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CITY · 1990 CENSUS

East Chicago

Indiana · 33,892 residents · 14.11 sq mi
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The short version

East Chicago has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $19,391. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 20%. Median home value is $41,800. The poverty rate of 25.6% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 33% less than the Indiana median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $30,130
Younger
median age 30.8
US median: 33.0
Less educated
7% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 20%
More affordable
home values down 22%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $93,722
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
33,892
+5%vs 2000
vs 32,414 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
30.8
Unchangedvs 2000
vs 30.8 in 2000
US average: 33.0
Population, 1990 – 2024
25K28K30K32K35K1990201020202024East Chicago
202426K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 1990
Under 57.5%(2,526)
US avg: 7.3%
5 to 98.6%(2,926)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 149.6%(3,247)
US avg: 6.9%
15 to 198.4%(2,846)
US avg: 7.1%
20 to 246.8%(2,316)
US avg: 7.5%
25 to 3415.6%(5,299)
US avg: 17.5%
35 to 4412.3%(4,168)
US avg: 15.1%
45 to 548.5%(2,894)
US avg: 10.2%
55 to 649.8%(3,338)
US avg: 8.5%
65 to 748.3%(2,818)
US avg: 7.3%
75 to 843.7%(1,265)
US avg: 4%
85 and over0.7%(249)
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$19,391
−4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $26,538 in 2000
US average: $30,130
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$9,090
−33%vs 2000
vs $13,517 in 2000
US average: $14,340
Poverty rate
25.6%
+1.2 ptsvs 2000
vs 24.4% in 2000
US average: 13.2%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$41,800
−22%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $70,400 in 2000
US average: $93,722
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$286
−8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $409 in 2000
US average: $450
Owner-occupied
45.4%
+0.8 ptsvs 2000
vs 44.6% in 2000
54.6% rent
RELATED:See current rent listings in East Chicago on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic12.1%(3,922)
Black35.2%(11,405)
Hispanic / Latino51.6%(16,728)
Asian0.2%(52)
Other0%
1990
White, non-Hispanic38.2%(12,936)
Black33.6%(11,395)
Hispanic / Latino46.9%(15,889)
Asian0.1%(33)
Other28.1%(9,528)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

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)
RANKED:Largest Mexican population · Largest Puerto Rican population · Largest Central American population · Largest South American population · Largest Honduran population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
6.6%
−0.4 ptsvs 2000
vs 7.1% in 2000
US average: 20.3%
High school or higher
57.7%
−2.8 ptsvs 2000
vs 60.6% in 2000
US average: 75.2%
Graduate degree
2.5%
+0.6 ptsvs 2000
vs 1.8% in 2000
US average: 7.1%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
16.6 min
+6%vs 2000
vs 15.6 min in 2000
US average: 21.9
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status (2024)
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
Drill deeper

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Compare East Chicago to nearby cities

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EAST CHICAGO VS
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EAST CHICAGO VS
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EAST CHICAGO VS
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Home value$233,300+458%
Population23,409−9%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in East Chicago, Indiana?

East Chicago, Indiana has about 33,892 residents according to the 1990 Census.

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

The typical household in East Chicago, Indiana earns about $19,391 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 $41,800, and the typical rent is about $286 a month.

How educated are people in East Chicago, Indiana?

About 6.6% 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 25.6% of people in East Chicago, Indiana live below the federal poverty line.

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

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