Cities in Indiana Close to Chicago to Live In

Northwest Indiana is full of great places to live close to Chicago.  This post will introduce you to the basics of many of the cities in Indiana close to Chicago.  I have included links to homes for sale in each of the cities close to Chicago.

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1. Chesterton, Indiana

Chesterton is one of the best towns in Indiana close to Chicago. This town with 14,554 residents is just 47 miles from downtown Chicago. Chesterton is located at the southern tip of Lake Michigan. Residents can easily access the nature preserves and beaches located at the Indiana Dunes State Park or the Indiana Dunes National Park. The town also has maintained a charming, walkable downtown with many locally-owned shops and restaurants. Commuting to Chicago is easy because the South Shore Commuter Line has a train station in Chesterton, and I-94 and the I-80/90 Indiana Toll Road run through Chesterton.

Facts About Chesterton, Indiana

• Distance From Downtown Chicago: 47 miles
• Schools:  Duneland Community Schools
• Median Household Income: $90,753
• Public Transportation To Downtown Chicago: Yes, South Shore Commuter Rail Line
• Average Home Price in Chesterton, Indiana: $368,254
• Median Home Price in Chesterton, Indiana: $331,500
• Read Our Deep Dive Article About Chesterton, Indiana
• Click To Search Homes For Sale In Chesterton Indiana

2. Crown Point, Indiana

Crown Point is a city in Indiana close to Chicago. This city has 34,526 residents. Crown Point is the county seat for Lake County, Indiana. This means many local government offices are located here. The downtown Crown Point area is known as The Square. This is a very walkable downtown with shops and restaurants. Crown Point is a great place to live in Northwest Indiana.

Facts About Crown Point, Indiana

• Distance From Downtown Chicago: 49 miles
• Schools: Crown Point Community Schools
• Median Household Income: $92,810
• Public Transportation To Downtown Chicago: None
• Average Home Price in Crown Point, Indiana: $359,336
• Median Home Price in Crown Point, Indiana: $320,000
• Read Our Deep Dive Article About Crown Point, Indiana
• Click To Search Homes For Sale In Crown Point Indiana

3. Dyer, Indiana

Dyer is another town in Indiana close to Chicago. This town of 16,361 residents is located 43 miles from downtown Chicago. It borders the Indiana-Illinois state line. The award for third-highest median household income in Northwest Indiana goes to Dyer, too.

Facts About Dyer, Indiana

• Distance From Downtown Chicago: 43 miles
• Schools: Lake Central School Corporation
• Median Household Income: $98,631
• Public Transportation To Downtown Chicago: None
• Average Home Price in Dyer, Indiana: $366,914
• Median Home Price in Dyer, Indiana: $330,000
• Read Our Deep Dive Article About Dyer, Indiana
• Click To Search Homes For Sale In Dyer Indiana

4. East Chicago, Indiana

East Chicago is one of the towns in Indiana closest to Chicago. The town is 25 miles from Downtown Chicago. East Chicago, Indiana has a population of 25,968 people and was once one of the most industrialized cities in America. Manufacturing in East Chicago was crucially important to the U.S. during WWI and WWII. However, the decline of American manufacturing has taken a toll on this city.

Facts About East Chicago, Indiana

• Distance From Downtown Chicago: 25 miles
• Schools: School City of East Chicago
• Median Household Income: $39,434
• Public Transportation To Downtown Chicago: Yes, South Shore Commuter Rail Line
• Average Home Price in East Chicago, Indiana: $138,241
• Median Home Price in East Chicago, Indiana: $139,175
• Click To Search Homes For Sale In East Chicago Indiana

5. Gary, Indiana

Gary, Indiana is located just 31 miles from downtown Chicago.  This makes it one of the cities in Indiana closest to Chicago. Gary has a long history as one of the major industrial cities of America. The city has been incredibly important to building the backbone of America due to the steel manufacturing facilities based in the city. Today, the population of Gary, Indiana is 67,972 people.

Facts About Gary, Indiana

• Distance From Downtown Chicago: 31 miles
• Schools: Gary Community School Corporation
• Median Household Income: $36,874
• Public Transportation To Downtown Chicago: Yes, South Shore Commuter Rail Line
• Average Home Price in Gary, Indiana: $103,130
• Median Home Price in Gary, Indiana: $85,000
• Click To Search Homes For Sale In Gary Indiana

6. Griffith, Indiana

Griffith is a town in Indiana located 33 miles from downtown Chicago. This often-overlooked town is located in central Lake County, Indiana. The town’s location is convenient for getting to Chicago or other areas of Lake County. The population of Griffith, Indiana is 16,287 people. Griffith has has a short commuting distance to Chicago and affordable home prices.

Facts About Griffith, Indiana

• Distance From Downtown Chicago: 33 miles
• Schools: Griffith Public Schools
• Median Household Income: $74,350
• Public Transportation To Downtown Chicago: None
• Average Home Price in Griffith, Indiana: $240,778
• Median Home Price in Griffith, Indiana: $240,000
• Click To Search Homes For Sale In Griffith Indiana

7. Hammond, Indiana

Hammond, Indiana is one of the cities in Indiana closest to Chicago. Hammond is just 25 miles from downtown Chicago. Additionally, parts of Hammond border both the Indiana-Illinois state line and the southside of Chicago. The population of Hammond, Indiana is 76,575 people making it the largest city in Northwest Indiana.

