ZIP Code 46304
standardSource:
Chesterton · Porter County · Indiana
- Population
- 24,207
- Median income
- $91,326
- Median home value
- $293,100
- Bachelor's or higher
- 36.3%
- Land area
- 138.9 sq mi
174/sq mi
▲ 20% vs US
higher than 74% of US ZIPs
▲ 5% vs US
higher than 66% of US ZIPs
Median age 40.5
Chicago
ZIP code 46304 in Chesterton, Indiana has a population of 24,207. The median household income is $91,326, which is 20% above the national average. Median home value is $293,100, 5% above the US average. 36.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
ZIP code 46304 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 138.9 square miles in Chesterton, Porter County, Indiana. The area is home to 24,207 residents, producing a population density of 174 people per square mile, and falls within the Chicago time zone. These USPS and Census boundary values drive every downstream statistic on this page, including the benchmarks that compare 46304 against Indiana and the nation.
On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 46304 sits at $91,326 (24% above the Indiana average), while per-capita income is $46,916. The poverty rate stands at 9.2% and the unemployment rate at 5.5%. On housing, the median home value is $293,100 (51% above the state average) with median rent at $1,223 per month, and 79.4% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 46304 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.
Education and household profile round out the picture: 36.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 40.5, and the average commute is 27 minutes. We also surface 5 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Porter County, so you can benchmark 46304 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone. Every figure is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, HUD Fair Market Rents, and FHFA Home Price Index data, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with HUD →
Top industries in ZIP 46304
Top 5 sectors by establishment count
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 46304.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
98 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
80 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
75 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
71 establishments
- Construction
Construction
62 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + HUD FMR + FHFA HPI ACS demographics, ZBP business establishments, HUD Fair Market Rents, FHFA HPI for ZIP 46304, Chesterton, IN · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; HUD FMR + FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
24,207
Population
138.9
Area (sq mi)
174
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 46304?
40.5
Median Age
50.0%
Male
50.0%
Female
4.5%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$91,326
Median Household Income
+24% vs state
$46,916
Per Capita Income
9.2%
Poverty Rate
5.5%
Unemployment Rate
26.7 min
Mean Commute Time
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
12,117
Total Housing Units
11,383
Occupied Units
734
Vacant Units
2.46
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$293,100
Median Home Value
+51% vs state
$1,223
Median Rent
1985
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
+1.1%
YoY Change (2024)
208
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+108%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 46304 have increased 1.1% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +108% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +3.3% | 147 |
| 2021 | +12.9% | 166 |
| 2022 | +11.4% | 185 |
| 2023 | +11.3% | 206 |
| 2024 | +1.1% | 208 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 642 business establishments in ZIP 46304, employing approximately 12,975 people with a combined annual payroll of $915,670,000.
642
Businesses
12,975
Employees
$915.7M
Annual Payroll
15
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 98 | 15.3% |
| Accommodation and food services | 80 | 12.5% |
| Health care and social assistance | 75 | 11.7% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 71 | 11.1% |
| Construction | 62 | 9.7% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 58 | 9.0% |
| Finance and insurance | 42 | 6.5% |
| Wholesale trade | 32 | 5.0% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 26 | 4.0% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 25 | 3.9% |
| Manufacturing | 22 | 3.4% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 22 | 3.4% |
| Educational services | 10 | 1.6% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 9 | 1.4% |
| Information | 7 | 1.1% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 46304 vs 46301 →
More ZIP Codes in Porter County
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Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 46304 in? ▼
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How many businesses are in ZIP code 46304? ▼
What are the main industries in ZIP code 46304? ▼
How have home values changed in ZIP code 46304? ▼
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What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 46304? ▼
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ZIP Code Research Guides
Official Data Resources for Chesterton, IN
Verify and explore additional data for this area using these official government sources.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023). Business data: Source: Census ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023. Home value trends: Source: FHFA House Price Index (HPI), Five-Digit ZIP Codes.
PlainZIP is not affiliated with the U.S. Census Bureau or any government agency.
Read our methodology , how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.