How old are the homes in East Chicago, IN?

Name: Age of homes in East Chicago, IN, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

90.8% (±5.6 points) of the homes in East Chicago, IN were built before 1980 (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

52.0% were built before 1940.

2.3% were built in 2010 or later.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Built before 1980: 90.8% (±5.6 points)
Built before 1940: 52.0%
Built 2010 or later: 2.3%

When the homes in East Chicago were built

Housing units by year structure built, 2020–2024
Year built	East Chicago	Lake County	Indiana	United States
2020 or later	0.2% (±0.3 points)	1.1%	1.7%	2.0%
2010 to 2019	2.1% (±0.8 points)	5.7%	8.0%	9.4%
2000 to 2009	1.9% (±0.9 points)	11.2%	12.3%	13.6%
1990 to 1999	2.5% (±1.0 points)	9.5%	13.6%	12.4%
1980 to 1989	2.5% (±1.3 points)	6.4%	9.5%	12.9%
1970 to 1979	8.1% (±2.4 points)	13.7%	13.1%	14.2%
1960 to 1969	8.0% (±2.3 points)	13.1%	10.5%	9.9%
1950 to 1959	9.1% (±1.7 points)	15.4%	10.2%	9.5%
1940 to 1949	13.6% (±2.5 points)	9.2%	5.2%	4.4%
1939 or earlier	52.0% (±3.4 points)	14.6%	16.0%	11.7%

In East Chicago, the share of homes built before 1980 is higher than in Lake County (66.0%).

It is also higher than in Indiana (55.0%).

It is higher than the national figure (49.7%).

In Lake County, East Chicago ranks 1 of 31 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of homes built before 1980.

Statewide, it ranks 45 of 1,600.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

Why the age of a home matters: lead-based paint

Federal law treats housing built before 1978 as likely to contain lead-based paint.

Before a lease or sale of most pre-1978 housing, the landlord or seller must disclose any known lead-based paint and hazards and give the tenant or buyer the EPA pamphlet (42 U.S.C. § 4852d; 40 CFR part 745, subpart F; 24 CFR part 35, subpart A).

A contractor paid to renovate, repair or paint a pre-1978 home must be a certified firm, use a certified renovator and follow lead-safe work practices under the Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (40 CFR part 745, subpart E) whenever the job disturbs more than 6 square feet of painted surface in a room or more than 20 square feet outside; window replacement and demolition always count (40 CFR 745.83).

Certification comes from EPA, or from the state where EPA has authorized the state to run the program.

The Census Bureau groups construction by decade, so the share built before 1978 lies between the share built before 1970 (82.7%) and the share built before 1980 (90.8%).

Homes built before 1980 in places near East Chicago

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with East Chicago
Place	Distance	Homes built before 1980	Compared with this place
East Chicago	—	90.8% (±5.6 points)	—
Whiting	2.4 mi	89.1% (±10.9 points)	Not measurably different
North Township (Lake County)	2.9 mi	83.5% (±2.6 points)	Lower
Hammond	3.0 mi	88.5% (±3.6 points)	Not measurably different
Burnham	4.8 mi	65.8% (±14.3 points)	Lower
Calumet City	5.7 mi	82.9% (±6.8 points)	Not measurably different
Gary	6.8 mi	88.5% (±3.1 points)	Not measurably different
Calumet Township	6.8 mi	87.0% (±2.7 points)	Not measurably different
Highland	7.0 mi	72.8% (±5.1 points)	Lower

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: North Township (Lake County), IN (83.5%), Burnham, IL (65.8%), Highland, IN (72.8%).

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Homes built before 1980 across Lake County, place by place

Rank	Place	Homes built before 1980
1	East Chicago	90.8% (±5.6 points)
2	Whiting	89.1% (±10.9 points)
3 (tie)	Gary	88.5% (±3.1 points)
3 (tie)	Hammond	88.5% (±3.6 points)
5	Schneider	87.3% (±24.6 points)
6	Calumet Township	87.0% (±2.7 points)
7	North Township (Lake County)	83.5% (±2.6 points)

Showing 7 of 31 places in Lake County, ranked from highest to lowest.

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about East Chicago

How old are most homes in East Chicago?

90.8% of homes in East Chicago, IN were built before 1980 (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Do homes in East Chicago need a lead paint disclosure?

A home built before 1978 does, before it is rented or sold, unless an exemption applies (42 U.S.C. § 4852d); between 82.7% and 90.8% of homes in East Chicago were built before then.

Does a contractor need lead certification to work on older homes in East Chicago?

Yes, when the job disturbs more than 6 square feet of paint in a room or 20 square feet outside, or replaces a window: the firm must be certified and a certified renovator must direct the work under the Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (40 CFR part 745, subpart E).

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — East Chicago city, Indiana

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) for East Chicago city, Indiana (place:19486, in state:18).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0017PE, DP04_0017PM, DP04_0018PE, DP04_0018PM, DP04_0019PE, DP04_0019PM, DP04_0020PE, DP04_0020PM, DP04_0021PE, DP04_0021PM, DP04_0022PE, DP04_0022PM, DP04_0023PE, DP04_0023PM, DP04_0024PE, DP04_0024PM, DP04_0025PE, DP04_0025PM, DP04_0026PE, DP04_0026PM

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.