Indiana · GEOID 18089

Lake County

2024 ACS 5-year estimates · population 500,379 · 217,436 housing units

Median household income

$71,493

State $73,272

Median home value

$230,600

State $222,483

Median gross rent

$1,131

State $1,072

Homeownership rate

71.7%

State 70.6%

Renter cost-burden rate

52.3%

≥30% of income

Owner cost-burden rate

20.1%

≥30% of income

Homeowner vacancy

0.7%

Of owner-occupied + for-sale units

Rental vacancy

5.1%

Of renter-occupied + for-rent units

Overall vacancy

10.3%

All housing units

Price-to-income ratio

3.23

Affordable: 2.0–3.0

Section 1

Community Profile

Population, demographics, household composition, and income.

Community Data Summary

	Lake County	Indiana
Population	500,379	6,851,073
Population density (per sq. mi.)	1,002.98	—
Median household income	$71,493	$73,272
HUD Area Median Income (4-person, 100%)	$100,900	—
Households	195,130	—
Average household size	2.54 people	—
Owner-occupied	71.7%	70.6%
Renter-occupied	28.3%	29.4%
Race	54.9% White · 23.1% Black	0.0% White · 0.0% Black

Source: ACS 5-year 2024 (Tables DP05, S1101, DP04, S1901) and Census Gazetteer (land area); HUD FY2026 Income Limits.

Racial composition

Lake County compared with Indiana.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP05.

Educational attainment (population 25+)

25.8% hold a bachelor's degree or higher (state: 29.5%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1501.

Median Household Income by Tenure

Owner-occupied vs. renter-occupied household income, county and state.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25119.

Median Household Income by Age of Householder

Median household income by age group of householder.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B19049.

Median Household Income by Number of Earners

Median household income for families with each earner count.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903.

Household Size

Distribution of households by number of people.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2501.

Income by Number of Earners

Earners	Share	Median income	Attainable monthly housing cost	Attainable home
0 earners	17.0%	$47,068	$1,177	$144,184
1 earner	33.5%	$63,581	$1,590	$205,651
2 earners	36.4%	$117,656	$2,941	$406,936
3+ earners	13.1%	$156,831	$3,921	$552,759

Attainable monthly housing cost = 30% of gross income ÷ 12. Attainable home price assumes 30% housing budget, 30-yr mortgage at 7%, 5% down.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903; affordability formula derived.

Households

195,130

Average size: 2.54 people

Households with children

52,319

26.8% of households

Per-capita income

$37,284

Poverty rate: 12.4%

Section 2

Residential Market Analysis

Housing stock characteristics — tenure, type, age, size, vacancy, rents.

Tenure

71.7% owner-occupied vs. state average 70.6%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Structure type

Single-family share 78.8% · Missing middle (2–19 units) 15.4%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25024.

Housing stock by decade

64.1% built before 1980 · Median structure age 1,968.00 yrs.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2504.

Housing size mismatch

Compares the share of housing units by bedroom count against the share of households by size — a common diagnostic of housing supply/demand alignment.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Tables B25041 (bedrooms) and S2501 (household size).

Home value distribution

Owner-occupied homes by value bracket. Median: $230,600.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Monthly Housing Costs

Distribution of monthly housing costs across all occupied units.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25104.

Number of Bedrooms

Housing units by number of bedrooms.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25041.

Median rent by bedroom

Overall median gross rent: $1,131.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25031.

Renters by age

Number of renter householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Owners by age

Number of owner householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Vacancy composition

All 22,306 vacant units split into Census's seven categories. Frictional vacancy (units actively on the market) reflects healthy churn. Structural vacancy (seasonal, migrant, other) sits outside the market for year-round residents — high values change how the headline vacancy rate should be read.

Vacant units by type

For sale 4.1% · For rent 13.6% · Seasonal 4.1% · Other 69.5%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Frictional vs structural

26.4% of vacancy is frictional (for sale + for rent + rented/sold not yet occupied); 73.6% is structural (seasonal + migrant + other).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Seasonal / recreational share of all housing

0.4%

918 units of 217,436 total

Housing units held for seasonal or recreational use.

