East Chicago, IN · standard
ZIP Code 46312
Lake County, Indiana - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 29,698
- 819/sq mi High-density area
- $42,125
- Median income Below-median income area
- $105,400
- Median home value Below-median home value
- 10.7%
- Bachelor's or higher Below-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
East Chicago pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with among the most affordable home values nationally, in a low-density, mixed-tenure area.
- 7th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 11th pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 819
- people per sq mi
- 43%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 46312 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 46312 (East Chicago, IN) rose +31.3% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 162.1 in 2023 to 212.8 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 46312 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in East Chicago, Lake County, Indiana, with 29,698 residents across 36.3 square miles, a density of 819 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 46312 reports a modest median household income of $42,125 (43% below the average Indiana ZIP), while per-capita income is $23,656. The poverty rate is 26.3%, so the area-level income figures should not be treated as typical household experience. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $105,400 (46% below the average Indiana ZIP), and median rent is $854; owner occupancy is 42.9%.
Formal educational attainment runs low here: just 10.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 36.5, and the average commute is 21 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Lake County, so 46312 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 46312
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in East Chicago, IN
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 + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, 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; 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 ZIP avg
$23,656
Per Capita Income
26.3%
Poverty Rate
7.6%
Unemployment Rate
20.8 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 46312 ranks among Indiana ZIPs
East Chicago, IN household income vs. every Indiana ZIP code
Median household income among 721 reporting Indiana ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$42,125 3rd percentile higher than 3% of 721 Indiana ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more Indiana ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023
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?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
12,365housing units
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 ZIP avg
$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 46312 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 60409
Calumet City (60409)
37,186 residents
- 46312
East Chicago (46312)
29,698 residents
- 46322
Highland (46322)
23,727 residents
- 46324
Hammond (46324)
23,165 residents
- 46323
Hammond (46323)
22,743 residents
- 46404
Gary (46404)
17,326 residents
- 46320
Hammond (46320)
15,508 residents
- 60633 12,927
Chicago (60633)
12,927 residents
- 46394 12,258
Whiting (46394)
12,258 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 46312 ranks #2 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 46312 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 46322
Highland (46322)
$78,062 median income
- 46394
Whiting (46394)
$66,176 median income
- 46324
Hammond (46324)
$63,052 median income
- 60633
Chicago (60633)
$62,458 median income
- 46323
Hammond (46323)
$59,688 median income
- 60409
Calumet City (60409)
$55,369 median income
- 46327
Hammond (46327)
$47,288 median income
- 46404
Gary (46404)
$42,256 median income
- 46312
East Chicago (46312)
$42,125 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 46312 ranks #9 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| 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 |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 46312, both outside IN so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (29,698 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Lake County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 46312 in?
ZIP code 46312 (East Chicago) is located in Lake County, Indiana. Lake County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/lake-in.
What is the population of ZIP code 46312?
ZIP code 46312 in East Chicago, IN has a population of 29,698 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 46312?
The median household income in ZIP 46312 is $42,125, which is 45% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 46312?
The median home value in ZIP 46312 is $105,400, which is 62% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 46312?
The largest racial group in ZIP 46312 is African American at 36.8%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 57.2% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 46312?
ZIP code 46312 has 404 business establishments employing approximately 11,080 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 46312?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 46312 are: Other services (except public administration) (64), Retail trade (48), Manufacturing (43). There are 14 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 46312?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 46312 increased by 31.3% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 113%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 46312?
In ZIP code 46312, 49.8% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 10.7% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 46312?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 46312 is 20.8 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 46312?
In ZIP code 46312, approximately 42.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 57.1% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 46312?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 46312 is 26.3% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 46312's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 46312 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where East Chicago, IN ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.