East Chicago, IN

Census place 1819486 · pop 26,022

F30/ 100
💀 Bad
F
in IN
📍 Indiana ranks #18 of 50 states →
🏆 Cost$105,400 · top 4%
🚽 Obesity47.0% · bottom 2%
Taxes
1.03% property · US 0.99%7.00% sales · US 7.00%2.95% flat income · US 4.63%

Sales & income are statewide.

The breakdown — worst first

Adult obesity47.0%2

U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities

47.0% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Physical inactivity40.3%2

U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities

40.3% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Broadband access78.5%3

U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities

78.5% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Bachelor's degree or higher10.7%3

U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities

10.7% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Adult smoking21.1%4

U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities

21.1% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Median household income$42,1254

U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities

$42,125 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Population growth (5yr)-7.7%4

U.S. median +2.4% · worse than most cities

-7.7% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Violent crime rate826/100k5

U.S. median 152/100k · worse than most cities

826 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.

Uninsured adults21.9%6

U.S. median 9.3% · worse than most cities

21.9% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Homeownership42.9%7

U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities

42.9% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Poverty rate26.3%7

U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities

26.3% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Unemployment rateCounty-level5.1%11

U.S. median 3.6% · worse than most cities

5.1% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Income inequality0.5012

U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities

Gini 0.50 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Poor mental health19.5%16

U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities

19.5% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Air quality (AQI)County-level52 AQI21

U.S. median 42 AQI · worse than most cities

52 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Unhealthy air daysCounty-level5 days36

U.S. median 1 days · worse than most cities

5 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Natural disaster riskCounty-level93/10039

U.S. median 77/100 · worse than most cities

93/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Property crime rate1621/100k39

U.S. median 964/100k · worse than most cities

1621 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.

Property-tax burden1.03%47

U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities

1.03% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Commute time21 min70

U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities

21 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.

Rent$1,030/mo95

U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities

$1,030/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).

Housing cost$105,40096

U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities

$105,400 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Frequently asked

Is East Chicago, IN a good place to live?
By the numbers, East Chicago scores 30/100 — a F (Bad) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 22 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is housing cost and its weakest is adult obesity. Indiana overall ranks #18 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
How safe is East Chicago, IN?
East Chicago reports 826 violent crimes per 100k and 1621 property crimes per 100k — worse than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
Is East Chicago, IN expensive to live in?
East Chicago has a median home value of $105,400 and typical rent around $1,030/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in East Chicago, IN?
Its weakest measured area is adult obesity (47.0%) — 2/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
What is East Chicago, IN best at?
Its strongest measured area is housing cost ($105,400) — 96/100, better than most U.S. cities.

Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.