Lake Station, IN

View of Lake Station, IN
Image credit: JoeyBLS ( talk ) / Public domain
Population
12,977
U.S. Census Population Estimates Program · 2025
Elevation
617 ft
Median Home Value
$137,400
U.S. Census American Community Survey 5-Year · 2024
Median Rent
$1,124/mo
U.S. Census American Community Survey 5-Year · 2024
Median Income
$59,591
U.S. Census American Community Survey 5-Year · 2024
General Quality
Overall rating out of 100

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About Lake Station

Lake Station is a quiet Northwest Indiana community of about 13,000 residents, situated roughly 35 miles southeast of downtown Chicago. For movers looking for affordable housing within commuting distance of the city, it offers a practical, down-to-earth setting. Convenient access to I-80/94 and the Indiana Toll Road makes daily travel straightforward, whether heading into Chicago or taking a weekend trip to the Indiana Dunes. Families here are served primarily by Lake Station Community Schools, while the western side of town falls within the River Forest school district.

Artistic Cleaners, circa 1960s Lake Station, Indiana (53984819341)

Originally established as a railroad stop in the mid-1800s, the town was known as East Gary for much of the twentieth century before reclaiming its original name in 1977. Today, Riverview Park serves as the city's main gathering spot, offering sports fields, a public pool, walking paths along Deep River, and community traditions like the Heritage Days festival. Paved routes like the Fairview Walkway also give residents a convenient place for an evening jog or bike ride, rounding out a relaxed, close-knit neighborhood atmosphere.

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