Cost of Living in Lake County, Indiana
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Lake County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Lake County ranks #2,489 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 21%)
Sourced county brief
Lake County Official Median GRAPI Measured at 31.5 Percent
Lake County's official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) is 31.5%. This is 4.6 percentage points above the Indiana unweighted county mean of 26.9%. The median gross rent in the county is $1,131 per month, which is higher than the state unweighted county mean of $911. For owner-occupied units, the median home value is $230,600, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $191,899. Median selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units were estimated at $1,141, while the state unweighted county mean is $951. The median income for renter households was reported at $41,002. These statistics represent a five-year snapshot from the U.S. Census Bureau. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Lake County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 31.5% of renter household income in Lake County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,131 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,141. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $45,240 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Indiana unweighted mean of county median rents is $911 per month. Lake County's $1,131 median is 24.2% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Lake County
Rent Burden
19.0%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,668
per month
Owner Cost Burden
19.2%
of gross income
The median home in Lake County may be a stretch
Median home value is $230,600. Estimated monthly cost: $1,841 vs. your max of $1,668.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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