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CITY

East Chicago

Indiana · 25,610 residents (2025 est.) · 14.1 sq mi
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The short version

With 26,022 people, East Chicago is a city in Indiana. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 11% of adults. Owners hold 43% of the housing stock. The typical home is worth $105,400. 26.3% of locals live below the federal poverty line. Households here earn about 41% less than in Indiana as a whole.

At a glance
Lower income
median household income $42,125, below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 36.5
US median: 38.9
Less educated
11% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
More affordable
home values down 18%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place

What stands out about East Chicago

What changed most since 1990

  • Population33,892 → 26,022 (−23%)US over the same years: +35%
  • Adults with a bachelor's degree6.6% → 10.7% (+4.1 pts)US over the same years: +15.3 pts

Among the 394 cities and towns in the Chicago metro

  • 377th in household income$42,125
  • 372nd in share with a bachelor's degree10.7%
  • 377th in home value$105,400
  • 106th in diversity score67.4

Its weight in Lake County

East Chicago's population equals 5.2% of Lake County's. Its number of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher equals 2.0% of the county's. Its number of households without a car equals 12% of the county's.

Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
26,022
−20%since 2000
from 32,414 in 2000
25,610 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,844 / sq mi
−20%since 2000
from 2,297 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
36.5
+19%since 2000
from 30.8 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Land area
14.1 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
25K28K30K32K35K19902000201020202024East Chicago
202426K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.8%(1,517)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 97.1%(1,852)
US avg: 6%
10 to 147.3%(1,892)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 198.4%(2,197)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 246.5%(1,690)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3412.5%(3,259)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4414.3%(3,715)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5413.4%(3,485)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6410.5%(2,739)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 748.3%(2,167)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 843.8%(995)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2%(514)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$42,125
−13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $26,538 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$23,656
+75%since 2000
from $13,517 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
26.3%
+9.9 ptssince 2009
from 16.4% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
26.3%
+1.9 ptssince 2000
from 24.4% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.497
+6%since 2010
from 0.470 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade17.3%
US avg: 9.9%
Information12.4%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance9.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical8.8%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade7.7%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services4.4%
US avg: 6.7%
Transportation & warehousing2.4%
US avg: 2.2%
Public administration2.4%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.8%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.8%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.6%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.5%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$105,400
−18%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $70,400 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$854
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $409 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
42.9%
−1.6 ptssince 2000
from 44.6% in 2000
57.1% rent
Vacancy rate
19.6%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 20.1% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Persons per household
2.61 people
−9%since 2009
from 2.87 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
Owner cost-burdened
23.1%
−13.1 ptssince 2009
from 36.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
44.7%
−6.8 ptssince 2009
from 51.5% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.5
−15%since 2009
from 3.0 in 2009
1990 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
29
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic12.1%(3,922)
Black35.2%(11,405)
Hispanic / Latino51.6%(16,728)
Asian0.2%(52)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic6.1%(1,576)
Black36.1%(9,386)
Hispanic / Latino57.2%(14,888)
Asian0%(1)
Other0.7%(171)
Diversity Score
67
−5%since 2009
from 71 in 2009
1990 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican43.2%(11,240)
Puerto Rican5.8%(1,497)
Honduran2.1%(546)
Venezuelan1.3%(328)
Salvadoran0.8%(205)
Colombian0.7%(188)
Guatemalan0.6%(149)
Peruvian0.2%(58)
Cuban0.2%(48)
Nicaraguan0.1%(30)
+ 3 more hispanic origin groups with data
Dominican0.1%(26)
Asian origin
Filipino0.3%(66)
Ancestry
Polish1.8%(478)
German1.2%(325)
American0.9%(230)
Irish0.7%(172)
Italian0.5%(130)
Russian0.5%(123)
West Indian0.4%(99)
Croatian0.4%(95)
English0.4%(93)
French0.3%(84)
Swedish0.2%(50)
+ 16 more ancestry groups with data
Scottish0.2%(47)
Scotch-Irish0.2%(40)
Jamaican0.1%(39)
Slovak0.1%(32)
Arab0.1%(31)
Serbian0.1%(31)
Romanian0.1%(29)
Portuguese0.1%(27)
Hungarian0.1%(24)
Ghanaian0.1%(21)
Dutch0.1%(20)
Guyanese0.1%(15)
Greek0.1%(14)
Haitian0.1%(14)
Nigerian0%(11)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
10.7%
+3.6 ptssince 2000
from 7.1% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
73.8%
+13.2 ptssince 2000
from 60.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
3.4%
+1.5 ptssince 2000
from 1.8% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
20.8 min
+34%since 2000
from 15.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
75.3%
−2.7 ptssince 2009
from 78.0% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
15.8%
+5.4 ptssince 2009
from 10.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.0%
−3.1 ptssince 2009
from 4.1% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
4.6%
+3.3 ptssince 2009
from 1.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.5%
−3.1 ptssince 2009
from 4.7% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.8%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
16.7%
−5.4 ptssince 2009
from 22.1% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
7.7%
−6.0 ptssince 2011
from 13.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
57.4%
+3.5 ptssince 2011
from 54.0% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
65.8%
+7.8 ptssince 2020
from 58.0% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
Self-employed
12.2%
−1.8 ptssince 2009
from 14.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
18.8%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 19.7% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.9%
+2.6 ptssince 2009
from 46.3% in 2009
Female
51.1%
−2.6 ptssince 2009
from 53.7% in 2009
Foreign born
16.4%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 15.3% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
3.2%
−4.2 ptssince 2009
from 7.4% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
16.6%
+2.5 ptssince 2012
from 14.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
11.9%
−9.0 ptssince 2013
from 20.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
78.5%
+25.8 ptssince 2017
from 52.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
87.0%
+9.0 ptssince 2020
from 78.0% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
Same house as last year
88.2%
+2.9 ptssince 2020
from 85.4% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
English only at home
58.9%
+1.2 ptssince 2016
from 57.7% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
40.8%
−0.8 ptssince 2016
from 41.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married54.1%(5,469)
Married31.6%(3,196)
Widowed3.5%(357)
Divorced10.8%(1,088)
Women 15+
Never married46.8%(4,984)
Married30.9%(3,295)
Widowed9.4%(998)
Divorced12.9%(1,374)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
11.9%
−9.0 ptssince 2013
from 20.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
36.1%
−4.9 ptssince 2020
from 41.0% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
8.8%
Unchangedsince 2020
from 8.8% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
16.5%
−1.2 ptssince 2020
from 17.7% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
43.2%
+4.8 ptssince 2020
from 38.4% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
1.5%
−0.1 ptssince 2020
from 1.6% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
43.0%
−5.7 ptssince 2020
from 48.7% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
54.4%
+2.7 ptssince 2020
from 51.7% in 2020
US average: 36.7%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)9.7%(61)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)19.5%(122)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era40.1%(251)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War11.5%(72)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II2.9%(18)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 626 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Over time

