | 71 | 2,200 | ★ 4.70 |
| 4 | Imperial Access Rental | 48 | 138 | ★ 4.68 |
| 5 | MTM Premier Property Management | 40 | 1,048 | ★ 4.78 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in La Porte?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 2,451 |
| 2 bed | 2,187 |
| 3 bed | 1,826 |
| 4 bed | 786 |
| 5 bed | 552 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $243 |
| Luxury | $444 |
| Professionally Managed | $359 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $2,319 |
| Entire Place | $4,004 |
| House | $4,296 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 53.5% |
| vrbo | 6.3% |
| both | 40.2% |
Investment Analysis
La Porte STRs generated an average of $2,181 per month in April 2026. Using the April 2026 run rate annualized, the implied gross yield is approximately 9.6% ($26,172 annualized / $272,591 Zillow typical home value, April 2026 run rate basis). Based on the 2025 full-year annual average of $2,671 per month (explicit 2025 annual average basis), annualized revenue is approximately $32,100, implying a gross yield of approximately 11.8% on the same typical home value of $272,591. Both figures are gross before platform fees, management, maintenance, taxes, and debt service.
The housing market provides additional investment context. The median sale price is $235,750 against a typical home value of $272,591 and a median list price of $277,950. The sale-to-list ratio of 0.848 indicates properties have been selling at approximately 84.8% of list price, suggesting buyers retain negotiating leverage. Only 113 homes are currently listed for sale, and the median time to pending is 19 days, indicating an active but not frenzied pace.
The investability score of 96.8 reflects the favorable income-to-home-price ratio that La Porte’s affordable housing market creates relative to STR income.
Rate segmentation: luxury-tier listings averaged $314 per night, 100.2% above the market-wide $157. Professionally managed properties averaged $197 per night (25.7% above market). Entire-home listings averaged $165 per night, a 5.3% premium. Revenue by type: houses averaged $2,376 per month, entire-place listings $2,291, and apartments $1,713.
Annual revenue grew from $1,932 per month (2017 annual average) to $2,671 in 2025, a 38.3% gain over eight years.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
La Porte guests book an average of 40 days in advance and stay an average of 4.1 nights per stay. These metrics are consistent with a Chicago-regional lake destination where summer bookings arrive in late spring from planners locking in Independence Day and summer weekends.
The 40-day lead time suggests the peak June-through-August window fills primarily from late April through June. Operators who set summer rates by March are well-positioned relative to this demand wave. With 7,816 active listings, competition for summer bookings is meaningful; operators with high review scores and strong photographs are more likely to capture early-booking demand at full rate.
At 4.1 nights average length of stay, guests are booking stays that extend beyond a single weekend. Lake-access properties that offer boat docks, kayaks, or fishing amenities likely attract the longer-stay guests who combine recreational activities with a multi-day relaxation visit. For operators without lake access, highlighting proximity to city lakes, nearby agritourism, and the Hesston Steam Museum can support multi-night itineraries.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
La Porte, Indiana has no confirmed city-specific short-term rental ordinance. STR activity is governed primarily by Indiana’s statewide preemption law, Indiana Code 36-1-24, which protects short-term rentals from outright local bans.
Under Indiana Code 36-1-24, an owner-occupied short-term rental is a permitted residential use in any zoning district that allows residential use and may not be prohibited by local zoning. Non-owner-occupied STRs are allowed but a locality may require a permit or zoning variance. State law caps any local STR permit fee at $150, makes permits valid for one year, and provides that renewal is free unless the permit was revoked for cause.
As of 2026, La Porte County and the City of La Porte had not adopted a comprehensive local STR framework; local regulation is described as under consideration. Practical enforcement is minimal, and operators chiefly face state tax-collection obligations and general zoning and building codes.
On taxes, the LaPorte County Innkeeper’s Tax of 5% applies to stays under 30 days. Indiana’s 7% state gross retail (sales) tax also applies to STR income. Airbnb and VRBO act as marketplace facilitators and generally collect these taxes automatically on behalf of hosts, simplifying compliance. Investors should confirm current tax and registration requirements directly with the City of La Porte planning and zoning department, as a local registry or ordinance could be enacted at any time. The regulation score of 66.2 reflects the light-touch current environment.
Market Comparison
La Porte’s April 2026 occupancy of 54.5% is slightly below the approximate U.S. STR median of 55%, a near-match in a shoulder month. The average daily rate of $157 is below the U.S. median of approximately $220, consistent with La Porte’s inland Midwest positioning and moderate home-price market.
The investability score of 96.8 stands out, reflecting attractive income-to-home-price dynamics in a market where the typical home value is $272,591 and the 2025 annual average STR revenue is $2,671 per month.
The positive year-over-year growth on all three metrics (occupancy +5.0pp, ADR +3.1%, revenue +3.9%) for April 2026 is notable and distinguishes La Porte from several other markets in this batch that showed revenue declines year-over-year.
Property management in this market includes Evolve with 168 listings and 6,280 reviews (rating 4.69). Beachwalk Vacation Rentals manages 139 listings (rating 4.72, 4,328 reviews). General Manager of Hills O’ Brown Vacation Rentals holds 71 listings (rating 4.70). Imperial Access Rental operates 48 listings (rating 4.68) and MTM Premier Property Management manages 40 listings (rating 4.78). The top five collectively hold 466 listings, approximately 6.0% of total market supply.
Frequently Asked Questions About La Porte, Indiana
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