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Living in
East Chicago.
About
Life in East Chicago
The economy here is tighter than the broader region; unemployment sits at 6.1%, and median household income is around $42,000, which limits some amenities and services you'd find in wealthier suburbs. The community is majority Latino with a strong African American presence, and you'll find Spanish spoken widely alongside English. The South Shore Line gives you commuter rail access to Chicago proper, and most downtown commutes run about 22 minutes, but you'll need a car for daily life since this is entirely urban but not transit-rich.
East Chicago at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
36.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
26.3%
Foreign-Born
16.4%
Broadband Internet
78.5%
of households
Population Growth
-2.9%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics16.4% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in East Chicago: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In East Chicago, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (80.4%), and 40.8% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
25.3%
of residents
65 and Older
14.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
35.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
37.0%
of households
Married Couples
25.5%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.61
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 20% below IN average
Rent, home values, and income in East Chicago
In East Chicago, rent runs 20% below the IN average, and home values are 52% below the IN average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
44.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
21.6%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
103.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,083
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
42.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Vacant Homes
19.6%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $129,550 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 2.4 pts above IN average
Unemployment in East Chicago
Unemployment in East Chicago is 2.4 percentage points higher than the IN average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What East Chicago Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute20.8 min avg
How East Chicago residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In East Chicago, most residents drive alone to work (75%), and 68% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 18 mi
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
Medium hub9.4M passengers boarded in 2025
- 33 mi
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
Major hub40.7M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 72% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in East Chicago runs 72% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
565.8
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,252.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
East Chicago Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 31 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
95.9 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Lake County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Lake County, which includes East Chicago, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 31 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 31 | Thunderstorm Wind | $4.0M |
| 2024 | 21 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 20 | Thunderstorm Wind | $10.0M |
| 2022 | 22 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2021 | 20 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2020 | 26 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 25 | Flood | $1,000 |
| 2018 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Lake County, county-wide
Air Quality53 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Lake County, which includes East Chicago, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
53
Good Days
152
per year
Moderate Days
198
per year
Unhealthy Days
4
per year
Lake County, county-wide
Climate82°F summers, 18°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
East Chicago has warm summers (avg high 82°F) and very cold winters (avg low 18°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
59°/39°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
82°/62°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
62°/43°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
34°/18°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
40.3"
Annual Snowfall
26.6"
Hot Days/Year
16
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
125
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
139
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31°F | 15°F | 2.49" |
| Feb | 35°F | 18°F | 2.15" |
| Mar | 46°F | 28°F | 2.65" |
| Apr | 59°F | 38°F | 4.02" |
| May | 71°F | 49°F | 4.57" |
| Jun | 80°F | 59°F | 4.91" |
| Jul | 84°F | 64°F | 4.73" |
| Aug | 82°F | 62°F | 4.02" |
| Sep | 76°F | 55°F | 3.44" |
| Oct | 63°F | 42°F | 3.65" |
| Nov | 48°F | 31°F | 3.00" |
| Dec | 36°F | 22°F | 2.47" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in East Chicago
East Chicago has 1 hospital, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
11.9%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
St Catherine Hospital Inc.
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Methodist Hospitals Inc.
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6 mi away · Gary
Community Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.3 mi away · Munster
Advocate Trinity Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8 mi away · Chicago
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education13.9:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in East Chicago
East Chicago's student/teacher ratio is 13.9:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 10.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
9
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
10.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.9:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near East Chicago (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 7,569 students · in-state tuition $73,962 · 96% graduate · median earnings $103,872 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 4-year · 5,671 students · in-state tuition $8,675 · 51% graduate · median earnings $58,620 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 3,096 students · in-state tuition $39,080 · 62% graduate · median earnings $64,661 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 4-year · 2,661 students · in-state tuition $8,424 · 41% graduate · median earnings $48,764 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 4-year · 1,384 students · in-state tuition $13,358 · 38% graduate · median earnings $48,395 (10 yrs after entry)
Calumet College of Saint Joseph
2.6 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 529 students · in-state tuition $24,820 · 47% graduate · median earnings $50,059 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Pullman National Historical Park, 9 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for East Chicago
East Chicago has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Pullman National Historical Park (9 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
9 mi awayIndiana Dunes National Park
National Park
18 mi awayPublic Libraries in East Chicago
East Chicago Public Library
2401 East Columbus Drive, East Chicago
Robert Pastrick Library
1008 West Chicago Avenue, East Chicago
Cities Near East Chicago
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to East Chicago?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
East Chicago FAQ
Is East Chicago, Indiana affordable?⌄
East Chicago's median rent is $854/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $42,125/year. Median home value is $105,400.
Is East Chicago, Indiana safe?⌄
East Chicago's violent crime rate was 566 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1253 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in East Chicago, Indiana?⌄
East Chicago has an unemployment rate of 6.1%, which is above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in East Chicago, Indiana?⌄
The cost of living in East Chicago is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $854/month and median household income is $42,125/year. The median home value is $105,400. About 45% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in East Chicago, Indiana?⌄
The average commute in East Chicago is 21 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from