East Chicago, decade by decade

East Chicago population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
YearPopulationMedian household incomeMedian home valueBachelor's degree+Diversity score
199033,892$46,540$100,3236.6%79.0
200032,414$48,343$128,2457.1%74.4
201029,698$41,717$128,1778.6%71.2
202026,370$42,901$88,60010.1%70.6
202426,022$42,125$105,40010.7%67.4

Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.

Drill deeper

Places similar to East Chicago

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Pop 27,808
Bayonet Point
Pop 23,822
South Bradenton
Pop 25,990
Immokalee
Pop 26,361
Places similar to East Chicago
Head to head

Compare East Chicago to nearby cities

EAST CHICAGO VS
Hammond
Income$55,504+32%
Home value$159,900+52%
Population75,712+196%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
EAST CHICAGO VS
Calumet City
Income$55,369+31%
Home value$145,200+38%
Population34,798+36%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
EAST CHICAGO VS
Gary
Income$38,731−8%
Home value$94,700−10%
Population67,289+163%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
EAST CHICAGO VS
Highland
Income$78,062+85%
Home value$233,300+121%
Population23,409−9%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in East Chicago, Indiana?

East Chicago, Indiana has about 26,022 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in East Chicago, Indiana?

The typical household in East Chicago, Indiana earns about $42,125 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is East Chicago, Indiana expensive?

In East Chicago, Indiana, the median home is worth about $105,400, and the typical rent is about $854 a month.

How educated are people in East Chicago, Indiana?

About 10.7% of adults age 25 and over in East Chicago, Indiana hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in East Chicago, Indiana?

About 26.3% of people in East Chicago, Indiana live below the federal poverty line.

Has East Chicago, Indiana grown since 1990?

Yes, East Chicago, Indiana has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 7,870 residents, a change of about -23 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →