Hobart, IN · standard
ZIP Code 46342
Lake County, Indiana - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 31,244
- 343/sq mi High-density area
- $75,521
- Median income Near-median income area
- $213,000
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 20.5%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Hobart pairs an above-median household income with below-median home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 44%
- household income, US ZIPs
- 47th pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 343
- people per sq mi
- 74%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 46342 against every reporting US ZIP.
ZIP code 46342 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Hobart, Lake County, Indiana, with 31,244 residents across 91.2 square miles, a density of 343 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 46342 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $75,521 (3% above the average Indiana ZIP), while per-capita income is $36,214. The poverty rate is 11.2%, with unemployment at 3.3%; those measures add context to the income figure. Median home value is $213,000 (10% above the average Indiana ZIP) and median rent is $1,132; 74.1% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 20.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 39.4, and the average commute is 26 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Lake County, so 46342 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 46342
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Hobart, IN
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 46342.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
83 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
75 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
65 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
63 establishments
- Construction
Construction
45 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 46342, Hobart, 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
31,244
Population
91.2
Area (sq mi)
343
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 46342?
39.4
Median Age
49.5%
Male
50.5%
Female
5.2%
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?
$75,521
Median Household Income
+3% vs state ZIP avg
$36,214
Per Capita Income
11.2%
Poverty Rate
3.3%
Unemployment Rate
26.3 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 46342 ranks nationally
Hobart, IN household income vs. every US ZIP code
Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked
$75,521 Top 44% higher than 56% of 30,318 US ZIPs
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?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
13,931housing units
13,931
Total Housing Units
13,053
Occupied Units
878
Vacant Units
2.45
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$213,000
Median Home Value
+10% vs state ZIP avg
$1,132
Median Rent
1971
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
+0.9%
YoY Change (2024)
213
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+113%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 46342 have increased 0.9% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +113% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +3.4% | 147 |
| 2021 | +13.4% | 167 |
| 2022 | +12.6% | 188 |
| 2023 | +12.3% | 211 |
| 2024 | +0.9% | 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 525 business establishments in ZIP 46342, employing approximately 7,666 people with a combined annual payroll of $377,050,000.
525
Businesses
7,666
Employees
$377.1M
Annual Payroll
15
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 83 | 15.8% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 75 | 14.3% |
| Health care and social assistance | 65 | 12.4% |
| Accommodation and food services | 63 | 12.0% |
| Construction | 45 | 8.6% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 35 | 6.7% |
| Wholesale trade | 27 | 5.1% |
| Finance and insurance | 26 | 5.0% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 26 | 5.0% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 23 | 4.4% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 21 | 4.0% |
| Manufacturing | 12 | 2.3% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 11 | 2.1% |
| Information | 5 | 0.9% |
| Educational services | 5 | 0.9% |
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 46342 vs 46405 →
ZIP 46342 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 46385
Valparaiso (46385)
38,866 residents
- 46368
Portage (46368)
38,691 residents
- 46410
Merrillville (46410)
38,340 residents
- 46342
Hobart (46342)
31,244 residents
- 46408
Gary (46408)
17,030 residents
- 46407 12,656
Gary (46407)
12,656 residents
- 46403 12,601
Gary (46403)
12,601 residents
- 46405 11,746
Lake Station (46405)
11,746 residents
- 46409 8,932
Gary (46409)
8,932 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 46342 ranks #4 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 46342 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 46385
Valparaiso (46385)
$98,957 median income
- 46368
Portage (46368)
$76,368 median income
- 46342
Hobart (46342)
$75,521 median income
- 46410
Merrillville (46410)
$64,127 median income
- 46405
Lake Station (46405)
$60,881 median income
- 46393
Wheeler (46393)
$56,250 median income
- 46408
Gary (46408)
$47,453 median income
- 46403
Gary (46403)
$45,991 median income
- 46409
Gary (46409)
$44,667 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 46342 ranks #3 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 46405 | Lake Station, IN | 11,746 | 4.0 mi |
| 46393 | Wheeler, IN | 399 | 3.6 mi |
| 46403 | Gary, IN | 12,601 | 6.1 mi |
| 46409 | Gary, IN | 8,932 | 4.6 mi |
| 46410 | Merrillville, IN | 38,340 | 5.2 mi |
| 46368 | Portage, IN | 38,691 | 5.8 mi |
| 46407 | Gary, IN | 12,656 | 6.1 mi |
| 46408 | Gary, IN | 17,030 | 6.7 mi |
| 46402 | Gary, IN | 6,726 | 7.2 mi |
| 46385 | Valparaiso, IN | 38,866 | 7.4 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 46342, 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 (31,244 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 46342 in?
ZIP code 46342 (Hobart) 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 46342?
ZIP code 46342 in Hobart, IN has a population of 31,244 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 46342?
The median household income in ZIP 46342 is $75,521, which is 1% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 46342?
The median home value in ZIP 46342 is $213,000, which is 23% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 46342?
The largest racial group in ZIP 46342 is White at 70.8%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 19.8% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 46342?
ZIP code 46342 has 525 business establishments employing approximately 7,666 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 46342?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 46342 are: Retail trade (83), Other services (except public administration) (75), Health care and social assistance (65). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 46342?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 46342 increased by 0.9% 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 46342?
In ZIP code 46342, 62.8% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 20.5% 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 46342?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 46342 is 26.3 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend more time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 46342?
In ZIP code 46342, approximately 74.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 25.9% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 46342?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 46342 is 11.2% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
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What to do with ZIP 46342's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 46342 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Hobart, IN ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
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ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.