United States › Indiana › East Chicago CITY
East Chicago Indiana · 25,610 residents (2025 est.) · 14.1 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2020 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS
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
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
Section 01
Population & growth from 32,414 in 2000
25,610 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1,844 / sq mi
−14%since 2009
from 2,139 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 30.8 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
25K 28K 30K 32K 35K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 East Chicago Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $42,125
−13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $26,538 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $13,517 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 16.4% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 24.4% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.470 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Professional, scientific, technical 8.8%
Transportation & warehousing 2.4%
Public administration 2.4%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0.8%
Arts, entertainment, food 0.6%
Education & health services 0.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
$105,400
−18%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $70,400 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$854
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $409 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 44.6% in 2000
57.1% rent
from 20.1% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.87 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 36.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 51.5% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 3.0 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 12.1%(3,922)
Hispanic / Latino 51.6%(16,728)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 6.1%(1,576)
Hispanic / Latino 57.2%(14,888)
from 71 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Hispanic origin
+ 3 more hispanic origin groups with data Ancestry
+ 16 more ancestry groups with data from 7.1% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 60.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 1.8% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 15.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 78.0% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 10.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 4.1% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 1.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 4.7% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 22.1% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 13.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 54.0% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 58.0% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 14.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 19.7% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 15.3% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 7.4% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 14.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 20.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 52.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 78.0% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 85.4% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 57.7% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 41.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 54.1%(5,469)
Women 15+
Never married 46.8%(4,984)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 20.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 41.0% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 8.8% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 17.7% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 38.4% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 1.6% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 48.7% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
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)
Gulf War (1990s) 19.5%(122)
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.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to East Chicago Head to head
Compare East Chicago to nearby cities EAST CHICAGO VS
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EAST CHICAGO VS
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EAST CHICAGO VS
Gary
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Home value $94,700 −10%
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EAST CHICAGO VS
Highland
Income $78,062 +85%
Home value $233,300 +121%
Population 23,409 −9%
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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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