ZIP Code 46342
standardSource:
Hobart · Lake County · Indiana
- Population
- 31,244
- Median income
- $75,521
- Median home value
- $213,000
- Bachelor's or higher
- 20.5%
- Land area
- 91.2 sq mi
343/sq mi
▼ 1% vs US
higher than 56% of US ZIPs
▼ 23% vs US
higher than 47% of US ZIPs
Median age 39.4
Chicago
ZIP code 46342 in Hobart, Indiana has a population of 31,244. The median household income is $75,521, which is 1% below the national average. Median home value is $213,000, 23% below the US average. 20.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
ZIP code 46342 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 91.2 square miles in Hobart, Lake County, Indiana. The area is home to 31,244 residents, producing a population density of 343 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 46342 against Indiana and the nation.
On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 46342 sits at $75,521 (3% above the Indiana average), while per-capita income is $36,214. The poverty rate stands at 11.2% and the unemployment rate at 3.3%. On housing, the median home value is $213,000 (10% above the state average) with median rent at $1,132 per month, and 74.1% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 46342 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.
Education and household profile round out the picture: 20.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 39.4, and the average commute is 26 minutes. We also surface 10 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Lake County, so you can benchmark 46342 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 46342
Top 5 sectors by establishment count
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 + HUD FMR + FHFA HPI ACS demographics, ZBP business establishments, HUD Fair Market Rents, 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; HUD FMR + 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
$36,214
Per Capita Income
11.2%
Poverty Rate
3.3%
Unemployment Rate
26.3 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?
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
$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 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 |
More ZIP Codes in Lake County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 46342 in? ▼
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How many businesses are in ZIP code 46342? ▼
What are the main industries in ZIP code 46342? ▼
How have home values changed in ZIP code 46342? ▼
What is the education level in ZIP code 46342? ▼
What is the average commute time in ZIP 46342? ▼
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 46342? ▼
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 46342? ▼
ZIP Code Research Guides
Official Data Resources for Hobart, 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.