Lake County, Indiana
Named for Lake Michigan and organized in 1837
County Seat: Crown Point
Largest City: Hammond (2024 population: 76,030)
Population per Square Mile: 1,007.93
Square Miles: 499.00
Go to county's in.gov site
| Population over Time | Number | Rank in State | Percent of State | Indiana |
|---|
| Yesterday (2020) | 498,700 | 2 | 7.7% | 6,484,050 |
| Today (2024) | 502,955 | 2 | 7.3% | 6,924,275 |
| Tomorrow (2030 projection)* | 504,125 | 2 | 7.2% | 7,013,509 |
| Percent Change 2020 to Today | 0.9% | 39 | | 2.0% |
*Projection based on 2020 Census population estimates.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau; Indiana Business Research Center
| Components of Population Change, 2023-2024 | Number | Rank in State | Percent of State | Indiana |
|---|
| Net Domestic Migration | 1,130 | 8 | | 4,268 |
| Net International Migration | 977 | 7 | | 30,852 |
| Natural Increase (births minus deaths) | 278 | 11 | 3.0% | 9,159 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
| Population Estimates by Age, 2024 | Number | Rank in State | Pct Dist.
in County | Pct Dist.
in State |
|---|
| Preschool (0 to 4) | 27,887 | 2 | 5.5% | 5.9% |
| School Age (5 to 17) | 86,167 | 2 | 17.1% | 17.0% |
| College Age (18 to 24) | 42,339 | 3 | 8.4% | 9.7% |
| Young Adult (25 to 44) | 126,794 | 2 | 25.2% | 25.9% |
| Older Adult (45 to 64) | 125,183 | 2 | 24.9% | 23.9% |
| Seniors (65 and older) | 94,585 | 2 | 18.8% | 17.5% |
| Median Age | 40.3 | | | Median Age = 38.3 |
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau; Indiana Business Research Center
| Population Estimates by Race and Hispanic Origin, 2024 | Number | Rank of | Pct Dist.
in County | Pct Dist.
in State |
|---|
| American Indian or Alaska Native Alone | 2,809 | 2 | 0.6% | 0.5% |
| Asian Alone | 9,620 | 7 | 1.9% | 3.1% |
| Black Alone | 123,417 | 2 | 24.5% | 10.6% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pac. Isl. Alone | 390 | 4 | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| White | 355,071 | 2 | 70.6% | 83.2% |
| Two or More Race Groups | 11,648 | 3 | 2.3% | 2.5% |
| Non-Hispanic | 394,113 | 2 | 78.4% | 90.9% |
| Hispanic | 108,842 | 2 | 21.6% | 9.1% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
| Household Types | Number | Rank in State | Pct Dist.
in County | Pct Dist.
in State |
|---|
| Households in 2023 (Includes detail not shown below) | 193,474 | 2 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| Married With Children | 30,592 | 3 | 15.8% | 18.1% |
| Married Without Children | 52,629 | 2 | 27.2% | 29.3% |
| Single Parents | 22,402 | 2 | 11.6% | 8.9% |
| Living Alone | 57,461 | 2 | 29.7% | 29.6% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
| Housing | Number | Rank in State | Pct Dist.
in County | Pct Dist.
in State |
|---|
| Total Housing Units in 2024 (estimate) | 219,623 | 2 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| Total Housing Units in 2023 (includes vacant units) | 216,330 | 2 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
Owner Occupied
(Pct. distribution based on all housing units) | 137,105 | 2 | 63.4% | 63.9% |
| Median Value (2023) | $214,700 | 19 | | |
Renter Occupied
(Pct. distribution based on all housing units) | 56,369 | 2 | 26.1% | 26.9% |
| Median Rent (2023) | $878 | 11 | | |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
| Education | Number | Rank in State | Percent of State | Indiana |
|---|
| School Enrollment (2024/2025 Total Reported) | 82,483 | 2 | 7.3% | 1,132,621 |
| Public | 73,685 | 2 | 7.1% | 1,033,552 |
| Adults (25+ in 2023 ACS) | 340,958 | 2 | 7.5% | 4,559,304 |
| with High School diploma or higher | 90.2% | 50 | | 90.2% |
| with B.A. or higher degree | 24.9% | 22 | | 28.8% |
Sources: Indiana Department of Education; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
| Income and Poverty | Number | Rank in State | Percent of State | Indiana |
|---|
| Per Capita Personal Income (annual) in 2023 | $56,172 | 38 | 91.7% | 61,243 |
| Median Household Income in 2023 | 69,182 | 40 | 99.6% | $69,458 |
| Poverty Rate in 2023 | 14.3% | 17 | 117.2% | 12.2% |
| Poverty Rate among Children under 18 | 20.0% | 11 | 132.5% | 15.1% |
| Welfare (TANF) Monthly Average Families in 2024 | 525 | 2 | 10.9% | 4,813 |
| Food Stamp Recipients in 2024 | 61,414 | 2 | 10.1% | 608,295 |
| Free and Reduced Fee Lunch Recipients in 2024/2025 | 34,678 | 2 | 7.1% | 488,145 |
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis; U.S. Census Bureau; Indiana Family Social Services Administration; Indiana Department of Education
| Health and Vital Statistics | Number | Rank of | Percent of State | Indiana |
|---|
| Births, 2021 | 5,418 | 2 | 6.8% | 79,946 |
| Births to Teens, 2021 | 272 | 2 | 7.1% | 3,845 |
| Deaths, 2019 | 5,259 | 2 | 8.0% | 66,005 |
Source: Indiana State Department of Health
| Labor Force, 2024 | Number | Rank in State | Percent of State | Indiana |
|---|
| Total Resident Labor Force | 239,357 | 2 | 6.9% | 3,455,992 |
| Employed | 225,608 | 2 | 6.8% | 3,310,992 |
| Unemployed | 13,749 | 2 | 9.5% | 145,000 |
| Annual Unemployment Rate | 5.7 | 2 | 135.7% | 4.2 |
| May 2025 Unemployment Rate | 4.9 | 2 | 144.1% | 3.4 |
Source: STATS Indiana, using data from the Indiana Department of Workforce Development
| Employment and Earnings by Industry, 2023 | Employment | Pct Dist.
