Whiting, IN · standard
ZIP Code 46394
Lake County, Indiana - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 12,258
- 1,452/sq mi High-density area
- $66,176
- Median income Near-median income area
- $173,200
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 24.7%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Whiting pairs a below-median household income with below-median home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.
- 40th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 36th pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 1,452
- people per sq mi
- 65%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 46394 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 46394 (Whiting, IN) rose +1.6% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 184.8 in 2023 to 187.8 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 46394 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Whiting, Lake County, Indiana, home to 12,258 residents across 8.4 square miles, a density of 1,452 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 46394 reports a modest median household income of $66,176 (10% below the average Indiana ZIP), while per-capita income is $33,922. The poverty rate is 15.7%, with unemployment at 8.6%; those measures add context to the income figure. Median home value is $173,200 (11% below the average Indiana ZIP) and median rent is $986; 65.2% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 24.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 40.3, and the average commute is 27 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Lake County, so 46394 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 46394
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Whiting, IN
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 46394.
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
30 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
29 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
21 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
14 establishments
- Transportation and warehousing
Transportation and warehousing
13 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 46394, Whiting, 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
12,258
Population
8.4
Area (sq mi)
1,452
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 46394?
40.3
Median Age
48.8%
Male
51.2%
Female
12.3%
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?
$66,176
Median Household Income
-10% vs state ZIP avg
$33,922
Per Capita Income
15.7%
Poverty Rate
8.6%
Unemployment Rate
27.3 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 46394 ranks among Indiana ZIPs
Whiting, 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)
$66,176 38th percentile higher than 38% 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
5,258housing units
5,258
Total Housing Units
4,858
Occupied Units
400
Vacant Units
2.43
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$173,200
Median Home Value
-11% vs state ZIP avg
$986
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
+1.6%
YoY Change (2024)
188
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+88%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 46394 have increased 1.6% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +88% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +5.2% | 136 |
| 2021 | +11.5% | 152 |
| 2022 | +14.8% | 175 |
| 2023 | +5.8% | 185 |
| 2024 | +1.6% | 188 |
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 168 business establishments in ZIP 46394, employing approximately 3,355 people with a combined annual payroll of $361,345,000.
168
Businesses
3,355
Employees
$361.3M
Annual Payroll
13
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and food services | 30 | 17.9% |
| Retail trade | 29 | 17.3% |
| Health care and social assistance | 21 | 12.5% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 14 | 8.3% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 13 | 7.7% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 13 | 7.7% |
| Finance and insurance | 11 | 6.5% |
| Construction | 9 | 5.4% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 8 | 4.8% |
| Manufacturing | 5 | 3.0% |
| Wholesale trade | 4 | 2.4% |
| Educational services | 4 | 2.4% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 3 | 1.8% |
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 46394 vs 46327 →
ZIP 46394 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 60617
Chicago (60617)
84,155 residents
- 60628
Chicago (60628)
72,202 residents
- 60409
Calumet City (60409)
37,186 residents
- 46312 29,698
East Chicago (46312)
29,698 residents
- 46321 23,603
Munster (46321)
23,603 residents
- 46324 23,165
Hammond (46324)
23,165 residents
- 46323 22,743
Hammond (46323)
22,743 residents
- 46320 15,508
Hammond (46320)
15,508 residents
- 60633 12,927
Chicago (60633)
12,927 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 46394 ranks #0 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 46394 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 46321
Munster (46321)
$110,187 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
- 60628
Chicago (60628)
$54,644 median income
- 60617
Chicago (60617)
$51,778 median income
- 46327
Hammond (46327)
$47,288 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 46394 ranks #2 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 46327 | Hammond, IN | 12,153 | 2.5 mi |
| 46320 | Hammond, IN | 15,508 | 2.8 mi |
| 46312 | East Chicago, IN | 29,698 | 2.7 mi |
| 60633 | Chicago, IL | 12,927 | 3.6 mi |
| 46324 | Hammond, IN | 23,165 | 6.3 mi |
| 60617 | Chicago, IL | 84,155 | 4.3 mi |
| 60409 | Calumet City, IL | 37,186 | 5.1 mi |
| 46323 | Hammond, IN | 22,743 | 6.2 mi |
| 46321 | Munster, IN | 23,603 | 8.8 mi |
| 60628 | Chicago, IL | 72,202 | 6.5 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 46394, 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 (12,258 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 46394 in?
ZIP code 46394 (Whiting) 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 46394?
ZIP code 46394 in Whiting, IN has a population of 12,258 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 46394?
The median household income in ZIP 46394 is $66,176, which is 13% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 46394?
The median home value in ZIP 46394 is $173,200, which is 38% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 46394?
The largest racial group in ZIP 46394 is White at 51.2%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 46.8% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 46394?
ZIP code 46394 has 168 business establishments employing approximately 3,355 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 46394?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 46394 are: Accommodation and food services (30), Retail trade (29), Health care and social assistance (21). There are 13 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 46394?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 46394 increased by 1.6% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 88%. 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 46394?
In ZIP code 46394, 60.7% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 24.7% 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 46394?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 46394 is 27.3 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 46394?
In ZIP code 46394, approximately 65.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 34.8% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 46394?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 46394 is 15.7% 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 46394's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 46394 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Whiting, 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.