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CITY

Lake Station

Indiana · 12,977 residents (2025 est.) · 8.293 sq mi
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The short version

Lake Station has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $59,591. Population has declined 5% since 2000. 7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $137,400. At a median age of 33.5, residents skew younger than the country as a whole.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 33.5
US median: 38.9
Less educated
7% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
13,185
−5%since 2000
from 13,948 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,590 / sq mi
−5%since 2000
from 1,682 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
33.5
+2%since 2000
from 32.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:12,977 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
12K12K13K14K14K1990201020202024Lake Station
202413K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$59,591
−12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $36,984 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$26,896
+76%since 2000
from $15,319 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
39.6%
+21.1 ptssince 2009
from 18.5% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
15.4%
+0.9 ptssince 2000
from 14.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.411
+7%since 2010
from 0.384 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade16.4%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance10.6%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical10.6%
US avg: 5.1%
Information9.8%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade9.7%
US avg: 6.9%
Transportation & warehousing3.1%
US avg: 2.2%
Other services2.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Arts, entertainment, food1.1%
US avg: 1.9%
Public administration0.9%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$137,400
+11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $68,000 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,124
+8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $573 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
72.0%
−7.4 ptssince 2000
from 79.4% in 2000
28.0% rent
Vacancy rate
5.1%
−4.0 ptssince 2009
from 9.2% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
24.7%
−9.6 ptssince 2009
from 34.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
43.4%
+3.3 ptssince 2009
from 40.1% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.3
+25%since 2000
from 1.8 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
46
RELATED:See current rent listings in Lake Station on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic76.7%(10,695)
Black0.6%(82)
Hispanic / Latino20.6%(2,875)
Asian0.3%(38)
Other0%
Diversity Score43.2%(6,024)
2024
White, non-Hispanic59.1%(7,787)
Black2.5%(336)
Hispanic / Latino32.8%(4,325)
Asian1.4%(184)
Other4.2%(553)
Diversity Score67.6%(8,916)
Diversity Score
68
+57%since 2000
from 43 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
7.4%
+2.6 ptssince 2000
from 4.8% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
77.7%
+3.7 ptssince 2000
from 74.0% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
1.9%
+0.5 ptssince 2000
from 1.3% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
26.8 min
+73%since 2000
from 15.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
85.3%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 84.6% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
5.8%
−4.9 ptssince 2009
from 10.7% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 1.9% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
4.4%
+3.3 ptssince 2009
from 1.1% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.7%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
7.9%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 6.4% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
16.3%
+2.5 ptssince 2011
from 13.8% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
61.6%
+2.2 ptssince 2011
from 59.4% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
7.8%
+3.4 ptssince 2009
from 4.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
19.0%
−30.4 ptssince 2009
from 49.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
52.5%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 51.7% in 2009
Female
47.5%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 48.3% in 2009
Foreign born
9.8%
+3.4 ptssince 2009
from 6.4% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
3.3%
−47.0 ptssince 2009
from 50.3% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
15.3%
−3.6 ptssince 2012
from 18.9% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
7.2%
−68.6 ptssince 2013
from 75.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
91.2%
+20.3 ptssince 2017
from 70.9% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
77.7%
−3.3 ptssince 2016
from 81.0% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
20.2%
+2.8 ptssince 2016
from 17.4% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Lake Station

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Head to head

Compare Lake Station to nearby cities

LAKE STATION VS
Portage
Income$76,276+28%
Home value$224,200+63%
Population38,634+198%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAKE STATION VS
Hobart
Income$75,160+26%
Home value$215,200+57%
Population29,298+126%
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LAKE STATION VS
Gary
Income$38,731−35%
Home value$94,700−31%
Population67,289+419%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAKE STATION VS
Merrillville
Income$67,587+13%
Home value$211,400+54%
Population37,407+188%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Lake Station, Indiana?

Lake Station, Indiana has about 13,185 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Lake Station, Indiana?

The typical household in Lake Station, Indiana earns about $59,591 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Lake Station, Indiana expensive?

In Lake Station, Indiana, the median home is worth about $137,400, and the typical rent is about $1,124 a month.

How educated are people in Lake Station, Indiana?

About 7.4% of adults age 25 and over in Lake Station, Indiana hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Lake Station, Indiana?

About 15.4% of people in Lake Station, Indiana live below the federal poverty line.

Has Lake Station, Indiana grown since 1990?

Yes, Lake Station, Indiana has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 621 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 →