"Other vacant" share of all housing

7.1%

15,506 units of 217,436 total

⚑ Above the 5% threshold — possible indicator of disinvestment, abandonment, or condemned stock.

Section 3

Workforce Housing Needs Assessment

Affordability, cost burden, and the housing options for households in the workforce income range.

Workforce range — ACS median household income

80% MHI$57,194

100% MHI$71,493

120% MHI$85,792

County-wide median from ACS 5-year estimates. A household at 100% MHI in Lake County should be able to afford a home up to roughly — (30% housing budget, default mortgage terms).

Workforce range — HUD Area Median Income

	1-person	2-person	4-person
80% AMI	$56,500	$64,600	$80,700
100% AMI	$70,630	$80,720	$100,900
120% AMI	$84,750	$96,850	$121,100

HUD FMR Area: Gary, IN HUD Metro FMR Area. 80% AMI uses HUD's published Section 8 Low Income Limits; 100% is HUD MFI; 120% is the standard workforce convention.

Affordability calculator

Follows the standard 30%-of-gross-income affordability rule.

Income basis Household income Interest rate % Down payment % Taxes & insurance / yr

Affordable monthly—

Affordable home price—

Renter cost burden

52.3% of renter households spend ≥30% of income on rent (28.2% spend ≥50%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25070.

Owner cost burden by income

20.1% of homeowners spend ≥30% of income on housing. Bars show counts of cost-burdened owners by income bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25106.

Household income — owners vs renters

Distribution of household income for owner-occupied (navy) and renter-occupied (gold) households.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25118.

Section 4

Industry & Workforce Wages

Employment, average wages, and the housing each industry's typical earner can afford in Lake County.

Covered employment

183,619

Across 19 sectors

Establishments

11,144

QCEW 2024

Avg annual pay (workforce)

$59,852

Employment-weighted across sectors

Top 10 sectors by employment

Annual average employment by NAICS 2-digit sector. Counties with fewer than five covered establishments in a sector may show suppressed totals.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024.

Attainable housing by industry

Industry	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 62 Health care and social assistance NAICS 62	33,391	$62,320	$200,957	−$29,643	$1,558
NAICS 44-45 Retail trade NAICS 44-45	22,724	$36,313	$104,150	−$126,450	$908
NAICS 31-33 Manufacturing NAICS 31-33	22,497	$107,983	$370,930	+$140,330	$2,700
NAICS 72 Accommodation and food services NAICS 72	20,825	$24,051	$58,506	−$172,094	$601
NAICS 61 Educational services NAICS 61	15,240	$48,424	$149,231	−$81,369	$1,211
NAICS 23 Construction NAICS 23	11,594	$86,001	$289,105	+$58,505	$2,150
NAICS 48-49 Transportation and warehousing NAICS 48-49	10,341	$62,543	$201,787	−$28,813	$1,564
NAICS 56 Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services NAICS 56	9,022	$52,502	$164,411	−$66,189	$1,313
NAICS 81 Other services (except public administration) NAICS 81	8,204	$43,904	$132,406	−$98,194	$1,098
NAICS 92 Public administration NAICS 92	7,969	$55,651	$176,132	−$54,468	$1,391
NAICS 54 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 54	7,863	$72,385	$238,422	+$7,822	$1,810
NAICS 52 Finance and insurance NAICS 52	4,575	$78,399	$260,808	+$30,208	$1,960
NAICS 71 Arts, entertainment, and recreation NAICS 71	3,456	$31,913	$87,772	−$142,828	$798
NAICS 55 Management of companies and enterprises NAICS 55	2,328	$104,193	$356,822	+$126,222	$2,605
NAICS 53 Real estate and rental and leasing NAICS 53	1,886	$58,731	$187,597	−$43,003	$1,468
NAICS 51 Information NAICS 51	1,260	$63,597	$205,710	−$24,890	$1,590
NAICS 11 Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting NAICS 11	260	$33,985	$95,484	−$135,116	$850
NAICS 22 Utilities NAICS 22	109	$61,026	$196,140	−$34,460	$1,526
NAICS 21 Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction NAICS 21	75	$98,211	$334,555	+$103,955	$2,455