in County | Earnings ($000) | Pct Dist.
In County | Avg. Earnings Per Job |
|---|
| Total by place of work | 257,144 | 100.0% | $16,986,161 | 100.0% | $66,057 |
| Wage and Salary | 200,724 | 78.1% | $12,527,070 | 73.7% | $62,409 |
| Farm Proprietors | 315 | 0.1% | $13,927 | 0.1% | $44,213 |
| Nonfarm Proprietors | 56,105 | 21.8% | $1,731,003 | 10.2% | $30,853 |
| Farm | 402 | 0.2% | $19,320 | 0.1% | $48,060 |
| Nonfarm | 256,742 | 99.8% | $16,966,841 | 99.9% | $66,085 |
| Private | 232,666 | 90.5% | $15,319,531 | 90.2% | $65,843 |
| Accommodation, Food Serv. | 22,571 | 8.8% | $746,069 | 4.4% | $33,054 |
| Arts, Ent., Recreation | 5,340 | 2.1% | $172,380 | 1.0% | $32,281 |
| Construction | 15,543 | 6.0% | $1,433,660 | 8.4% | $92,238 |
| Health Care, Social Serv. | 35,957 | 14.0% | $2,644,691 | 15.6% | $73,551 |
| Information | 1,827 | 0.7% | $100,910 | 0.6% | $55,233 |
| Manufacturing | 22,717 | 8.8% | $3,058,986 | 18.0% | $134,656 |
| Professional, Tech. Serv. | 12,325 | 4.8% | $852,643 | 5.0% | $69,180 |
| Retail Trade | 28,316 | 11.0% | $1,238,677 | 7.3% | $43,745 |
| Trans., Warehousing | 17,009 | 6.6% | $974,880 | 5.7% | $57,316 |
| Wholesale Trade | Data not available due to BEA non-disclosure requirements. |
| Other Private (not above) | 61,689* | 24.0%* | $2,845,108* | 16.7%* | $46,120* |
| Government | 24,076 | 9.4% | $1,647,310 | 9.7% | $68,421 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
* These totals do not include county data that are not available due to BEA non-disclosure requirements.
| Residential Building Permits, 2024 | Units | Pct Dist.
in County | Pct Dist.
in State | Cost ($000) | State Cost ($000) |
|---|
| Total Permits Filed | 1,649 | 100.0% | 100.0% | $491,872 | $8,133,071 |
| Single-Family | 1,621 | 98.3% | 75.4% | $487,509 | $6,951,719 |
| 2-Family | 6 | 0.4% | 1.9% | 867 | $100,498 |
| 3- and 4-Family | 8 | 0.5% | 0.8% | $1,120 | $45,624 |
| 5+ Family | 14 | 0.8% | 21.9% | $2,376 | $1,035,231 |
Notes: Detail cost may not sum to total due to rounding. Greene County does not currently issue building permits, so it is excluded.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Largest Cities and Towns in Lake County
| Name | Population
in 2024 | Percent of County |
|---|
| Cedar Lake | 16,404 | 3.3% |
| Crown Point | 35,097 | 7.0% |
| Dyer | 16,341 | 3.2% |
| East Chicago | 25,768 | 5.1% |
| Gary | 67,555 | 13.4% |
| Griffith | 16,192 | 3.2% |
| Hammond | 76,030 | 15.1% |
| Highland | 23,497 | 4.7% |
| Hobart | 29,418 | 5.8% |
| Lake Station | 13,033 | 2.6% |
| Lowell | 11,449 | 2.3% |
| Merrillville | 36,989 | 7.4% |
| Munster | 23,634 | 4.7% |
| New Chicago | 1,976 | 0.4% |
| St. John | 24,250 | 4.8% |
| Schererville | 29,780 | 5.9% |
| Schneider | 262 | 0.1% |
| Whiting | 4,491 | 0.9% |
| Winfield | 8,557 | 1.7% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau annual population estimates
Hoosiers by the Numbers