Chesterton, Indiana Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Chesterton, Indiana had a total population of 14,446, the 64th largest town in Indiana, with a median household income of $91,060, which is 27% higher than the state average. The poverty rate is 9.3%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- 42.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher — top 10% in Indiana.
Chesterton Quick Facts
How Chesterton Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 14,326 | 14,446 | +0.8% |
| Median household income | $88,536 | $91,060 | +2.9% |
| Median home value | $280,400 | $300,900 | +7.3% |
How Chesterton Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 41 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Chesterton Rankings in Indiana
Explore Indiana Rankings
Other Cities in Porter County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portage | 38,082 | $76,276 | 11.6% | $224,200 |
| Valparaiso | 34,733 | $69,872 | 14.9% | $267,300 |
| South Haven | 7,241 | $76,003 | 12.7% | $178,200 |
| Porter | 5,217 | $74,542 | 10.5% | $267,700 |
| Hebron | 3,976 | $73,812 | 6.3% | $202,800 |
| Shorewood Forest | 3,263 | $165,972 | 8.6% | $479,100 |
| Kouts | 2,372 | $77,607 | 4.2% | $235,400 |
| Burns Harbor | 2,155 | $98,500 | 11.5% | $241,500 |
| Salt Creek Commons | 1,843 | $94,167 | 8.4% | $198,300 |
| Aberdeen | 1,490 | $94,926 | 1.4% | $367,100 |
Cities Similar to Chesterton
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Lake | 15,295 | $83,381 | $282,000 | 27.4% | 3.5% |
| Auburn | 13,565 | $68,750 | $190,800 | 23.4% | 9.8% |
| Griffith | 16,273 | $76,636 | $210,100 | 27.9% | 7.1% |
| New Haven | 15,698 | $70,970 | $166,900 | 23.1% | 9.7% |
| Dyer | 16,400 | $107,159 | $322,200 | 38.5% | 6.2% |
Population Overview
Chesterton is a small city located in Indiana, within Porter County. The total population is 14,446. It ranks as the 64th most populous out of 967 Census-designated places in Indiana.
Age Demographics
The median age in Chesterton is 38.4 years. This is about the same as the state median of 38.1 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Chesterton is $91,060. This is 27% higher than the state median of $71,957. It is also 13% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 9.3%. This is 25% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.3%. The unemployment rate is 6.7%. This is 57% higher than the state rate of 4.3%. The median home value is $300,900. Housing costs are 38% higher than the state median of $218,200. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.3x. 75.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 7% higher than the state average of 70.5%.
Race & Ethnicity
Chesterton has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 86.2% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 6.2%. The Black or African American population (1.7%) is well below the state average of 9.1%.
Education
42.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Chesterton in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 44% higher than the state rate of 29.5%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 97.0%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Chesterton, Indiana is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Indiana state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 967 Census-designated places in Indiana. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
Free data download: Get all Indiana city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Chesterton, Indiana?
Chesterton, Indiana has a population of 14,446 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Chesterton, IN?
The median household income in Chesterton is $91,060, which is 13% higher than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Chesterton, IN?
The poverty rate in Chesterton is 9.3%. This means approximately 1,324 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Chesterton, Indiana?
Chesterton's population is 86.2% White, 1.7% Black, 6.2% Hispanic/Latino, and 1.9% Asian.
What is the median home value in Chesterton, IN?
The median home value in Chesterton is $300,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.3x.
How educated is Chesterton, Indiana?
42.5% of adults (25+) in Chesterton hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 13.1% hold a graduate or professional degree.