PlainZIP

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
$42,125
Median income
$105,400
Median home value
10.7%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

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.

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 Indiana average), while per-capita income is $23,656. 26.3% of residents live below the poverty line, and the unemployment rate reads 7.6%. The typical home here is valued at $105,400 (46% below the state average); renters pay a median of $854 monthly, and 42.9% of units are owner-occupied.

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. A geography-based comparison follows: 10 ZIP codes within about 10 miles of 46312, plus 6 more within Lake County, give a clearer read than the national average alone.

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.

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 · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

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

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 46312?

36.5

Median Age

48.9%

Male

51.1%

Female

16.4%

Foreign-Born

White 12.8%
African American 36.8%
Asian 0.3%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.5%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 12.8%
Hispanic or Latino 57.2%

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

How ZIP 46312 ranks nationally

East Chicago, IN household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$42,125 7th percentile higher than 7% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). This entry sits in this band. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). Above this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US 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?

High School Graduate or Higher 49.8%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 10.7%

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

Owner 42.9%
Renter 57.1%

$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 46312 vs its nearest neighbors, by population

Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 46312 ranks #2 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 46312 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

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.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
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

46307 standard
Crown Point, IN
Pop: 60,619
46410 standard
Merrillville, IN
Pop: 38,340
46342 standard
Hobart, IN
Pop: 31,244
46375 standard
Schererville, IN
Pop: 23,820
46322 standard
Highland, IN
Pop: 23,727
46321 standard
Munster, IN
Pop: 23,603

Related Areas

Lake County East Chicago, IN Indiana

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.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.