The Town FilesFish Lake, Indiana
Community in LaPorte County · population 1,052 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $190,800
- Household income
- $80,976
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 42 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 64.3
Fish Lake is a community of 1,052 people in LaPorte County, Indiana. The median home is worth $190,800, above the typical Indiana town ($150,400). It ranks better for a vacation home than 99% of Indiana towns, easier by car than 97% of Indiana towns, better for families than 94% of Indiana towns.
How Fish Lake ranks
Percentile among Indiana towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Indiana towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Fish Lake is worth $190,800, above the typical Indiana town ($150,400). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $80,976, which is more affordable than 58% of Indiana towns. 96.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fish Lake | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $190,800 | $150,400 |
| Median rent | — | $888 |
| Median household income | $80,976 | $61,953 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 96.7% | 73.4% |
| Median year built | 1963 | 1966 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 44.2% | — |
Who lives in Fish Lake
| People | Fish Lake | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 64.3 | 38.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 42.7% | 17.1% |
| Under 18 | 1.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 31.5% | 17.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.9% | 11.6% |
| Veterans | 15.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.8% | — |
| Work from home | 5.6% | 6.2% |
| Average commute | 34.3 min | 24.7 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.9% | 89.2% |
Weather in Fish Lake
July highs average 82.1°F and January lows 17.3°F. About 42.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 41.7 inches of snow (typical Indiana town: 21.1 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 119 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fish Lake since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Indiana town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on October 24, 2001 about 7.1 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 63 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 30, 2014.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 32 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 2, 2011.
Severe weather in LaPorte County since 1996
LaPorte County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 25, 2026 | Flood | DR-4933: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| August 15, 2026 | Flood | EM-3651: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3641: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4515: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3456: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in LaPorte County
LaPorte County had 40,632 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,978 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Fish Lake itself the ACS puts it at 15%.
Towns near Fish Lake
- North Liberty, IN6.3 mi · 1,623 people · home $162,100
- Walkerton, IN7.1 mi · 2,096 people · home $149,200
- Rolling Prairie, IN8.9 mi · 562 people · home $251,800
- Kingsford Heights, IN9.4 mi · 1,335 people · home $120,500
- La Porte, IN9.5 mi · 22,471 people · home $157,500
- New Carlisle, IN10.5 mi · 1,891 people · home $186,700
- Koontz Lake, IN10.6 mi · 1,667 people · home $143,200
- Hudson Lake, IN10.6 mi · 1,226 people · home $241,200
Fish Lake questions
Is Fish Lake, Indiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fish Lake scores better for retirees than 92% of Indiana towns and quieter than 73%. 42.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 64.3).
How much does a house cost in Fish Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in Fish Lake is valued at $190,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $80,976, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Fish Lake?
July highs average 82.1°F and January lows 17.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.5 inches of precipitation a year and 41.7 inches of snow.
Does Fish Lake get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fish Lake since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on October 24, 2001. The typical Indiana town has had 23.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)