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Area data

East Chicago, IN — ZIP 46312

Population: 26,022 (Census ACS)

The typical home value in ZIP 46312 (East Chicago, IN) is $132,004 — down 4.7% over the past year. Homes sell for a median $201,750 after a median 44 days on market. Typical rent runs $1,053/month. 9 schools serve the area (NCES). FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall natural-hazard risk Relatively High, with cold wave, tornado, inland flooding the top-rated hazards. Cost of living is 6.7% below the US average (BEA, metro/state-level).

Backed by 25+ public sourcesFEMA · U.S. Census · NOAA · Dept. of Education · EPA · and more

$132,004

Typical home value

-4.7%

1-year change

44

Median days on market

Relatively High

Hazard risk (county)

Home values & appreciation

Typical home value
$132,004
1-year appreciation
-4.7%
3-year appreciation
-0.7%
5-year appreciation
+27.4%
10-year appreciation
+162.3%
Peak value since 2000 (Jul 2024)
$145,127
House Price Index (state)
378.8 (+3.5% YoY)

Sources: home value index (ZIP-level) · FHFA House Price Index (state-level)

Market activity

Median sale price
$201,750
Median list price
$164,950
Median price per sqft
$101
1-year sale-price change
+24.1%
Median days on market
44 days
Homes sold (recent period)
26
For-sale inventory
20
Sale-to-list ratio
96.9%
Active listings
20
1-year forecast
+4.0%
New listings (monthly)
6

Source: recent area sales and market data (ZIP-level)

Rents

Typical rent
$1,053/mo
1-year rent change
+5.5%
Studio fair-market rent
$1,117/mo
1BR fair-market rent
$1,176/mo
2BR fair-market rent
$1,429/mo
3BR fair-market rent
$1,739/mo
4BR fair-market rent
$1,898/mo

Sources: market rent index (ZIP-level) · HUD Fair Market Rents (metro/county-level, 40th-percentile regulatory reference)

Affordability

Cost of living index (Below Average)
93.3 (100 = US avg)
Electricity rate (state-level)
16.2¢/kWh
Natural gas rate (state-level)
$11.50/MCF
30-year mortgage rate (national)
7.40%
15-year mortgage rate (national)
6.73%

Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro/state-level) · EIA energy rates (state-level) · Freddie Mac PMMS (national)

Schools

Total schools
9
Elementary schools
6
Middle schools
1
High schools
1
Charter schools
2
Avg student-teacher ratio
13.9 : 1
School districts serving the area
East Chicago Urban Enterprise Academy, East Chicago Lighthouse Charter, School City of East Chicago
Schools include
East Chicago Urban Enterprise Academy, East Chicago Lighthouse, Abraham Lincoln Elementary School, Benjamin Harrison Elementary Sch, Carrie Gosch PK Center

Source: NCES school directory, 2024-25 (school-address-based)

Natural hazards & flood risk

Overall hazard risk (county)
Relatively High
Top hazards (county)
cold wave, tornado, inland flooding, lightning, strong wind
Notable hazard ratings (county)
tornado: Very High · cold wave: Very High · lightning: Relatively High · strong wind: Relatively High · winter weather: Relatively High · inland flooding: Relatively High
Most common flood zone among NFIP claims
Zone X
NFIP flood claims on record
3
Wildfire risk to homes (county)
Higher than 32% of US counties
Buildings in wildfire direct-exposure zone
9.5%
Radon potential (county)
Moderate radon potential — EPA Zone 2 of 3
EPA Superfund (NPL) sites within 5 mi
8
Nearest Superfund site
U.S. Smelter and Lead Refinery, Inc. (2.2 mi)
Flood zones vary by property. Look up a specific address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center.
EPA recommends radon testing for every home regardless of zone.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (county-level) · FEMA NFIP flood-insurance claims (ZIP-level) · USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (county-level) · EPA radon zones + Superfund NPL

Climate (30-year normals)

Annual precipitation
43.0 in
Annual snowfall
28.8 in
USDA plant hardiness zone
6a (extreme annual low -10 to -5°F)

Sources: NOAA Climate Normals (30-year, nearest-station) · USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)

