The Town FilesNew Chicago, Indiana
Town in Lake County · population 1,999 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $134,100
- Household income
- $57,313
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 27 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 29
- Median age
- 32.4
New Chicago is a town of 1,999 people in Lake County, Indiana. The median home is worth $134,100, below the typical Indiana town ($150,400). It ranks more of a college town than 94% of Indiana towns, better for cycling than 89% of Indiana towns, more walkable than 87% of Indiana towns.
How New Chicago 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 New Chicago is worth $134,100, below the typical Indiana town ($150,400). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $57,313, which is more affordable than 64% of Indiana towns. Median rent is $1,141 a month. 68.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | New Chicago | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $134,100 | $150,400 |
| Median rent | $1,141 | $888 |
| Median household income | $57,313 | $61,953 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 68.2% | 73.4% |
| Median year built | 1966 | 1966 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.4% | — |
Who lives in New Chicago
| People | New Chicago | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.4 | 38.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 9.3% | 17.1% |
| Under 18 | 27.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.4% | 17.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.7% | 11.6% |
| Veterans | 6.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 12.5% | — |
| Work from home | 5.4% | 6.2% |
| Average commute | 22.5 min | 24.7 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.9% | 89.2% |
Weather in New Chicago
July highs average 81.6°F and January lows 17.8°F. About 39.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 26.6 inches of snow (typical Indiana town: 21.1 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 117 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of New Chicago since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Indiana town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on October 24, 1967 about 2.7 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 19 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 11, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 48 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on March 27, 1991.
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 New Chicago itself the ACS puts it at 4.8%.
Towns near New Chicago
- Lake Station, IN1.6 mi · 13,235 people · home $137,400
- Hobart, IN3.1 mi · 29,752 people · home $215,200
- Gary, IN4.5 mi · 69,093 people · home $94,700
- Portage, IN5.2 mi · 37,926 people · home $224,200
- Ogden Dunes, IN6.3 mi · 1,168 people · home $492,300
- Merrillville, IN6.4 mi · 36,444 people · home $211,400
- South Haven, IN6.9 mi · 5,084 people · home $178,200
- Salt Creek Commons, IN7.5 mi · 1,979 people · home $198,300
New Chicago questions
Is New Chicago, Indiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, New Chicago scores better for retirees than 0% of Indiana towns and quieter than 0%. 9.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.4).
How much does a house cost in New Chicago?
The median owner-occupied home in New Chicago is valued at $134,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $57,313, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $1,141 a month.
What is the weather like in New Chicago?
July highs average 81.6°F and January lows 17.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.2 inches of precipitation a year and 26.6 inches of snow.
Does New Chicago get tornadoes?
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of New Chicago since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on October 24, 1967. 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)