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Living in
Lake Station.
About
Life in Lake Station
Lake Station is a community of 13,109 people in Indiana. The median household income is $59,591, median rent runs about $1,115 per month, and median home values are around $137,400. The unemployment rate is 5.1%.
Lake Station at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
33.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
15.4%
Foreign-Born
9.8%
Broadband Internet
91.2%
of households
Population Growth
-2.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics9.8% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Lake Station: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Lake Station, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (78.3%), and 20.2% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
25.5%
of residents
65 and Older
12.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
33.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
24.8%
of households
Married Couples
37.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.78
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 6% above IN average
Rent, home values, and income in Lake Station
In Lake Station, rent runs 6% above the IN average, and home values are 37% below the IN average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
43.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
22.5%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
103.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,399
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
72.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1965
median year built
Vacant Homes
5.1%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $159,844 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.4 pts above IN average
Unemployment in Lake Station
Unemployment in Lake County, which includes Lake Station, is 1.4 percentage points higher than the IN average.
Unemployment rate
Lake Station: Lake County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Lake County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Lake Station is about 3% of Lake County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Lake Station Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute26.8 min avg
How Lake Station residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Lake Station, most residents drive alone to work (85%), and 64% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 30 mi
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
Medium hub9.4M passengers boarded in 2025
- 44 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 32% below national average
Crime rates for 2018
Older dataThe latest complete year reported to the FBI is 2018. It's compared with the national rate for 2018.
Violent crime in Lake Station runs 32% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
261
per 100,000 residents
Below average (385 national, 2018)
Property Crime Rate
2,735.7
per 100,000 residents
Above average (2,207 national, 2018)
Lake Station 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 Lake Station, 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
Lake Station is about 3% of Lake County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality53 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Lake County, which includes Lake Station, 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
Lake Station is about 3% of Lake County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate80°F summers, 21°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Lake Station has mild summers (avg high 80°F) and cold winters (avg low 21°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
57°/40°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
80°/62°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
62°/45°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
35°/21°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
40.8"
Annual Snowfall
40.3"
Hot Days/Year
10
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
117
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
131
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 32°F | 18°F | 2.21" |
| Feb | 36°F | 21°F | 1.97" |
| Mar | 46°F | 30°F | 2.34" |
| Apr | 57°F | 40°F | 3.55" |
| May | 68°F | 50°F | 4.27" |
| Jun | 78°F | 60°F | 4.31" |
| Jul | 82°F | 64°F | 3.98" |
| Aug | 80°F | 63°F | 4.08" |
| Sep | 74°F | 56°F | 3.65" |
| Oct | 62°F | 45°F | 3.75" |
| Nov | 49°F | 34°F | 2.76" |
| Dec | 37°F | 24°F | 2.29" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Lake Station
Uninsured
7.2%
of residents
No hospitals inside Lake Station's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
St Mary Medical Center Inc.
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.1 mi away · Hobart
Methodist Hospitals Inc.
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.4 mi away · Gary
Pinnacle Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · 9.3 mi away · Crown Point
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.
Education17.0:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Lake Station
Lake Station's student/teacher ratio is 17.0:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 7.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
6
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
7.4%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.0:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Lake Station (within 15 miles)
Public · 4-year · 5,671 students · in-state tuition $8,675 · 51% graduate · median earnings $58,620 (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)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,083 students · in-state tuition $50,390 · 70% graduate · median earnings $69,661 (10 yrs after entry)
Calumet College of Saint Joseph
13.9 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 529 students · in-state tuition $24,820 · 47% graduate · median earnings $50,059 (10 yrs after entry)
College of Court Reporting Inc
12.4 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 2-year · 175 students · in-state tuition $10,080 · 15% graduate · median earnings $45,758 (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: Indiana Dunes National Park, 10 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Lake Station
Lake Station has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Indiana Dunes National Park (10 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Indiana Dunes National Park
National Park
10 mi awayPullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
20 mi awayPublic Libraries in Lake Station
Lake Station-New Chicago Branch
2007 Central Avenue, Lake Station
Cities Near Lake Station
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Lake Station?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Lake Station FAQ
Is Lake Station, Indiana affordable?⌄
Lake Station's median rent is $1,124/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $59,591/year. Median home value is $137,400.
Is Lake Station, Indiana safe?⌄
Lake Station's violent crime rate was 261 per 100,000 residents in 2018, which is below the national average of 385/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2736 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Lake Station, Indiana?⌄
Lake County, which includes Lake Station, has an unemployment rate of 5.1%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Lake Station, Indiana?⌄
The cost of living in Lake Station is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,124/month and median household income is $59,591/year. The median home value is $137,400. About 43% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Lake Station, Indiana?⌄
The average commute in Lake Station is 27 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