Air quality

Air quality rating
Moderate
Median AQI (annual)
53
Days with Good air quality
152
Days with Moderate air quality
198
Days with Unhealthy air quality
3
Highest AQI recorded (year)
219

Source: EPA annual air quality index (county-level)

Walkability & transit

Walkability index
5.2 / 20
Transit service frequency
-99,999
Jobs reachable by car (30 min)
141,602
Jobs reachable by transit (45 min)
136,835

Source: EPA Smart Location Database (metropolitan block groups)

Amenities

National parks within ~60 mi
2
Nearest national park
Pullman National Historical Park (9 mi)
National parks include
Pullman National Historical Park, Indiana Dunes National Park
Airports within 30 mi
21
Nearest airport
Gary/Chicago International Airport (GYY) (3 mi)
Nearest major airport
Gary/Chicago International Airport (GYY) (3 mi)
Hospitals in or near this ZIP
1
Hospitals include
ST CATHERINE HOSPITAL INC
Avg hospital rating (CMS)
4.0 / 5
Best hospital rating nearby (CMS)
4.0 / 5
EV charging stations (within 10 mi)
32
Solar radiation rating
Fair (3.8 kWh/m²/day)

Sources: National Park Service · FAA airport data · CMS hospital data (same ZIP, else within ~40 mi) · DOE/NREL (proximity-based)

Migration

Net migration (county)
+154 tax filers

Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration (county-level; published with a multi-year lag)

Housing stock

Median year housing built
1938
Housing built before 1970
82.7%
Housing built 2000 or later
4.2%
Median annual property tax
$1,083
Mean commute to work
20 min
Households with broadband internet
67.4%

Source: Census ACS 5-year estimates (ZIP-level)

Employment & development

Total county employment
169,442
Average weekly wage
$1,222
Top industries (by employment)
Health Care, Accommodation & Food, Administrative Services
Annual residential building permits (county)
1,262

Sources: BLS QCEW (county-level) · Census Building Permits (county-level)

How it compares

ZIP 46312State medianUS median
Typical home value$132,004$237,748$288,527
Median sale price$201,750$238,000$325,000
Median days on market44 days38 days51 days
Typical rent$1,053/mo$1,307/mo$1,809/mo
Median annual property tax$1,083$1,179$2,006

State and US medians are computed across all US ZIP codes with sufficient public-data coverage, from the same sources as the figures above.

Area data compiled from public government, academic, and industry research feeds. Data sources →

Common questions

What is the typical home value in ZIP 46312?
$132,004.
What is the median sale price in ZIP 46312?
$201,750.
How long do homes take to sell in ZIP 46312?
Median days on market: 44 days.
What is typical rent in ZIP 46312?
Typical rent: $1,053/month.
What is the natural-hazard risk in ZIP 46312?
Overall risk: Relatively High (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: cold wave, tornado, inland flooding, lightning, strong wind.
Is ZIP 46312 in a flood zone?
Flood zones vary by property within ZIP 46312. 3 FEMA flood-insurance (NFIP) claims are on record; the most common zone among them is X. Check a specific address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center.
What is the wildfire risk in ZIP 46312?
Risk to homes is higher than 32% of US counties (USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities, county-level).
What is the radon potential in ZIP 46312?
Moderate radon potential — EPA Zone 2 of 3, county-level. EPA recommends testing every home regardless of zone.
Are there Superfund sites near ZIP 46312?
8 current or proposed National Priorities List sites within 5 miles (EPA). Nearest site: U.S. Smelter and Lead Refinery, Inc., 2.2 mi.
How many schools serve ZIP 46312?
9 schools (6 elementary, 1 middle, 1 high) (NCES, 2024-25).
Is ZIP 46312 walkable?
Walkability index: 5.2/20 (EPA Smart Location Database).
What is the air quality in ZIP 46312?
Moderate. Median AQI: 53. (EPA AQI).
What is the cost of living in ZIP 46312?
Regional Price Parity: 93.3 (100 = US average) (Below Average) (BEA RPP, metro/state-level).

Nearby ZIP codes

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Data last updated

Most recent source refresh: Oct 2026. See all data sources →

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