City · Indiana
East Chicago, Indiana
East Chicago, city, in Lake County, Indiana. East Chicago had 25,610 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 2.9% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 26,370 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 26,022 (±44). GEOID 1819486.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
25,610
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 26,370 · ACS 2020-2024: 26,022 ±44
Median household income
$42,125
±$2,976 (90% margin)
Indiana: $71,957
Median home value
$105,400
±$9,759 (90% margin)
Indiana: $218,200
Median gross rent
$854
±$51 (90% margin)
Indiana: $1,062
Where is East Chicago and what county is it in?
East Chicago is a city in Lake County, Indiana. It covers 14.1 square miles of land, 1,869 residents per square mile in 2020.
East Chicago is in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 13 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
East Chicago lies entirely within North Township (Lake County), a township with its own local government (2020 census blocks).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in East Chicago, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 25,610 people lived in East Chicago on July 1, 2025, down 2.9% since 2020, while Indiana grew 2.8%. The 2020 Census counted 26,370 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 26,022 (±44).
| Measure | East Chicago | Lake County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 26,022 ±44 | 500,379 | −2,179 |
| Households | 9,943 ±624 | 195,130 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.61 ±0.16 | 2.54 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 12,365 ±516 | 217,436 | −1,358 |
East Chicago's population since 2000
From 32,414 in 2000 to 25,610 in 2025: down 21.0%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for East Chicago as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in East Chicago?
The median resident of East Chicago is 36.5 years old; 25.3% are under 18 and 14.1% are 65 or older. The largest group is Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 57.2%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 36.1%. 16.4% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | East Chicago | Lake County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.5 ±1.6 | 39.7 | +2.7 |
| Under 18 years | 25.3% ±1.9 pts | 23.2% | – |
| 65 years and over | 14.1% ±1.8 pts | 17.9% | – |
| Male | 48.9% ±2.1 pts | 48.7% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 57.2% ±3.6 pts | 20.9% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 6.1% ±1.1 pts | 51.4% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 36.1% ±3.4 pts | 22.7% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 1.6% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 0.5% ±0.3 pts | 2.9% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.1 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 16.4% ±2.9 pts | 7.3% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 41.1% ±4.2 pts | 15.1% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 3.2% ±1.1 pts | 5.8% | – |
| With a disability | 16.6% ±2.0 pts | 13.6% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 11.9% ±1.9 pts | 6.6% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 73.8% ±2.8 pts | 90.2% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 10.7% ±1.8 pts | 25.8% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 3.4% ±1.1 pts | 8.5% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 88.2% ±2.2 pts | 90.5% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 4.8% ±1.8 pts | 2.9% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in East Chicago earn?
Half of East Chicago's 9,943 households earn less than $42,125 a year (±$2,976), against $71,493 in Lake County and $71,957 in Indiana. In 2015-2019 it was $40,415 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 26.3% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | East Chicago | Lake County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $42,125 ±$2,976 | $71,493 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $59,483 ±$5,021 | $93,636 | – |
| Per capita income | $23,656 ±$1,897 | $37,284 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 26.3% ±3.5 pts | 14.3% | −6.0 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 37.6% ±8.1 pts | 21.6% | −16.6 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 33.3% ±3.6 pts | 12.9% | – |
| Households with a computer | 87.0% ±3.4 pts | 94.1% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 78.5% ±3.9 pts | 89.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in East Chicago?
Owners occupy 42.9% of East Chicago's occupied homes and renters 57.1%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $105,400 by its owner (±$9,759). The median renter pays $854 a month including utilities, and 39.6% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | East Chicago | Lake County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $105,400 ±$9,759 | $230,600 | +$13,713 |
| Median gross rent | $854 ±$51 | $1,131 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 39.6% ±6.0 pts | 44.8% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,153 ±$53 | $1,529 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 42.9% ±3.9 pts | 71.7% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 57.1% ±3.9 pts | 28.3% | – |
| Housing units | 12,365 ±516 | 217,436 | −1,358 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.8% ±1.2 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 2.8% ±1.4 pts | 5.1% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 41.0% ±2.7 pts | 71.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.3% ±0.4 pts | 1.5% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.2% ±0.3 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 2.1% ±0.8 pts | 5.7% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 52.0% ±3.4 pts | 14.6% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 16.7% ±3.1 pts | 7.2% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is East Chicago building?
Builders took permits for 0 new housing units in East Chicago in 2025 (0 in single-family houses), 0.0 per 1,000 residents against 4.2 across Indiana.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in East Chicago work and get to work?
75.3% of East Chicago's workers drive alone and 4.6% work from home. The average trip to work takes 20.8 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 7.7%.
| Measure | East Chicago | Lake County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 57.4% ±3.1 pts | 61.1% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 7.7% ±2.0 pts | 6.1% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 75.3% ±4.9 pts | 79.6% | – |
| Carpooled | 15.8% ±3.9 pts | 8.0% | – |
| Public transportation | 1.0% ±0.6 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Walked | 1.5% ±0.8 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Worked from home | 4.6% ±1.8 pts | 8.2% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 20.8 min ±1.4 | 28.5 min | −3.8 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in East Chicago?
10 census tracts lie mostly in East Chicago, and 1 more reaches into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $12,674 (Tract 301) to $60,475 (Tract 309).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 306Lake County | 5,225 | $58,084 |
| Tract 309Lake County | 3,783 | $60,475 |
| Tract 305Lake County | 3,709 | $46,711 |
| Tract 308Lake County | 3,518 | $47,694 |
| Tract 304Lake County | 2,978 | $42,872 |
| Tract 307Lake County | 2,052 | $47,069 |
| Tract 310Lake County | 1,339 | $21,667 |
| Tract 301Lake County | 1,205 | $12,674 |
| Tract 303Lake County | 1,161 | $26,181 |
| Tract 302Lake County | 1,035 | $33,221 |
| Tract 208Lake County | 4,311 | $40,914 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in East Chicago) · Census block assignment files
How does East Chicago compare with other places in Indiana?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, East Chicago is the 1,573rd-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 40th-most populous of 566 in Indiana.
East Chicago ranks 1,054th of 1,072 places in Indiana with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 40th | 566 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 1,040th | 1,056 |
| Residents per square mile | 105th | 1,088 |
| Median household income | 1,054th | 1,072 |
| Per capita income | 1,057th | 1,087 |
| Median home value | 1,005th | 1,075 |
| Median gross rent | 574th | 904 |
| Poverty rate | 27th | 736 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 952nd | 1,029 |
| Median age | 822nd | 1,083 |
| Owner-occupied share | 1,079th | 1,087 |
| Work from home | 529th | 595 |
| Travel time to work | 876th | 1,088 |
East Chicago's figures with every place in Indiana (CSV)
Every place in Indiana, sortable · Compare East Chicago with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for East Chicago?
6 of the 57 figures for East Chicago on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for East Chicago are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in East Chicago.