ZIP Code 46312
standardSource:
East Chicago · Lake County · Indiana
- Population
- 29,698
- Median income
- $42,125
- Median home value
- $105,400
- Bachelor's or higher
- 10.7%
- Land area
- 36.3 sq mi
819/sq mi
▼ 45% vs US
higher than 7% of US ZIPs
▼ 62% vs US
higher than 11% of US ZIPs
Median age 36.5
Chicago
ZIP code 46312 in East Chicago, Indiana has a population of 29,698. The median household income is $42,125, which is 45% below the national average. Median home value is $105,400, 62% below the US average. 10.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
ZIP code 46312 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 36.3 square miles in East Chicago, Lake County, Indiana. The area is home to 29,698 residents, producing a population density of 819 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 46312 against Indiana and the nation.
On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 46312 sits at $42,125 (43% below the Indiana average), while per-capita income is $23,656. The poverty rate stands at 26.3% and the unemployment rate at 7.6%. On housing, the median home value is $105,400 (46% below the state average) with median rent at $854 per month, and 42.9% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 46312 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.
Education and household profile round out the picture: 10.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 36.5, and the average commute is 21 minutes. We also surface 10 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Lake County, so you can benchmark 46312 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 46312
Top 5 sectors by establishment count
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 46312.
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
64 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
48 establishments
- Manufacturing
Manufacturing
43 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
40 establishments
- Wholesale trade
Wholesale trade
33 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 46312, East Chicago, 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
29,698
Population
36.3
Area (sq mi)
819
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 46312?
36.5
Median Age
48.9%
Male
51.1%
Female
16.4%
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?
$42,125
Median Household Income
-43% vs state
$23,656
Per Capita Income
26.3%
Poverty Rate
7.6%
Unemployment Rate
20.8 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?
12,365
Total Housing Units
9,943
Occupied Units
2,422
Vacant Units
2.61
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$105,400
Median Home Value
-46% vs state
$854
Median Rent
1938
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
+31.3%
YoY Change (2024)
213
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+113%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 46312 have increased 31.3% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +113% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +17.2% | 130 |
| 2021 | +2.9% | 134 |
| 2022 | +16.6% | 156 |
| 2023 | +3.9% | 162 |
| 2024 | +31.3% | 213 |
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 404 business establishments in ZIP 46312, employing approximately 11,080 people with a combined annual payroll of $876,926,000.
404
Businesses
11,080
Employees
$876.9M
Annual Payroll
14
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Other services (except public administration) | 64 | 15.8% |
| Retail trade | 48 | 11.9% |
| Manufacturing | 43 | 10.6% |
| Health care and social assistance | 40 | 9.9% |
| Wholesale trade | 33 | 8.2% |
| Accommodation and food services | 33 | 8.2% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 32 | 7.9% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 32 | 7.9% |
| Construction | 23 | 5.7% |
| Finance and insurance | 17 | 4.2% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 16 | 4.0% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 10 | 2.5% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 4 | 1.0% |
| Educational services | 3 | 0.7% |
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 46312 vs 46323 →
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 46323 | Hammond, IN | 22,743 | 4.0 mi |
| 46327 | Hammond, IN | 12,153 | 2.8 mi |
| 46320 | Hammond, IN | 15,508 | 2.7 mi |
| 46394 | Whiting, IN | 12,258 | 2.7 mi |
| 46406 | Gary, IN | 9,900 | 3.9 mi |
| 46322 | Highland, IN | 23,727 | 6.8 mi |
| 46324 | Hammond, IN | 23,165 | 5.0 mi |
| 60633 | Chicago, IL | 12,927 | 5.6 mi |
| 60409 | Calumet City, IL | 37,186 | 5.5 mi |
| 46404 | Gary, IN | 17,326 | 6.0 mi |
More ZIP Codes in Lake County
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Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 46312 in? ▼
What is the population of ZIP code 46312? ▼
What is the median household income in ZIP 46312? ▼
What is the average home value in ZIP 46312? ▼
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 46312? ▼
How many businesses are in ZIP code 46312? ▼
What are the main industries in ZIP code 46312? ▼
How have home values changed in ZIP code 46312? ▼
What is the education level in ZIP code 46312? ▼
What is the average commute time in ZIP 46312? ▼
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 46312? ▼
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 46312? ▼
ZIP Code Research Guides
Official Data Resources for East Chicago, 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.