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.

East Chicago, IN Population, Income & Demographics 2026

CSAChicago-Naperville MSAChicago-Naperville-Elgin#76/341 Population

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

26,022

Median Agei

36.5

Race & Ethnicityi

Hispanic/Latino

57.2%14,888

Black

36.1%9,386

White

6.1%1,576

Two or More

0.5%124

Other

0.2%44

American Indian/Alaska Native

0%3

Asian

0%1

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

8.6%1,451

High School Diploma

30.5%5,153

Some College (<1 yr)

5.7%957

Some College (1+ yr)

11.7%1,982

Associate's Degree

6.5%1,103

Bachelor's Degree

7.3%1,231

Master's Degree

2.4%402

Professional Degree

0.7%111

Doctorate

0.3%56

HS or Higher

73.8%

BA or Higher

10.7%

Graduate+

3.4%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$105,400

Median Renti

$854

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

42.9%4,269

Renter-Occupied

57.1%5,674

Total Units

12,365

Homeownership

42.9%

Vacancy Rate

19.6%

Home Values

Under $50K

14.2%606

$50K–$100K

33%1,408

$100K–$150K

21.4%913

$150K–$200K

17.3%739

$200K–$300K

10.3%439

$300K–$500K

1.7%72

$500K–$1M

2%86

$1M+

0.1%6

Rent Distribution

Under $500

1,081

$500–$750

937

$750–$1,000

1,383

$1,000–$1,250

1,224

$1,250–$1,500

407

$1,500–$2,000

231

$2,000+

Year Built

2020 or later

0.2%29

2010–2019

2.1%255

2000–2009

1.9%236

1990–1999

2.5%311

1980–1989

2.5%313

1970–1979

8.1%998

1960–1969

8%988

1950–1959

9.1%1,129

1940–1949

13.6%1,681

1939 or earlier

52%6,425

Heating Fuel

Utility Gas

85.9%8,538

Electricity

10.6%1,053

No Fuel

2.5%253

Bottled/LP Gas

0.9%88

Other

0.1%11

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$42,125

Mean Household Incomei

$59,483

Per Capita Incomei

$23,656

Poverty Ratei

26.1%

Unemploymenti

7.6%

Labor Forcei

11,666

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

12.5%1,238

$10K–$15K

8.8%879

$15K–$20K

5.5%546

$20K–$25K

6.6%654

$25K–$30K

4.4%437

$30K–$35K

5.2%521

$35K–$40K

4.2%422

$40K–$45K

6.5%650

$45K–$50K

2.7%266

$50K–$60K

8.6%856

$60K–$75K

8.7%861

$75K–$100K

9.6%957

$100K–$125K

6%593

$125K–$150K

3.7%371

$150K–$200K

3.7%363

$200K+

3.3%329

Ancestry & Heritage

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

Foreign-Born Populationi

Foreign-Borni

4,26816.4%

By Region

Top Countries

Mexico

3,431

Guatemala

280

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

10,465

Avg. Commutei

20.8 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

10,737

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

626(3.2% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

88.1%Insured

11.9%Uninsured