Town · Indiana
Munster, Indiana
Munster, town, in Lake County, Indiana. Munster had 23,504 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 1.6% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 23,894 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 23,733 (±62). GEOID 1851912.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
23,504
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 23,894 · ACS 2020-2024: 23,733 ±62
Median household income
$110,187
±$11,660 (90% margin)
Indiana: $71,957
Median home value
$334,300
±$11,282 (90% margin)
Indiana: $218,200
Median gross rent
$1,507
±$365 (90% margin)
Indiana: $1,062
Where is Munster and what county is it in?
Munster is a town in Lake County, Indiana. It covers 7.5 square miles of land, 3,170 residents per square mile in 2020.
Munster is in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 13 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Munster 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 Munster, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 23,504 people lived in Munster on July 1, 2025, down 1.6% since 2020, while Indiana grew 2.8%. The 2020 Census counted 23,894 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 23,733 (±62).
| Measure | Munster | Lake County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 23,733 ±62 | 500,379 | +1,044 |
| Households | 9,471 ±347 | 195,130 | +836 |
| Average household size | 2.47 ±0.09 | 2.54 | −0.12 |
| Housing units | 9,814 ±393 | 217,436 | +629 |
Munster's population since 2000
From 21,511 in 2000 to 23,504 in 2025: up 9.3%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Munster 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 Munster?
The median resident of Munster is 45.0 years old; 19.5% are under 18 and 20.7% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 69.6%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 14.5%. 8.6% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Munster | Lake County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.0 ±1.6 | 39.7 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 19.5% ±2.0 pts | 23.2% | – |
| 65 years and over | 20.7% ±1.7 pts | 17.9% | – |
| Male | 49.5% ±2.2 pts | 48.7% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 14.5% ±2.3 pts | 20.9% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 69.6% ±3.0 pts | 51.4% | −8.1 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 7.4% ±1.8 pts | 22.7% | +3.6 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 6.3% ±1.5 pts | 1.6% | +2.5 pts |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.2 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.2 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 1.9% ±0.8 pts | 2.9% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 8.6% ±1.5 pts | 7.3% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 12.8% ±2.1 pts | 15.1% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 5.4% ±1.4 pts | 5.8% | – |
| With a disability | 11.7% ±2.1 pts | 13.6% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 4.4% ±1.6 pts | 6.6% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 95.8% ±1.0 pts | 90.2% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 49.9% ±3.8 pts | 25.8% | +4.5 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 18.6% ±2.3 pts | 8.5% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 94.6% ±1.9 pts | 90.5% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.7% ±1.4 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 Munster earn?
Half of Munster's 9,471 households earn less than $110,187 a year (±$11,660), against $71,493 in Lake County and $71,957 in Indiana. In 2015-2019 it was $103,691 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 6.0% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Munster | Lake County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $110,187 ±$11,660 | $71,493 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $143,159 ±$12,109 | $93,636 | – |
| Per capita income | $57,382 ±$4,989 | $37,284 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 6.0% ±1.9 pts | 14.3% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 3.3% ±2.2 pts | 21.6% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 1.2% ±0.6 pts | 12.9% | – |
| Households with a computer | 96.7% ±1.3 pts | 94.1% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 90.8% ±2.9 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 Munster?
Owners occupy 87.0% of Munster's occupied homes and renters 13.0%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $334,300 by its owner (±$11,282). The median renter pays $1,507 a month including utilities, and 47.1% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Munster | Lake County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $334,300 ±$11,282 | $230,600 | +$53,210 |
| Median gross rent | $1,507 ±$365 | $1,131 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 47.1% ±18.0 pts | 44.8% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,827 ±$86 | $1,529 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 87.0% ±3.6 pts | 71.7% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 13.0% ±3.6 pts | 28.3% | – |
| Housing units | 9,814 ±393 | 217,436 | +629 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.3% ±0.5 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 3.1% ±5.1 pts | 5.1% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 75.7% ±3.6 pts | 71.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.1% ±0.2 pts | 1.5% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.1% ±0.2 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 3.8% ±1.1 pts | 5.7% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 1.9% ±0.8 pts | 14.6% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 4.4% ±2.5 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 Munster building?
Builders took permits for 18 new housing units in Munster in 2025 (18 in single-family houses), 0.8 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 Munster work and get to work?
74.7% of Munster's workers drive alone and 13.0% work from home. The average trip to work takes 28.1 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 5.5%.
| Measure | Munster | Lake County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 62.1% ±2.9 pts | 61.1% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 5.5% ±1.7 pts | 6.1% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 74.7% ±3.4 pts | 79.6% | – |
| Carpooled | 5.7% ±1.5 pts | 8.0% | – |
| Public transportation | 3.4% ±1.1 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Walked | 1.9% ±1.0 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Worked from home | 13.0% ±2.8 pts | 8.2% | +6.0 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 28.1 min ±2.1 | 28.5 min | no clear change |
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 Munster?
5 census tracts lie mostly in Munster (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $76,324 (Tract 403.02) to $167,083 (Tract 404.02).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 404.03Lake County | 5,694 | $103,477 |
| Tract 404.01Lake County | 5,672 | $121,520 |
| Tract 403.02Lake County | 4,374 | $76,324 |
| Tract 404.02Lake County | 4,309 | $167,083 |
| Tract 403.01Lake County | 3,684 | $96,405 |
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 Munster) · Census block assignment files
How does Munster compare with other places in Indiana?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Munster is the 1,693rd-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 43rd-most populous of 566 in Indiana.
Munster ranks 66th 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 | 43rd | 566 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 983rd | 1,056 |
| Residents per square mile | 14th | 1,088 |
| Median household income | 66th | 1,072 |
| Per capita income | 26th | 1,087 |
| Median home value | 55th | 1,075 |
| Median gross rent | 38th | 904 |
| Poverty rate | 622nd | 736 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 35th | 1,029 |
| Median age | 262nd | 1,083 |
| Owner-occupied share | 336th | 1,087 |
| Work from home | 134th | 595 |
| Travel time to work | 340th | 1,088 |
Munster's figures with every place in Indiana (CSV)
Every place in Indiana, sortable · Compare Munster 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 Munster?
8 of the 57 figures for Munster 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 Munster 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 Munster.