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Living in
Munster.
About
Life in Munster
Munster is a community of 23,733 people in Indiana. The median household income is $110,187, median rent runs about $1,507 per month, and median home values are around $334,000. The unemployment rate is 5.1%.
Munster at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
45.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
6.0%
Foreign-Born
8.6%
Broadband Internet
90.8%
of households
Population Growth
-1.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics8.6% foreign-born, most often from India
Who lives in Munster: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Munster, the largest foreign-born group is from India (18.2%), and 4.7% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
19.5%
of residents
65 and Older
20.7%
of residents
Households with Kids
27.4%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
28.3%
of households
Married Couples
56.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.47
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 42% above IN average
Rent, home values, and income in Munster
In Munster, rent runs 42% above the IN average, and home values are 53% above the IN average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
42.3%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
27.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
103.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,670
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
87.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1973
median year built
Vacant Homes
3.5%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $353,820 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.4 pts above IN average
Unemployment in Munster
Unemployment in Lake County, which includes Munster, is 1.4 percentage points higher than the IN average.
Unemployment rate
Munster: Lake County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Lake County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Munster is about 5% of Lake County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Munster Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute28.1 min avg
How Munster residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Munster, most residents drive alone to work (75%), and 59% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 20 mi
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
Medium hub9.4M passengers boarded in 2025
- 35 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 78% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Munster runs 78% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
72.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
891
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Munster 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 Munster, 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
Munster is about 5% 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 Munster, 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
Munster is about 5% of Lake County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate82°F summers, 18°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Munster 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" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Munster
Munster has 2 hospitals, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
4.4%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Community Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Franciscan Health Munster
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Franciscan Health Dyer
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.8 mi away · Dyer
St Catherine Hospital Inc.
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.8 mi away · East Chicago
Methodist Hospitals Inc.
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8.4 mi away · Gary
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.
Education18.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Munster
Munster's student/teacher ratio is 18.1:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 49.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
49.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
18.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Munster (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)
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
8.6 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 529 students · in-state tuition $24,820 · 47% graduate · median earnings $50,059 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 2-year · 200 students · in-state tuition $17,900 · 73% graduate · median earnings $46,609 (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, 12 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Munster
Munster has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Pullman National Historical Park (12 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
12 mi awayIndiana Dunes National Park
National Park
22 mi awayPublic Libraries in Munster
Munster Branch
8701 Calumet Avenue, Munster
Cities Near Munster
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Munster?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Munster FAQ
Is Munster, Indiana affordable?⌄
Munster's median rent is $1,507/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $110,187/year. Median home value is $334,300.
Is Munster, Indiana safe?⌄
Munster's violent crime rate was 72 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 891 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Munster, Indiana?⌄
Lake County, which includes Munster, has an unemployment rate of 5.1%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Munster, Indiana?⌄
The cost of living in Munster is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,507/month and median household income is $110,187/year. The median home value is $334,300. About 42% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Munster, Indiana?⌄
The average commute in Munster is 28 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