Lake Station, IN · standard
ZIP Code 46405
Lake County, Indiana - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 11,746
- 522/sq mi High-density area
- $60,881
- Median income Below-median income area
- $139,200
- Median home value Below-median home value
- 7.8%
- Bachelor's or higher Below-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Lake Station pairs a below-median household income with among the most affordable home values nationally, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.
- 31st pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 22nd pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 522
- people per sq mi
- 75%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 46405 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 46405 (Lake Station, IN) rose +5.2% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 206.6 in 2023 to 217.2 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 46405 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Lake Station, Lake County, Indiana, home to 11,746 residents across 22.5 square miles, a density of 522 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 46405 reports a modest median household income of $60,881 (17% below the average Indiana ZIP), while per-capita income is $27,763. Unemployment is 16.3%, an important qualifier alongside the household-income figure. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $139,200 (28% below the average Indiana ZIP), and median rent is $1,144; owner occupancy is 75.3%.
Formal educational attainment runs low here: just 7.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 35.3, 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 46405 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 46405
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Lake Station, IN
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 46405.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
31 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
27 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
17 establishments
- Transportation and warehousing
Transportation and warehousing
15 establishments
- Construction
Construction
14 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 46405, Lake Station, 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
11,746
Population
22.5
Area (sq mi)
522
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 46405?
35.3
Median Age
52.6%
Male
47.4%
Female
9.2%
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?
$60,881
Median Household Income
-17% vs state ZIP avg
$27,763
Per Capita Income
12.2%
Poverty Rate
16.3%
Unemployment Rate
26.9 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 46405 ranks among Indiana ZIPs
Lake Station, 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)
$60,881 27th percentile higher than 27% 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
4,632housing units
4,632
Total Housing Units
4,357
Occupied Units
275
Vacant Units
2.77
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$139,200
Median Home Value
-28% vs state ZIP avg
$1,144
Median Rent
1962
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
+5.2%
YoY Change (2024)
217
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+117%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 46405 have increased 5.2% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +117% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +11.0% | 137 |
| 2021 | +13.6% | 155 |
| 2022 | +13.8% | 177 |
| 2023 | +17.0% | 207 |
| 2024 | +5.2% | 217 |
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 149 business establishments in ZIP 46405, employing approximately 1,148 people with a combined annual payroll of $42,070,000.
149
Businesses
1,148
Employees
$42.1M
Annual Payroll
12
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 31 | 20.8% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 27 | 18.1% |
| Accommodation and food services | 17 | 11.4% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 15 | 10.1% |
| Construction | 14 | 9.4% |
| Health care and social assistance | 11 | 7.4% |
| Finance and insurance | 7 | 4.7% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 7 | 4.7% |
| Manufacturing | 6 | 4.0% |
| Wholesale trade | 4 | 2.7% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 4 | 2.7% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 3 | 2.0% |
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 46405 vs 46403 →
ZIP 46405 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 46368
Portage (46368)
38,691 residents
- 46410
Merrillville (46410)
38,340 residents
- 46342
Hobart (46342)
31,244 residents
- 46404
Gary (46404)
17,326 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 46405 ranks #8 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 46405 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 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
- 46404
Gary (46404)
$42,256 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 46405 ranks #4 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 46403 | Gary, IN | 12,601 | 2.1 mi |
| 46407 | Gary, IN | 12,656 | 3.5 mi |
| 46342 | Hobart, IN | 31,244 | 4.0 mi |
| 46409 | Gary, IN | 8,932 | 3.7 mi |
| 46402 | Gary, IN | 6,726 | 3.9 mi |
| 46368 | Portage, IN | 38,691 | 4.3 mi |
| 46404 | Gary, IN | 17,326 | 5.9 mi |
| 46408 | Gary, IN | 17,030 | 5.9 mi |
| 46393 | Wheeler, IN | 399 | 6.3 mi |
| 46410 | Merrillville, IN | 38,340 | 7.4 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 46405, 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 (11,746 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 46405 in?
ZIP code 46405 (Lake Station) 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 46405?
ZIP code 46405 in Lake Station, IN has a population of 11,746 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 46405?
The median household income in ZIP 46405 is $60,881, which is 20% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 46405?
The median home value in ZIP 46405 is $139,200, which is 50% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 46405?
The largest racial group in ZIP 46405 is White at 67.3%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 31.6% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 46405?
ZIP code 46405 has 149 business establishments employing approximately 1,148 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 46405?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 46405 are: Retail trade (31), Other services (except public administration) (27), Accommodation and food services (17). There are 12 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 46405?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 46405 increased by 5.2% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 117%. 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 46405?
In ZIP code 46405, 54.8% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 7.8% 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 46405?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 46405 is 26.9 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 46405?
In ZIP code 46405, approximately 75.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 24.7% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 46405?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 46405 is 12.2% 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 46405's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 46405 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Lake Station, 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.