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CITY · 2000 CENSUS

East Chicago

Indiana · 32,414 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 $26,538. Population has declined 4% since 1990. 7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 24%. Median home value has risen by half since 1990, reaching $70,400. At a median age of 30.8, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. Households here earn about 36% less than the Indiana median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Younger
median age 30.8
US median: 35.2
Less educated
7% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Less affordable
home values up 28%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
32,414
−4%since 1990
from 33,892 in 1990
1990 – 2025
Median age
30.8
Unchangedsince 1990
from 30.8 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
25K28K30K32K35K1990201020202024East Chicago
202426K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2000
Under 59.1%(2,944)
US avg: 6.8%
5 to 99.2%(2,986)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 147.5%(2,425)
US avg: 7.3%
15 to 197.9%(2,549)
US avg: 7.2%
20 to 248%(2,582)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3413.4%(4,349)
US avg: 14.2%
35 to 4413.4%(4,334)
US avg: 16%
45 to 5410.8%(3,508)
US avg: 13.4%
55 to 647.5%(2,422)
US avg: 8.6%
65 to 747.4%(2,408)
US avg: 6.5%
75 to 844.6%(1,486)
US avg: 4.4%
85 and over1.3%(421)
US avg: 1.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$26,538
+4%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $19,391 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$13,517
+49%since 1990
from $9,090 in 1990
US average: $21,522
Poverty rate
24.4%
−1.2 ptssince 1990
from 25.6% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$70,400
+28%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $41,800 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$409
+9%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $286 in 1990
US average: $602
Owner-occupied
44.6%
−0.8 ptssince 1990
from 45.4% in 1990
55.4% rent
RELATED:See current rent listings in East Chicago on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

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

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
7.1%
+0.4 ptssince 1990
from 6.6% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
60.6%
+2.8 ptssince 1990
from 57.7% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
Graduate degree
1.8%
−0.6 ptssince 1990
from 2.5% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
15.6 min
−6%since 1990
from 16.6 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status
Men 15+
Never married40.9%(4,593)
Married46.2%(5,191)
Widowed3.5%(395)
Divorced9.3%(1,045)
Women 15+
Never married36.2%(4,639)
Married39.8%(5,107)
Widowed12.5%(1,608)
Divorced11.5%(1,472)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare East Chicago to nearby cities

EAST CHICAGO VS
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Income$55,504+109%
Home value$159,900+127%
Population75,712+196%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
EAST CHICAGO VS
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Income$55,369+109%
Home value$145,200+106%
Population34,798+36%
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EAST CHICAGO VS
Gary
Income$38,731+46%
Home value$94,700+35%
Population67,289+163%
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EAST CHICAGO VS
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Income$78,062+194%
Home value$233,300+231%
Population23,409−9%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in East Chicago, Indiana?

East Chicago, Indiana has about 32,414 residents according to the 2000 Census.

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

The typical household in East Chicago, Indiana earns about $26,538 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 $70,400, and the typical rent is about $409 a month.

How educated are people in East Chicago, Indiana?

About 7.1% 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 24.4% 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 1,478 residents, a change of about -4 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 →