East Chicago, IN

This city of 25,490 residents needs 580 more housing units over the next five years. East Chicago is a CDBG-entitlement community, see how the ROAD to Housing Act could change that funding. East Chicago is part of the Northwest Indiana Regional Planning Commission.

Housing snapshot

Population
25,490 (2026)
Households
9,982
Median household income
$45,855 (2026)
Typical home value
$132,004
Owner-occupied
35%
Five-year housing need
580 units

Comparison to other Indiana municipalities

East Chicago: $45,855 Median income (2026 estimate)
<$34K >$120K
East Chicago: 1.4 jobs to household ratio
<0.06 >2.73
East Chicago: Permits since 2021 represent 0.0% of housing
<0% >18.5%
On this page

How affordable is this community?

At $132,004, homes in East Chicago, IN cost well below the Indiana average of $234,139. East Chicago, IN's median household income of $45,855 comfortably exceeds what is needed to afford the typical home, making this a relatively affordable market.

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?

East Chicago, IN has a population of roughly 26,022, though it has been declining at 0.9% 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?

East Chicago, IN has roughly 9,982 households, though population has been declining at 0.9% 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 East Chicago, IN is relatively mixed, with detached single-family as the most common type at 41%. In East Chicago, IN, renters make up the majority, with only 35% of units owner-occupied.

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, East Chicago, IN needs 580 new units over the next 5 years.

106
Units needed to keep up with expected growth
Projected total household growth from 2026 to 2031.
1.1%
Projected household growth rate
Expected increase in total households from 9,982 in 2026 to 10,088 in 2031.
474
Units to address shortages in existing housing stock
Production needs to address vacancy rates and other factors.
133
Replacement housing
Effective annual loss rate is 2.2 per 1,000 units.
299
Rental vacancy adjustment
Rental vacancy is 2.8%. This is below the minimum stable target of 7.4%.
42
Substandard housing adjustment
Substandard housing rate is 1.41%. This is above National avg. of 0.98%.
580
Total 5-year housing production need (2026-2031)
116
Annual production pace
Average units needed per year to meet 5-year need
4.7%
Total housing unit growth
Percent increase in housing stock over 5 years
0.9%
Annual housing unit growth
Average percent increase in housing stock per year

Build Now Act: how could CDBG funding change?

The Build Now Act (Section 213 of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act) ties a CDBG entitlement community's grant to how much housing it is building. This is a CommunityScale estimate from public ACS data, not HUD's official determination — HUD calculates from Census Master Address File block counts.

How does this place compare to similar communities?