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Living in
Hammond.
About
Life in Hammond
Living in Hammond means being genuinely close to Chicago without the city's price tag—median home values hover around $160,000 and median rents near $1,134, which is reasonable for the region. That said, this is a dense urban environment (100% of residents live in urban areas) with heavy industrial infrastructure and significant rail and expressway traffic running through neighborhoods, so expect noise and activity. The Latino community is substantial and growing, bringing cultural diversity and food options, though the city's median household income of around $56,000 reflects working-class roots.
Hammond at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
36.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
19.1%
Foreign-Born
11.5%
Broadband Internet
87.2%
of households
Population Growth
-2.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics11.5% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Hammond: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Hammond, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (71.7%), and 23.2% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
23.5%
of residents
65 and Older
14.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
31.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
31.5%
of households
Married Couples
34.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.55
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 7% above IN average
Rent, home values, and income in Hammond
In Hammond, rent runs 7% above the IN average, and home values are 27% below the IN average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
45.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
23.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
103.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,630
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
62.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1952
median year built
Vacant Homes
9.4%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $176,621 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.4 pts above IN average
Unemployment in Hammond
Unemployment in Hammond is 1.4 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 Hammond Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute25.7 min avg
How Hammond residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Hammond, most residents drive alone to work (76%), and 65% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 17 mi
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
Medium hub9.4M passengers boarded in 2025
- 32 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 79% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Hammond runs 79% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
588.6
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,482.6
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Hammond 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 Hammond, 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 Hammond, 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
Hammond 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
28.2"
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" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Hammond
Uninsured
10.3%
of residents
No hospitals inside Hammond's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
St Catherine Hospital Inc.
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.5 mi away · East Chicago
Community Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.7 mi away · Munster
Franciscan Health Munster
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.6 mi away · Munster
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.
Education16.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Hammond
Hammond's student/teacher ratio is 16.8:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 17.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
19
within city limits
Private Schools
6
within city limits
College Degree Rate
17.4%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Hammond
Public · 4-year · 5,671 students · in-state tuition $8,675 · 51% graduate · median earnings $58,620 (10 yrs after entry)
Calumet College of Saint Joseph
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 529 students · in-state tuition $24,820 · 47% graduate · median earnings $50,059 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (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)
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)
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, 8 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Hammond
Hammond has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Pullman National Historical Park (8 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
8 mi awayIndiana Dunes National Park
National Park
20 mi awayPublic Libraries in Hammond
Hammond Public Library
564 State Street, Hammond
Cities Near Hammond
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Hammond?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Hammond FAQ
Is Hammond, Indiana affordable?⌄
Hammond's median rent is $1,134/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $55,504/year. Median home value is $159,900.
Is Hammond, Indiana safe?⌄
Hammond's violent crime rate was 589 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2483 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Hammond, Indiana?⌄
Hammond has an unemployment rate of 5.1%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Hammond, Indiana?⌄
The cost of living in Hammond is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,134/month and median household income is $55,504/year. The median home value is $159,900. About 46% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Hammond, Indiana?⌄
The average commute in Hammond is 26 minutes, which is about 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