United States › Indiana › East Chicago CITY · 2020 ACS
East Chicago Indiana · 26,370 residents · 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 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS 2024 ACS
The short version
East Chicago is home to 26,370 people in Indiana. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 10% of adults. Owners hold 40% of the housing stock. The poverty rate is 30.6%, above the 12.8% national rate. The typical home is worth $73,100. This skews young, with a median age of 33.1.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 33.1
US median: 38.8
Less educated
10% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
More affordable
home values down 31%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 30.8 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
25K 28K 30K 32K 35K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 East Chicago Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $35,396
−11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $26,538 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $13,517 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 16.4% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 24.4% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Professional, scientific, technical 5.8%
Transportation & warehousing 2.6%
Public administration 1.9%
Arts, entertainment, food 1%
Education & health services 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0.6%
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$73,100
−31%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $70,400 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$658
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $409 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 44.6% in 2000
59.8% rent
from 2.87 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
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.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 12.1%(3,922)
Hispanic / Latino 51.6%(16,728)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 6.1%(1,600)
Hispanic / Latino 52.6%(13,864)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 15 more ancestry groups with data from 7.1% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 60.6% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 1.8% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 15.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 78.0% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 22.1% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 13.6% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 54.0% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 19.7% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 15.3% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 20.9% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
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: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
US average: 35.2%
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, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later) 14.7%(106)
Gulf War (1990s) 14.5%(105)
Share of the 722 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
Hammond
Income $55,504 +57%
Home value $159,900 +119%
Population 75,712 +196%
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EAST CHICAGO VS
Calumet City
Income $55,369 +56%
Home value $145,200 +99%
Population 34,798 +36%
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EAST CHICAGO VS
Gary
Income $38,731 +9%
Home value $94,700 +30%
Population 67,289 +163%
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EAST CHICAGO VS
Highland
Income $78,062 +121%
Home value $233,300 +219%
Population 23,409 −9%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in East Chicago, Indiana? East Chicago, Indiana has about 26,370 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in East Chicago, Indiana? The typical household in East Chicago, Indiana earns about $35,396 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 $73,100, and the typical rent is about $658 a month.
How educated are people in East Chicago, Indiana? About 10.1% 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 30.6% 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 7,522 residents, a change of about -22 percent over that period.
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