Lake County, Indiana Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Lake County is located in Indiana with a total population of 498,990. It is the 2nd most populous county out of 92 in Indiana. The county encompasses 2 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Lake County is 39.6 years. This is 4% higher than the state median of 38.0 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Lake County is $68,985. This is 2% lower than the state median of $70,051. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 12% lower. The poverty rate stands at 14.6%. This is 20% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.2%. The unemployment rate is 6.3%. This is 47% higher than the state rate of 4.3%. The median home value is $214,700. Housing costs are 6% higher than the state median of $201,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.1x. 70.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Lake County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 52.0% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 22.9%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (22.9% vs 9.1%). The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (20.5% vs 8.4%).

Education

24.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 14% lower than the state rate of 28.8%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 90.2%.