The Town FilesLake Dalecarlia, Indiana
Community in Lake County · population 1,332 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $327,100
- Household income
- $118,472
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 30 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 42
- Median age
- 46.5
Lake Dalecarlia is a community of 1,332 people in Lake County, Indiana. The median home is worth $327,100, above the typical Indiana town ($150,400). It ranks better for families than 95% of Indiana towns, easier by car than 90% of Indiana towns, quieter than 72% of Indiana towns.
How Lake Dalecarlia ranks
Percentile among Indiana towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Indiana towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Lake Dalecarlia is worth $327,100, above the typical Indiana town ($150,400). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $118,472, which is more affordable than 34% of Indiana towns. 92.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lake Dalecarlia | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $327,100 | $150,400 |
| Median rent | — | $888 |
| Median household income | $118,472 | $61,953 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 92.9% | 73.4% |
| Median year built | 1961 | 1966 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 15.0% | — |
Who lives in Lake Dalecarlia
| People | Lake Dalecarlia | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.5 | 38.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.4% | 17.1% |
| Under 18 | 17.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 31.6% | 17.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.2% | 11.6% |
| Veterans | 5.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.4% | — |
| Work from home | 9.2% | 6.2% |
| Average commute | 42.4 min | 24.7 min |
| Homes with broadband | 100.0% | 89.2% |
Weather in Lake Dalecarlia
July highs average 83.5°F and January lows 15.0°F. About 39.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 29.7 inches of snow (typical Indiana town: 21.1 in). Expect about 16 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 136 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
42 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake Dalecarlia since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Indiana town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on June 11, 2026 about 9.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 11, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 34 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 5, 1997.
Severe weather in Lake County since 1996
Lake County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 25, 2026 | Flood | DR-4933: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| August 15, 2026 | Flood | EM-3651: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3641: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 15, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4704: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4515: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Lake County
Lake County had 191,633 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $61,200 a year. Unemployment was 5% in 2023; in Lake Dalecarlia itself the ACS puts it at 4.6%.
Towns near Lake Dalecarlia
- Cedar Lake, IN3.1 mi · 14,106 people · home $282,000
- Lowell, IN3.4 mi · 10,680 people · home $248,000
- Crown Point, IN5.7 mi · 33,899 people · home $294,800
- St. John, IN8.0 mi · 20,303 people · home $406,300
- Winfield, IN8.9 mi · 7,181 people · home $409,500
- Willowbrook, IL10.1 mi · 1,346 people · home $280,700
- Merrillville, IN10.3 mi · 36,444 people · home $211,400
- Schererville, IN10.4 mi · 29,646 people · home $314,900
Lake Dalecarlia questions
Is Lake Dalecarlia, Indiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lake Dalecarlia scores better for retirees than 57% of Indiana towns and quieter than 72%. 24.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.5).
How much does a house cost in Lake Dalecarlia?
The median owner-occupied home in Lake Dalecarlia is valued at $327,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $118,472, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Lake Dalecarlia?
July highs average 83.5°F and January lows 15.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.9 inches of precipitation a year and 29.7 inches of snow.
Does Lake Dalecarlia get tornadoes?
42 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake Dalecarlia since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on June 11, 2026. The typical Indiana town has had 23.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)