Residential delivery area · Indiana
ZIP Code 46304: Chesterton, IN
ZIP code 46304 uses the postal name Chesterton, Indiana and lies entirely in Porter County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 28,000 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). Median household income is $91,326 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). By Census place, its land lies in Chesterton (16%), Burns Harbor (11%), Porter (11%) and Dune Acres (4%), and under 1% in smaller places; 58% is outside any Census place.
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
- FHFA2025
- ZBP2023
- IRS2022
- Town
- Chesterton · its only residential ZIP
- County
- Porter County
- Census places
- Chesterton (16%); Burns Harbor (11%); Porter (11%); Dune Acres (4%)
- Metro area
- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
- House district
- IN-1 119th Congress
- State
- Indiana
- Time zone
- Central
- Land area
- 57.8 sq mi · 490 people per sq mi
Where is ZIP code 46304?
46304 centers on 41.615°, -87.050° and covers 57.8 square miles of land plus 4.0 of water. It borders 6 ZIP codes: 46301, 46368, 46391, 46360, 46385, 46383.
The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 46304, open its center on OpenStreetMap.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 ZCTA cartographic boundaries and the 2023 Gazetteer (2020 ZCTAs); ZIP-to-county shares, Census places and House districts (119th Congress) from the Census 2020 relationship files (shares of land); metro area from the OMB delineation (July 2023); town name and time zone from simplemaps US ZIP Codes (CC BY 4.0).
How does 46304 compare with the rest of Porter County?
| Measure | 46304 | In Porter County | In IN |
|---|---|---|---|
| People (ACS 2020-2024) | 28,307 | 7th of 15 | 74th of 807 |
| Median household income | $91k | 4th of 12 | 74th of 478 |
| Median home value | $293k | 3rd of 12 | 59th of 509 |
Its median household income is higher than in 74% of U.S. residential ZIP codes, and it is denser than 72% of all U.S. residential ZIP codes. ZIP codes at the ACS caps ($250,000 or more for household income, $2,000,000 or more for home value) share the top rank.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B19013, B25077); ranks by PlainZIP over residential ZIP codes (ZCTAs).
How many people live in 46304?
The 2020 Census counted 26,835 people in 46304; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 28,307. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population grew 10.9% (its boundary stayed at least 90% the same).
- People, ACS 2020-2024
- 28,307
- 2020 Census count
- 26,835+10.9% since 2010 (24,207)
- Households
- 11,383
- Median age
- 40.5
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B01002, B11001); 2020 Census (DHC P1); 2010 Census (SF1 P1).
Who lives in 46304?
Of the 28,307 people the ACS estimates in 46304, 23.4% are under 18 and 19.2% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is White (not Hispanic) (84.2%).
- Under 1823.4%
- 18 to 6457.3%
- 65 and older19.2%
- White, not Hispanic84.2%
- Hispanic or Latino7.9%
- Other or two or more3.7%
- Asian, not Hispanic2.1%
- Black, not Hispanic2.1%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01001 age by sex, B03002 Hispanic or Latino origin by race); shares of the estimated population, small ZIP codes carry wide margins.
What do households in 46304 earn?
Median household income is $91,326 (ACS 2020-2024), the 4th highest of the 12 ranked ZIP codes in Porter County. It is not measurably different from 2015-2019 ($96,958 in 2024 dollars): the change is within the surveys' margins of error.
- Median household income
- $91,326
- Income per person
- $46,916
- Below the poverty line
- 9.2%
- Unemployed (of the labor force)
- 5.5%
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 36.3%
- Adjusted gross income per tax return, 2022
- $97,20713,750 returns; wages 69% of AGI (IRS)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 and 2015-2019 5-year estimates (B19013, B19301, B17001, B23025, B15003; 2015-2019 dollars converted with the BLS CPI-U, 1.22699); IRS Statistics of Income, ZIP code data, tax year 2022 (adjusted gross income per return, filed under the address on the return).
What are homes worth in 46304?
FHFA's house price index for 46304, built from repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, rose 76% from 2015 to 2025 and rose 48% from 2020 to 2025, and moved +4.6% in 2025.
- Median home value (owners' estimate)
- $293,100
- Median gross rent
- $1,223
- Homes owned by their occupants
- 79.4%
- Housing units
- 12,117
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B25077, B25064, B25003, B25001); FHFA House Price Index, annual five-digit ZIP, updated 2026-03-31.
What businesses are in 46304?
642 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, 4 fewer than in 2018; the most are in retail trade (ZIP Code Business Patterns).
- Retail trade98
- Accommodation and food services80
- Health care and social assistance75
- Other services (except public administration)71
- Construction62
- Professional, scientific, and technical services58
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns 2023 and 2018 (establishments with paid employees, by the business's ZIP code).
Which ZIP codes are next to 46304?
| ZIP | Town | People | Household income | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 46301 | Beverly Shores | 650 | $120k | 6.7 mi |
| 46368 | Portage | 40,301 | $76k | 6.8 mi |
| 46391 | Westville | 8,986 | $83k | 8.0 mi |
| 46360 | Michigan City | 43,817 | $59k | 10.9 mi |
| 46385 | Valparaiso | 40,856 | $99k | 11.1 mi |
| 46383 | Valparaiso | 42,183 | $76k | 11.1 mi |
| 46393 | Wheeler | 216 | $56k | 9.2 mi (near) |
| 46403 | Gary | 10,929 | $46k | 10.7 mi (near) |
Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.