PlainZIP

Lowell, IN · standard

ZIP Code 46356

Lake County, Indiana - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

17,524
57/sq mi
$89,217
Median income
$281,500
Median home value
22.3%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Lowell pairs an above-median household income with above-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.

Top 28%
household income, US ZIPs
Top 36%
home value, US ZIPs
57
people per sq mi
89%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 46356 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 46356 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Lowell, Lake County, Indiana, home to 17,524 residents across 305.8 square miles, a density of 57 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.

ZIP 46356 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $89,217 (21% above the Indiana average), while per-capita income is $41,502. Poverty here runs at 6.7%, with unemployment measured at 6.2%. Median home value sits at $281,500 (45% above the state average), median rent at $1,179 a month, and owner-occupancy at 88.5%.

Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 22.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 41.1, and the average commute is 34 minutes. To put 46356 in local context, 6 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles appear further down this page alongside 6 additional ZIPs in Lake County, for a geography-aware comparison.

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 46356

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Lowell, IN

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 46356.

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 46356, Lowell, 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

17,524

Population

305.8

Area (sq mi)

57

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 46356?

41.1

Median Age

51.2%

Male

48.8%

Female

3.7%

Foreign-Born

White 90.4%
African American 0.2%
Asian 0.2%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.4%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 6.0%
Hispanic or Latino 8.1%

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?

$89,217

Median Household Income

+21% vs state

$41,502

Per Capita Income

6.7%

Poverty Rate

6.2%

Unemployment Rate

33.6 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 46356 ranks nationally

Lowell, IN household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$89,217 Top 28% higher than 72% 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%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). Below this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). This entry sits in this band. $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 58.8%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 22.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

7,423

Total Housing Units

7,078

Occupied Units

345

Vacant Units

2.76

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 88.5%
Renter 11.5%

$281,500

Median Home Value

+45% vs state

$1,179

Median Rent

1990

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

+4.6%

YoY Change (2024)

221

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+121%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 46356 have increased 4.6% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +121% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +3.8% 158
2021 +12.0% 177
2022 +13.6% 201
2023 +5.4% 212
2024 +4.6% 221

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 308 business establishments in ZIP 46356, employing approximately 3,041 people with a combined annual payroll of $131,015,000.

308

Businesses

3,041

Employees

$131.0M

Annual Payroll

14

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Construction 61 19.8%
Retail trade 38 12.3%
Other services (except public administration) 35 11.4%
Accommodation and food services 32 10.4%
Health care and social assistance 23 7.5%
Wholesale trade 18 5.8%
Real estate and rental and leasing 17 5.5%
Manufacturing 15 4.9%
Transportation and warehousing 15 4.9%
Finance and insurance 15 4.9%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 13 4.2%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 11 3.6%
Educational services 6 1.9%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 4 1.3%

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 46356 vs 46379 →

ZIP 46356 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 46356 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 46356 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 46356 ranks #2 of 6 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
46379 Sumava Resorts, IN 202 6.5 mi
46376 Schneider, IN 398 6.1 mi
46377 Shelby, IN 386 6.0 mi
46303 Cedar Lake, IN 14,170 8.3 mi
46381 Thayer, IN 235 7.8 mi
46307 Crown Point, IN 60,619 10.8 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
46312 standard
East Chicago, IN
Pop: 29,698
46375 standard
Schererville, IN
Pop: 23,820
46322 standard
Highland, IN
Pop: 23,727

Related Areas

Lake County Lowell, IN Indiana

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 46356 in? ▼
ZIP code 46356 (Lowell) 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 46356? ▼
ZIP code 46356 in Lowell, IN has a population of 17,524 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 46356? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 46356 is $89,217, which is 17% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 46356? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 46356 is $281,500, which is 1% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 46356? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 46356 is White at 90.4%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 8.1% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 46356? ▼
ZIP code 46356 has 308 business establishments employing approximately 3,041 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 46356? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 46356 are: Construction (61), Retail trade (38), Other services (except public administration) (35). There are 14 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 46356? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 46356 increased by 4.6% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 121%. 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 46356? ▼
In ZIP code 46356, 58.8% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 22.3% 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 46356? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 46356 is 33.6 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 46356? ▼
In ZIP code 46356, approximately 88.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 11.5% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 46356? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 46356 is 6.7% 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.