Town guide

Lake Station, Indiana

Lake Station is a city in Lake County, Indiana, home to about 13,185 people across 8.3 square miles. Its ZIP code is 46405.

Homes sold for a median of $139 per square foot in the three months ending August 2026, a seller’s market.

Population13,1851,589 per sq mi
Median home value$137,400Census, as estimated by owners
Price per sq ft$139Sold homes, 3 months to August 2026
Sold over asking17%Latest 3 months

ZIP codes in Lake Station

1 ZIP code

Each card is that ZIP code’s whole market, including any part outside Lake Station. Seller’s market: under 4 months of supply; buyer’s market: over 6. Methodology

The Lake Station guide is on the way

We’re writing up Lake Station’s story and what everyday life there is like, for people thinking about moving in.

  • History
  • What it’s like to live there
  • Getting around
  • Things to do

Are you a local agent who knows Lake Station well? Agents who advertise here will be able to write the guide. Advertise on OfferBacked

Around Lake Station

Distances

Nearest major airportChicago Midway International Airport (MDW)29 miles away
Closer regional airportGary/Chicago International Airport (GYY)8 miles away
Nearest city of 250,000+Chicago, IL29 miles away

Straight-line distances from the center of Lake Station; driving is longer.

Source: Airports from OurAirports (scheduled passenger service); city centers and populations from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Who represents Lake Station

Source: Members of Congress from the congress-legislators project; districts from the Census Bureau’s relationship files; governor and mayor from Wikidata.

Population over time

Lake Station had 13,235 residents in the 2020 census, down 5% since 2000.

It’s the 68th largest of 693 towns in Indiana by population.

Lake County grew from 37,892 residents in 1900 to 498,700 in 2020.

Lake Station population by census2000: 13,948, 2010: 12,572, 2020: 13,23513,948200012,572201013,2352020

Lake County, 1900–2020

Lake County population, 1900 to 20201900: 37,892, 1910: 82,864, 1920: 159,957, 1930: 261,310, 1940: 293,195, 1950: 368,152, 1960: 513,269, 1970: 546,253, 1980: 522,965, 1990: 475,594, 2000: 484,564, 2010: 496,005, 2020: 498,70038K’00’10160K’20’30293K’40’50513K’60’70523K’80’90485K’00’10499K’20

Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial censuses (counties 1900–1990 from the Bureau’s historical county file).

Weather by month

Average highs peak around 82°F in summer, and winter lows average 18°F. About 39.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a typical year, with about 40 inches of snow.

Average high and low temperature and precipitation by month near Lake StationJan: high 32°F, low 18°F, 2.2 in; Feb: high 36°F, low 21°F, 2 in; Mar: high 46°F, low 30°F, 2.3 in; Apr: high 57°F, low 40°F, 3.6 in; May: high 68°F, low 50°F, 4.3 in; Jun: high 78°F, low 60°F, 4.3 in; Jul: high 82°F, low 64°F, 4 in; Aug: high 80°F, low 63°F, 4.1 in; Sep: high 74°F, low 56°F, 3.7 in; Oct: high 62°F, low 45°F, 3.8 in; Nov: high 49°F, low 34°F, 2.8 in; Dec: high 37°F, low 24°F, 2.3 in32°18°Jan2.236°21°Feb2.046°30°Mar2.357°40°Apr3.668°50°May4.378°60°Jun4.382°64°Jul4.080°63°Aug4.174°56°Sep3.762°45°Oct3.849°34°Nov2.837°24°Dec2.3Rain and melted snow, inches

Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Indiana Dunes Nl, IN weather station (10 miles away).

Jobs in Lake County

171,790 jobs at 10,566 businesses in Lake County. The biggest industries by employees:

Largest industries in Lake CountyHealth care and social assistance: 35,933 jobs; Retail trade: 24,256 jobs; Hotels and restaurants: 23,005 jobs; Manufacturing: 22,053 jobs; Construction: 10,851 jobs; Other services: 9,952 jobs; Transportation and warehousing: 8,894 jobs; Administrative and support: 7,187 jobsHealth care and social assistance 21% Retail trade 14% Hotels and restaurants 13% Manufacturing 13% Construction 6% Other services 6% Transportation and warehousing 5% Administrative and support 4%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 (private employers; jobs counted where people work).

Health care

27 doctors and other health care providers list an office in Lake Station.

Nearest hospitals

  • St. Mary Medical Center INCGeneral hospital · emergency room · CMS rating 3 of 5 · Hobart3.8 miles
  • Methodist Hospitals INCGeneral hospital · emergency room · CMS rating 1 of 5 · Gary5.3 miles
  • Northwest Health - PorterGeneral hospital · emergency room · CMS rating 2 of 5 · Valparaiso10.8 miles

Providers with an office here

Primary care doctors8
Specialist doctors1
Dentists9
Nurse practitioners and physician assistants5
Mental health providers3
Optometrists1
Pharmacies1

Source: Hospitals from CMS Hospital General Information (ratings are CMS overall star ratings); straight-line distances; providers from the CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), by practice address and primary specialty.

Places in and around Lake Station

Parks (14 nearby)

  • Three Rivers County Park · 75 acres1.9 mi
  • Riverview Park · 25 acres1.2 mi
  • Aetna Park · 4 acres2.0 mi
  • June LaBroi Park · 2 acres1.7 mi
  • Mock Park · 1 acres1.7 mi
  • Twin Oaks Park0.5 mi

Grocery stores (2 nearby)

  • Strack & Van Til1.4 mi
  • Miller Market2.0 mi

Pharmacies (1 nearby)

  • CVS Pharmacy1.7 mi

Libraries (1 nearby)

  • Lake Station-New Chicago Branch Library0.2 mi

Museums

  • Nelson Algren Museum2.2 mi
  • Paul H. Douglas Center for Environmental Education2.6 mi
  • Michael Jackson Childhood Home4.3 mi
  • Gary Land Company Building4.5 mi

Theaters and performance venues

  • Nelson Algren 616 Sound Stage2.2 mi
  • Marshall J. Gardner Center for the Arts2.2 mi
  • Miller Beach Performance Theater2.3 mi
  • Glen Theater4.1 mi
  • The Grant Theatre5.0 mi

Counts are within about 2 miles of the center of town.

Source: Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (openstreetmap.org/copyright), as mapped by volunteers; it can miss places or include closed ones.

Schools in Lake Station

Public schools here are run by River Forest Community Sch Corp, Lake Station Community Schools. Check each district’s attendance zones for a specific address.

Public schools (4)
SchoolGradesStudentsTypeDistance
Henry S Evans Elementary SchoolLake StationPre-K–5400Public2.2 mi
Alexander Hamilton Elementary SchLake StationK–5200Public0.3 mi
Virgil I Bailey Elementary SchoolLake StationK–5235Public1.7 mi
Thomas A Edison Jr-Sr HSLake Station6–12595Public1.1 mi

Source: U.S. Department of Education, NCES: Common Core of Data (2024-2025) for public schools. Listed by address; we don’t rate schools.

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Where Lake Station is

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Towns near Lake Station

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Shares ZIP codes with Gary.

Town boundaries don’t always match ZIP codes: a ZIP code can cross into neighboring towns, and a town can share a ZIP code with its neighbors. Facts describe the town itself; market figures describe whole ZIP codes.