Subsector	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 722 Food services and drinking places NAICS 722	18,257	$21,480	$48,936	−$181,664	$537
NAICS 611 Educational services NAICS 611	15,240	$48,424	$149,231	−$81,369	$1,211
NAICS 621 Ambulatory health care services NAICS 621	13,291	$72,620	$239,297	+$8,697	$1,816
NAICS 622 Hospitals NAICS 622	11,575	$69,061	$226,049	−$4,551	$1,727
NAICS 331 Primary metal manufacturing NAICS 331	9,664	$134,748	$470,558	+$239,958	$3,369
NAICS 238 Specialty trade contractors NAICS 238	8,081	$85,315	$286,552	+$55,952	$2,133
NAICS 541 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 541	7,863	$72,385	$238,422	+$7,822	$1,810
NAICS 561 Administrative and support services NAICS 561	7,658	$47,406	$145,442	−$85,158	$1,185
NAICS 921 Executive, legislative, and other general government support NAICS 921	6,540	$54,683	$172,529	−$58,071	$1,367
NAICS 455 General merchandise retailers NAICS 455	4,972	$29,368	$78,298	−$152,302	$734
NAICS 423 Merchant wholesalers, durable goods NAICS 423	4,875	$78,433	$260,935	+$30,335	$1,961
NAICS 484 Truck transportation NAICS 484	4,528	$67,244	$219,285	−$11,315	$1,681
NAICS 624 Social assistance NAICS 624	4,325	$31,982	$88,028	−$142,572	$800
NAICS 445 Food and beverage retailers NAICS 445	4,301	$27,572	$71,613	−$158,987	$689
NAICS 623 Nursing and residential care facilities NAICS 623	4,200	$42,388	$126,763	−$103,837	$1,060
NAICS 441 Motor vehicle and parts dealers NAICS 441	3,338	$61,020	$196,118	−$34,482	$1,526
NAICS 713 Amusement, gambling, and recreation industries NAICS 713	3,186	$32,546	$90,128	−$140,472	$814
NAICS 811 Repair and maintenance NAICS 811	3,079	$61,569	$198,161	−$32,439	$1,539
NAICS 812 Personal and laundry services NAICS 812	2,712	$39,669	$116,642	−$113,958	$992
NAICS 236 Construction of buildings NAICS 236	2,575	$77,562	$257,693	+$27,093	$1,939
NAICS 522 Credit intermediation and related activities NAICS 522	2,574	$69,753	$228,625	−$1,975	$1,744
NAICS 721 Accommodation NAICS 721	2,568	$42,322	$126,517	−$104,083	$1,058
NAICS 813 Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations NAICS 813	2,351	$25,842	$65,173	−$165,427	$646
NAICS 444 Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers NAICS 444	2,329	$43,420	$130,604	−$99,996	$1,086
NAICS 551 Management of companies and enterprises NAICS 551	2,328	$104,193	$356,822	+$126,222	$2,605
NAICS 332 Fabricated metal product manufacturing NAICS 332	2,274	$76,869	$255,113	+$24,513	$1,922
NAICS 459 Sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, book, and miscellaneous retailers NAICS 459	2,233	$27,825	$72,555	−$158,045	$696
NAICS 311 Food manufacturing NAICS 311	2,102	$70,251	$230,479	−$121	$1,756
NAICS 493 Warehousing and storage NAICS 493	1,776	$54,587	$172,172	−$58,428	$1,365
NAICS 457 Gasoline stations and fuel dealers NAICS 457	1,692	$32,538	$90,098	−$140,502	$813
NAICS 456 Health and personal care retailers NAICS 456	1,616	$39,589	$116,344	−$114,256	$990
NAICS 524 Insurance carriers and related activities NAICS 524	1,588	$77,539	$257,607	+$27,007	$1,938
NAICS 492 Couriers and messengers NAICS 492	1,375	$41,381	$123,015	−$107,585	$1,035
NAICS 424 Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods NAICS 424	1,371	$91,473	$309,474	+$78,874	$2,287
NAICS 562 Waste management and remediation services NAICS 562	1,364	$81,115	$270,918	+$40,318	$2,028
