Where does this demographic data come from?

All demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which samples about 3.5 million households annually. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for small geographies like municipalities.

What is the difference between Census data and ACS data?

The decennial Census (conducted every 10 years) is a full population count focusing on basic demographics. The ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed data on income, education, housing, commute patterns, and more. ACS data is updated annually but represents averages over a 5-year period.

How accurate is this data for small towns?

For smaller municipalities, ACS estimates have wider margins of error because fewer residents are sampled. The 5-year estimates reduce this uncertainty by averaging over a longer period. For towns under 5,000 people, treat specific numbers as approximations rather than precise counts.

Cedar Lake, IN Population, Income & Demographics 2026

CSAChicago-Naperville MSAChicago-Naperville-Elgin#135/341 Population

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

15,295

Median Agei

40.2

Race & Ethnicityi

White

85.6%13,098

Hispanic/Latino

8.5%1,295

Two or More

4.7%713

Asian

1%153

Black

0.2%36

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

3.3%337

High School Diploma

32.2%3,296

Some College (<1 yr)

8.1%829

Some College (1+ yr)

13.5%1,378

Associate's Degree

10.7%1,091

Bachelor's Degree

14.7%1,499

Master's Degree

9.5%967

Professional Degree

2.7%278

Doctorate

0.6%58

HS or Higher

95.2%

BA or Higher

27.4%

Graduate+

12.7%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$282,000

Median Renti

$1,350

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

85.2%4,686

Renter-Occupied

14.8%814

Total Units

6,140

Homeownership

85.2%

Vacancy Rate

10.4%

Home Values

Under $50K

2.3%110

$50K–$100K

5.1%241

$100K–$150K

4.6%217

$150K–$200K

9.5%443

$200K–$300K

34.4%1,611

$300K–$500K

39.8%1,863

$500K–$1M

2.8%131

$1M+

1.5%70

Rent Distribution

$500–$750

$750–$1,000

$1,000–$1,250

222

$1,250–$1,500

$1,500–$2,000

283

$2,000+

Year Built

2020 or later

5.9%365

2010–2019

18.2%1,116

2000–2009

22%1,351

1990–1999

12%736

1980–1989

6.3%387

1970–1979

7.1%436

1960–1969

4%247

1950–1959

9.7%594

1940–1949

6.8%419

1939 or earlier

8%489

Heating Fuel

Utility Gas

93.5%5,143

Electricity

3.6%197

Bottled/LP Gas

2.5%140

Wood

0.2%13

No Fuel

0.1%7

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$83,381

Mean Household Incomei

$113,213

Per Capita Incomei

$40,962

Poverty Ratei

3.5%

Unemploymenti

5.5%

Labor Forcei

8,269

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

1.6%88

$10K–$15K

0.8%44

$15K–$20K

1.1%59

$20K–$25K

1.6%90

$25K–$30K

4.4%241

$30K–$35K

4%222

$35K–$40K

3.9%212

$40K–$45K

4.8%262

$45K–$50K

2.6%143

$50K–$60K

9.9%546

$60K–$75K

10.9%602

$75K–$100K

9.9%547

$100K–$125K

8.5%466

$125K–$150K

8.1%446

$150K–$200K

14.5%796

$200K+

13.4%736

Ancestry & Heritage

Self-reported ancestry groups. Residents may report multiple ancestries, so totals may exceed 100%.

Foreign-Born Populationi

Foreign-Borni

3842.5%

By Region

Top Countries

Germany

China

Poland

Mexico

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

7,762

Avg. Commutei

31.7 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

7,817

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

669(5.7% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

94.4%Insured

5.6%Uninsured