What are the schools like in Lake Station, IN?

Lake Station is served primarily by Lake Station Community Schools. The district operates 2 elementary schools, several middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 16.1:1.

What is the median household income in Lake Station?

The median household income in Lake Station, IN is $53,588 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 18.2%.

What is the weather like in Lake Station, IN?

Lake Station has an average high temperature of 32.1°F in January and 81.6°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 40.8 inches and annual snowfall averages 40.3 inches.

Lake Station, IN Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Lake Station, IN affordable or expensive?

Lake Station's cost of living index is 103, where 100 represents the national average. This means Lake Station is 3% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $103,200 and the median rent is $1,109 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Lake Station, IN?

Lake Station has a violent crime rate of 196.1 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 945.6 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Lake Station, IN a Good Place to Live?

Lake Station is a small city of 13,352 in Indiana, with a median household income of $53,588 and a 18.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 103 (US average = 100), which is 3% above the national average.

Strengths: Lake Station stands out for below-average home prices.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Lake Station is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Lake Station city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 102.6

Lake Station's overall cost of living index is 102.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Lake Station costs roughly 3% more than the average American city.

Metric	Lake Station, IN	National Avg
Median Home Value	$103,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,109	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	67.0%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$53,588	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Lake Station's violent crime rate is 196.1 per 100,000 residents — 48% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

196.1 /100k

Property Crime

945.6 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Lake Station is served primarily by Lake Station Community Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.1:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Lake Station, IN	National Avg
School District	Lake Station Community Schools	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	16.1:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	9.2%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	78.1%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Lake Station sees average highs of 32.1°F in January and 81.6°F in July, with 40.8 inches of annual precipitation and 40.3 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Lake Station, IN
Average High — January	32.1°F
Average High — July	81.6°F
Annual Precipitation	40.8"
Annual Snowfall	40.3"

Demographics

Metric	Lake Station, IN	National Avg
Population	13,352	—
Median Age	32.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	18.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	26.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	70.1%	59.3%
Black or African American	3.6%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	20.8%	18.9%
Asian	1.6%	6.3%
Under 18	25.5%	22.2%
65 and over	12.2%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

New Chicago, IN 2 mi Portage, IN 4 mi Hobart, IN 5 mi Ogden Dunes, IN 5 mi Gary, IN 5 mi

ZIP Codes in Lake Station

Lake Station, IN is covered by 1 ZIP code:

46405

Lake Station vs Other Cities

Lake Station, IN vs New Chicago, IN Lake Station, IN vs Portage, IN Lake Station, IN vs Hobart, IN Lake Station, IN vs Ogden Dunes, IN Lake Station, IN vs Gary, IN

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lake Station, IN affordable or expensive?

Lake Station's cost of living index is 103, where 100 is the national average. That puts Lake Station roughly 3% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $103,200 and median rent is $1,109/month.

What is the crime rate in Lake Station, IN?

Lake Station's violent crime rate is 196.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 945.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Lake Station?

Public schools in Lake Station are operated by Lake Station Community Schools. The district has 2 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.1:1. 9.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Lake Station, IN a good place to live?

Lake Station, IN has a population of 13,352, a median household income of $53,588, and an unemployment rate of 18.2%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Lake Station?

Lake Station averages 32.1°F in January and 81.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 40.8 inches with about 40.3 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Lake Station?

Lake Station, IN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 46405.

What is the population of Lake Station?

The population of Lake Station, Indiana is 13,352 with a median age of 32.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Lake Station?

Key numbers for living in Lake Station: cost of living index 103 (100 = US average), median home $103,200, median household income $53,588, crime index 49 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Lake Station side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.