The Town FilesEast Chicago, Indiana
City in Lake County · population 26,370 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $105,400
- Household income
- $42,125
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 33 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 36.5
East Chicago is a city of 26,370 people in Lake County, Indiana. The median home is worth $105,400, below the typical Indiana town ($150,400). It ranks more walkable than 100% of Indiana towns, better transit than 97% of Indiana towns, more vibrant than 96% of Indiana towns.
How East Chicago ranks
Percentile among Indiana towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Indiana towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in East Chicago is worth $105,400, below the typical Indiana town ($150,400). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $42,125, which is more affordable than 52% of Indiana towns. Median rent is $854 a month. 42.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | East Chicago | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $105,400 | $150,400 |
| Median rent | $854 | $888 |
| Median household income | $42,125 | $61,953 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 42.9% | 73.4% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1966 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in East Chicago
| People | East Chicago | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.5 | 38.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.1% | 17.1% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.7% | 17.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 26.3% | 11.6% |
| Veterans | 3.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 16.4% | — |
| Work from home | 4.6% | 6.2% |
| Average commute | 20.8 min | 24.7 min |
| Homes with broadband | 78.5% | 89.2% |
Weather in East Chicago
July highs average 83.9°F and January lows 15.2°F. About 42.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 32.5 inches of snow (typical Indiana town: 21.1 in). Expect about 16 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 126 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of East Chicago since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Indiana town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 21, 1967 about 7.6 miles from the town center and killed 33. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 33 deaths and 517 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 27, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 43 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 13, 2015.
Severe weather in Lake County since 1996
Lake County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 25, 2026 | Flood | DR-4933: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| August 15, 2026 | Flood | EM-3651: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3641: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 15, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4704: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4515: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Lake County
Lake County had 191,633 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $61,200 a year. Unemployment was 5% in 2023; in East Chicago itself the ACS puts it at 7.7%.
Public schools in East Chicago
9 public schools with 3,966 students, about 13.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Chicago Central High School | 9-12 | 1,021 | 13.8 |
| East Chicago Lighthouse (charter) | K-8 | 462 | 13.2 |
| William McKinley Elementary School | K-6 | 457 | 16.9 |
| Joseph Block Middle School | 7-8 | 440 | 11.0 |
| East Chicago Urban Enterprise Academy (charter) | K-8 | 430 | 17.9 |
| George Washington Elementary Sch | K-6 | 413 | 15.9 |
| Benjamin Harrison Elementary Sch | K-6 | 366 | 13.1 |
| Abraham Lincoln Elementary School | K-6 | 287 | 12.5 |
| Carrie Gosch PK Center | PK-PK | 90 | 11.3 |
Towns near East Chicago
- Whiting, IN2.4 mi · 4,559 people · home $198,900
- Hammond, IN3.0 mi · 77,879 people · home $159,900
- Burnham, IL4.8 mi · 4,046 people · home $161,300
- Calumet City, IL5.7 mi · 36,033 people · home $145,200
- Gary, IN6.8 mi · 69,093 people · home $94,700
- Highland, IN7.0 mi · 23,984 people · home $233,300
- Munster, IN7.5 mi · 23,894 people · home $334,300
- Lansing, IL7.5 mi · 29,076 people · home $177,000
East Chicago questions
Is East Chicago, Indiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, East Chicago scores better for retirees than 1% of Indiana towns and quieter than 1%. 14.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.5).
How much does a house cost in East Chicago?
The median owner-occupied home in East Chicago is valued at $105,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $42,125, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $854 a month.
What is the weather like in East Chicago?
July highs average 83.9°F and January lows 15.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.1 inches of precipitation a year and 32.5 inches of snow.
Does East Chicago get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of East Chicago since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 21, 1967. The typical Indiana town has had 23.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)