NAICS 327 Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing NAICS 327	1,301	$84,862	$284,866	+$54,266	$2,122
NAICS 458 Clothing, clothing accessories, shoe, and jewelry retailers NAICS 458	1,265	$25,041	$62,192	−$168,408	$626
NAICS 531 Real estate NAICS 531	1,256	$54,420	$171,550	−$59,050	$1,361
NAICS 336 Transportation equipment manufacturing NAICS 336	1,083	$55,921	$177,137	−$53,463	$1,398
NAICS 488 Support activities for transportation NAICS 488	1,038	$75,466	$249,891	+$19,291	$1,887
NAICS 325 Chemical manufacturing NAICS 325	1,013	$111,642	$384,550	+$153,950	$2,791
NAICS 449 Furniture, home furnishings, electronics, and appliance retailers NAICS 449	977	$43,934	$132,518	−$98,082	$1,098
NAICS 237 Heavy and civil engineering construction NAICS 237	938	$115,080	$397,347	+$166,747	$2,877
NAICS 333 Machinery manufacturing NAICS 333	834	$77,491	$257,428	+$26,828	$1,937
NAICS 491 Postal service NAICS 491	816	$71,408	$234,785	+$4,185	$1,785
NAICS 485 Transit and ground passenger transportation NAICS 485	584	$33,235	$92,692	−$137,908	$831
NAICS 312 Beverage and tobacco product manufacturing NAICS 312	541	$62,115	$200,194	−$30,406	$1,553
NAICS 326 Plastics and rubber products manufacturing NAICS 326	442	$64,266	$208,200	−$22,400	$1,607
NAICS 924 Administration of environmental quality programs NAICS 924	419	$14,637	$23,464	−$207,136	$366
NAICS 337 Furniture and related product manufacturing NAICS 337	404	$46,513	$142,118	−$88,482	$1,163
NAICS 923 Administration of human resource programs NAICS 923	403	$58,570	$186,998	−$43,602	$1,464
NAICS 517 Telecommunications NAICS 517	385	$88,998	$300,261	+$69,661	$2,225
NAICS 523 Securities, commodity contracts, and other financial investments and related activities NAICS 523	382	$140,470	$491,857	+$261,257	$3,512
NAICS 922 Justice, public order, and safety activities NAICS 922	374	$112,972	$389,501	+$158,901	$2,824
NAICS 519 Web search portals, libraries, archives, and other information services NAICS 519	359	$34,911	$98,931	−$131,669	$873
NAICS 339 Miscellaneous manufacturing NAICS 339	345	$46,282	$141,258	−$89,342	$1,157
NAICS 323 Printing and related support activities NAICS 323	256	$53,358	$167,597	−$63,003	$1,334
NAICS 513 Publishing industries NAICS 513	252	$82,143	$274,745	+$44,145	$2,054
NAICS 111 Crop production NAICS 111	218	$32,126	$88,564	−$142,036	$803
NAICS 321 Wood product manufacturing NAICS 321	211	$42,387	$126,759	−$103,841	$1,060
NAICS 486 Pipeline transportation NAICS 486	204	$148,096	$520,244	+$289,644	$3,702
NAICS 926 Administration of economic programs NAICS 926	149	$47,473	$145,691	−$84,909	$1,187
NAICS 335 Electrical equipment, appliance, and component manufacturing NAICS 335	120	$65,870	$214,171	−$16,429	$1,647
NAICS 512 Motion picture and sound recording industries NAICS 512	114	$31,662	$86,837	−$143,763	$792
NAICS 516 Broadcasting and content providers NAICS 516	110	$39,911	$117,543	−$113,057	$998
NAICS 221 Utilities NAICS 221	109	$61,026	$196,140	−$34,460	$1,526
NAICS 314 Textile product mills NAICS 314	62	$45,548	$138,526	−$92,074	$1,139
NAICS 814 Private households NAICS 814	61	$37,446	$108,367	−$122,233	$936
NAICS 928 National security and international affairs NAICS 928	60	$82,610	$276,483	+$45,883	$2,065
NAICS 525 Funds, trusts, and other financial vehicles NAICS 525	30	$77,996	$259,308	+$28,708	$1,950
NAICS 925 Administration of housing programs, urban planning, and community development NAICS 925	22	$83,651	$280,358	+$49,758	$2,091

