East Chicago 64 Good
East Chicago Livability #371 ranked city in Indiana#13,869 ranked city in the USARanks better than 52% of areas
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Pros and Cons of Living in East Chicago

PROS
  • Commute Commute

    A high commute score suggests convenient, easy access to public transportation, with shorter-than-average work commute times to work.

  • Cost Of Living Cost Of Living

    The cost of living in this region is notably lower than the national average, encompassing everyday goods, housing, utilities, transportation and health care expenses.

  • Housing Housing

    High scores in the housing category are attributed to this area, possibly pointing to a favorable home affordability ratio, robust appreciation rates or elevated home values.

CONS
  • Amenities Amenities

    A large portion of amenities are not ideally situated within walking distance, potentially requiring residents to utilize a vehicle or public transportation.

  • Crime Crime

    This area exhibits elevated crime rates per 100,000 residents, which may suggest it's a potentially unsafe place to reside. These rates encompass both property and violent crimes.

  • Employment Employment

    Low income levels and high unemployment rates results in a low score in the employment category. It could prove difficult to find well-paying employment in this area.

  • Schools Schools

    The lower than average schools score may be influenced by below-average education levels, subpar reading and math scores and the lack of access to local elementary and high schools.

  • Ratings Ratings

    Surveys and polls conducted by AreaVibes with residents of the area revealed unfavorable results concerning the walkability of amenities, the availability of parks and public transit access.

What's it like Living in East Chicago?

East Chicago is a moderately-sized city located in the state of Indiana. The city has a population of 28,835 people. More than a quarter of the residents of East Chicago identify themselves as Hispanic or Latino, and 40% of the population speak Spanish as their primary or secondary language. In East Chicago, only 40% of people over the age of fifteen are married. This city could be a good option for singles ready to mingle. Long commute times to work can be incredibly frustrating, ranking just behind housework on the list of life's annoyances. If you opt to make East Chicago your home, your one-way commute time will typically last around 24 minutes, a duration that aligns with the national average commute time of 26 minutes.

If you’re considering relocating to any new city, it could be a very discouraging task. However, it could also be a great experience if you are willing to get to know the city before actually living in East Chicago, Indiana. When searching for a new neighborhood, several key items should be considered. Safety is of utmost importance, ensuring a secure environment with low crime. Proximity to your workplace or school helps reduce commuting time and offers convenience. Access to amenities such as parks, grocery stores, and healthcare facilities enhances your daily life. Public transportation options contribute to easy mobility. A sense of community fosters a supportive and engaging environment. Lastly, the overall atmosphere should align with your desired lifestyle, ensuring a fulfilling living experience. Considering these items will guide you towards finding the perfect neighborhood that fits all your needs. With useful information like health & safety, education, employment, housing and other key data points, finding the best places to live in East Chicago and in the areas around East Chicago is a much easier task.

East Chicago has a livability score of 65/100 and is ranked #292 in Indiana and #11,519 in the USA. There are nine total categories that form the livability score. East Chicago ranks well for cost of living (A+) and housing (A-) East Chicago does not do well for the following: amenities (F), crime (D-), education (F) and employment (F). It might be a good idea to take a closer look at each category to find out why.

A healthy real estate market serves as a key economic indicator. It could signify overall local economic strength, stability and reflects consumer confidence in the area. Based on multiple factors including: median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability, East Chicago has received high marks in the housing category. Based on these calculations, the apartment rental and real estate market appears to be very healthy.

Assuming that East Chicago meets all of your requirements like low crime rates, good schools and great local amenities, the next most important item to examine is the affordability of real estate in East Chicago. Everything else becomes a lot less important if it turns out that home prices in East Chicago are simply unattainable. Median real estate prices in East Chicago come in at $134,692, which is 40.6% lower than the Indiana average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In East Chicago, the home price to income ratio is 2.6, which is 13.3% lower than the Indiana average.

Best Places to Live in and Around East Chicago

See all the best places to live around East Chicago

How Do You Rate The Livability In East Chicago?

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Compare East Chicago, IN Livability

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      East Chicago transportation information

      Statistic East Chicago Indiana National
      Average one way commute24min23min26min
      Workers who drive to work73.6%83.0%76.4%
      Workers who carpool17.0%8.9%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit2.0%1.1%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.1%0.5%0.6%
      Workers who walk2.7%2.1%2.8%
      Working from home3.2%3.5%4.6%
      Source: The East Chicago, IN data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) and include 2026 modeled data developed using proprietary methodologies.