Cedar Lake, IN

This town of 17,371 residents needs 1,377 more housing units over the next five years. Cedar Lake is part of the Northwest Indiana Regional Planning Commission.

Housing snapshot

Population
17,371 (2026)
Households
5,848
Median household income
$94,038 (2026)
Typical home value
$336,812
Owner-occupied
76%
Five-year housing need
1,377 units

Comparison to other Indiana municipalities

Cedar Lake: $94,038 Median income (2026 estimate)
<$34K >$120K
Cedar Lake: 0.38 jobs to household ratio
<0.06 >2.73
Cedar Lake: Permits since 2021 represent 17.4% of housing
<0% >18.5%
On this page

How affordable is this community?

The typical home in Cedar Lake, IN is valued at $336,812, well above the Indiana average of $234,139. Cedar Lake, IN's median household income of $94,038 puts the typical home within reach for most households.

This chart tracks whether housing prices are keeping pace with local incomes. The gap between what homes cost and what households can afford reveals affordability trends over time.

How is the population changing?

Cedar Lake, IN has a population of roughly 15,295, growing steadily at 2.6% per year.

Population growth patterns reveal how communities are evolving. This chart shows historical population changes by age group and projects future trends based on demographic patterns.

How has employment changed over time?

Jobs by industry sector since 2012. Switch between local jobs — counted where the jobs are located — and resident jobs, counted where the workers live. On the local view the most recent year is a nowcast: it grows the latest local LODES job mix forward using recent county employment growth from QCEW and the BLS local employment series, so the newest point tracks today's economy instead of data that is roughly two years old.

How are households changing by income?

Cedar Lake, IN is a growing community of roughly 5,848 households, with population increasing at 2.6% per year.

Understanding how households at different income levels are growing or declining helps identify which groups face the greatest housing pressure and where new housing is most needed.

Who lives here today?

The housing stock in Cedar Lake, IN is heavily oriented toward detached single-family, which makes up 77% of units. Cedar Lake, IN is a strongly owner-occupied community, with 76% of households owning their home.

Households may have different structure type preferences depending on characteristics such as household size, income, employment, presence of children, age of individuals, and lifestyle choices. Understanding the housing stock in corresponding terms helps assess how well existing units align with existing households' ideals.

What does the housing stock look like?

The mix of housing types and ownership patterns shapes a community's character. This chart breaks down housing units by structure type and whether they're owner-occupied or rented.

How much new housing supply is needed?

To keep up with growth and fill current housing shortages, Cedar Lake, IN needs 1,377 new units over the next 5 years.

1,229
Units needed to keep up with expected growth
Projected total household growth from 2026 to 2031.
21.0%
Projected household growth rate
Expected increase in total households from 5,848 in 2026 to 7,077 in 2031.
148
Units to address shortages in existing housing stock
Production needs to address vacancy rates and other factors.
37
Replacement housing
Effective annual loss rate is 1.2 per 1,000 units.
46
Ownership vacancy adjustment
Owner-occupied vacancy is 0.5%. This is below the minimum stable target of 1.5%.
65
Rental vacancy adjustment
Rental vacancy is 0.0%. This is below the minimum stable target of 7.4%.
1,377
Total 5-year housing production need (2026-2031)
275
Annual production pace
Average units needed per year to meet 5-year need
22.4%
Total housing unit growth
Percent increase in housing stock over 5 years
4.5%
Annual housing unit growth
Average percent increase in housing stock per year

How does this place compare to similar communities?