Affordable home price assumes the industry's average earner uses 30% of gross income for housing, with a 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr taxes & insurance, and 0.5% PMI. Adjust the Section 3 calculator for other terms. Affordable rent is 30% of monthly gross pay.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024; ACS 5-year 2024 (median home value).

Section 5

Wages by Occupation

Selected essential-worker occupations for the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county — jobs, the 10-year change, wages, and the housing each typical earner can afford. Both jobs counts and wages are reported at the MSA / nonmetropolitan-area level (BLS does not publish OEWS at the county level), so every county inside the same area shows the same numbers. For county-accurate employment totals, see Section 4 above.

Occupational wages and affordable housing

Occupation	2025 jobs	2015–2025 change	% change	Hourly wage	Annual wage	Affordable home price	Affordable monthly rent
Fast Food and Counter Workers SOC 35-3023 · prior-year code differs	97,280	(13,740)	(12%)	$16.68	$34,690	$98,108	$867
Waiters and Waitresses SOC 35-3031	54,100	(14,780)	(21%)	$17.14	$35,650	$101,682	$891
Cashiers SOC 41-2011	99,240	590	1%	$17.19	$35,760	$102,091	$894
Childcare Workers SOC 39-9011	17,540	5,150	42%	$17.89	$37,220	$107,526	$931
Retail Salespersons SOC 41-2031	96,950	(51,690)	(35%)	$18.93	$39,370	$115,529	$984
Janitors and Cleaners SOC 37-2011	70,000	(1,620)	(2%)	$19.90	$41,400	$123,085	$1,035
Tellers SOC 43-3071	9,930	(5,410)	(35%)	$20.90	$43,480	$130,828	$1,087
Home Health and Personal Care Aides SOC 31-1131 · prior-year code differs	45,850	(20,950)	(31%)	$22.41	$46,610	$142,479	$1,165
Office Clerks, General SOC 43-9061	66,840	(44,600)	(40%)	$23.86	$49,620	$153,683	$1,241
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General SOC 49-9071	45,710	5,290	13%	$28.32	$58,910	$188,264	$1,473
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers SOC 53-3032	62,210	12,190	24%	$31.33	$65,170	$211,565	$1,629
Construction Laborers SOC 47-2061	26,690	2,520	10%	$33.26	$69,180	$226,492	$1,730
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education SOC 25-2021	45,840	5,070	12%	—	$78,800	$262,301	$1,970
Firefighters SOC 33-2011	14,560	1,630	13%	$38.52	$80,110	$267,177	$2,003
Carpenters SOC 47-2031	14,220	(2,040)	(13%)	$39.96	$83,110	$278,344	$2,078
Paramedics SOC 29-2043 · prior-year code differs	2,560	(5,200)	(67%)	$40.10	$83,400	$279,424	$2,085
Electricians SOC 47-2111	17,720	(1,610)	(8%)	$45.41	$94,450	$320,555	$2,361
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters SOC 47-2152	12,750	(290)	(2%)	$46.36	$96,430	$327,926	$2,411
Registered Nurses SOC 29-1141	100,240	16,180	19%	$47.08	$97,930	$333,509	$2,448
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers SOC 33-3051	22,680	(2,290)	(9%)	$47.71	$99,230	$338,348	$2,481

Affordable home price uses the same Section 3 formula (30% housing budget, 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr T&I, 0.5% PMI). Affordable rent is 30% of monthly wages. Negative job-change values are shown in red parentheses. A "prior-year code differs" note flags occupations whose SOC code changed between the two vintages (2010 SOC → 2018 SOC) — the change estimate is best-effort.

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (10-year change vs. May 2015). Jobs counts and wages reflect the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county, not the county alone — OEWS is not published at the county level.

Methodology & sources

All figures derive from the 2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates. State and national comparisons are population-weighted aggregates of county-level estimates (an approximation; ACS publishes its own state and national medians which can differ slightly).

The affordability calculator uses a 30% housing-budget rule with a 30-year mortgage. Defaults are 7% interest, 5% down, $2,500/year taxes and insurance, and 0.5% PMI — adjustable above.

Variables: 18089 · pulled from Full Housing Data Table.xlsx.