Facts About Hammond, Indiana

• Distance From Downtown Chicago: 25 miles
• Schools: School City of Hammond
• Median Household Income: $52,368
• Public Transportation To Downtown Chicago: Yes, South Shore Commuter Rail Line
• Average Home Price in Hammond, Indiana: $167,480
• Median Home Price in Hammond, Indiana: $169,000
• Read Our Deep Dive Article About Hammond, Indiana
• Click To Search Homes For Sale In Hammond Indiana

8. Highland, Indiana

Highland, Indiana is located just 32 miles from downtown Chicago. The west side of Highland is located less than three miles from the Indiana-Illinois state line. Highland has a population of 23,622 people. The town is bordered by Munster, Hammond, Griffith, Gary, and Schererville.

Facts About Highland, Indiana

• Distance From Downtown Chicago: 32 miles
• Schools: School Town of Highland
• Median Household Income: $74,991
• Public Transportation To Downtown Chicago: None
• Average Home Price in Highland, Indiana: $247,144
• Median Home Price in Highland, Indiana: $245,000
• Read our article about Why Highland Is A Great Place To Live in Indiana
• Click To Search Homes For Sale In Highland Indiana

9. Hobart, Indiana

Hobart is a city located just 41 miles from downtown Chicago. This city of 29,458 people is located in Lake County, Indiana close to I-65. The city is less congested than the cities and towns to the west. Lake George is centrally located in the city. This is a smaller lake surrounded by a park with walking paths and trails.

Facts About Hobart, Indiana

• Distance From Downtown Chicago: 41 miles
• Schools: School City of Hobart
• Median Household Income: $69,398
• Public Transportation To Downtown Chicago: None
• Average Home Price in Hobart, Indiana: $225,375
• Median Home Price in Hobart, Indiana: $215,000
• Click To Search Homes For Sale In Hobart Indiana

10. Merrillville, Indiana

Merrillville Indiana is located 43 miles from downtown Chicago. The town was developed starting in the mid-1960s. Merrillville sprung up among major thoroughfares including I-65, U.S. Route 30, and State Roads 53/Broadway and 55/Taft Street. Merrillville is a commercial hub for Lake County, Indiana. At one time in the 1990s and through the early 2000s Merrillville had more restaurants per resident than any other city or town in America. The population of Merrillville, Indiana is 36,233 people.

Facts About Merrillville, Indiana

• Distance From Downtown Chicago: 43 miles
• Schools: Merrillville Community Schools
• Median Household Income: $62,221
• Public Transportation To Downtown Chicago: None
• Average Home Price in Merrillville, Indiana: $233,273
• Median Home Price in Merrillville, Indiana: $226,500
• Click To Search Homes For Sale In Merrillville Indiana

11. Munster, Indiana

Munster is one of the Indiana cities closest to Chicago.  The city is only 27 miles from downtown Chicago. Munster is an excellent place to live. The city has one of the highest median household incomes among the cities and towns in Northwest Indiana. When in town do not forget to check out Three Floyds Brewery.  The population of Munster, Indiana is 23,664 people.

Facts About Munster, Indiana

• Distance From Downtown Chicago: 27 miles
• Schools: School Town of Munster
• Median Household Income: $101,851
• Public Transportation To Downtown Chicago: None
• Average Home Price in Munster, Indiana: $362,718
• Median Home Price in Munster, Indiana: $325,000
• Check out our post about What Makes Munster One Of The Best Places To Live In Northwest Indiana
• Click To Search Homes For Sale In Munster Indiana

12. Portage, Indiana

Portage, Indiana is located 41 miles from downtown Chicago. Development in Portage took of starting in the late 1950s as the nearby steel industry grew and needed more workers. Today, Portage is an excellent place to live with affordable home prices. Also, this city in Indiana close to Chicago is also close to interstates and has a train station with multiple daily trains to Chicago.  The population of Portage, Indiana is 38,327 making it the largest city in Porter County, Indiana.

Facts About Portage, Indiana

• Distance From Downtown Chicago: 41 miles
• Schools: Portage Township Schools
• Median Household Income: $71,317
• Public Transportation To Downtown Chicago: Yes, South Shore Commuter Rail Line
• Average Home Price in Portage, Indiana: $273,312
• Median Home Price in Portage, Indiana: $245,000
• Read our Deep Dive article about Portage, Indiana
• Click To Search Homes For Sale In Portage Indiana

13. Schererville, Indiana

Schererville is a city in Indiana close to Chicago. The population of Schererville is 29,668 residents. Schererville is located in west-central Lake County, Indiana and is close to the Indiana-Illinois state line. The city is a great place to live and a commercial hub for Lake County, Indiana.

Facts About Schererville, Indiana

• Distance From Downtown Chicago: 38 miles
• Schools: Lake Central School Corporation
• Median Household Income: $79,662
• Public Transportation To Downtown Chicago: None
• Average Home Price in Schererville, Indiana: $342,355
• Median Home Price in Schererville, Indiana: $320,000
• Read our Deep Dive Article about Schererville, Indiana
• Click To Search Homes For Sale In Schererville Indiana

14. St. John, Indiana

St. John is 39 miles from downtown Chicago making it one of the closest towns and cities in Indiana close to Chicago. More importantly, St. John is likely the very best place to live in Northwest Indiana close to Chicago.  Additionally, St. John has the highest median household income of any city or town in Northwest Indiana. St. John has a remarkably low crime rate and is has won numerous awards ranking it the best place to live in Indiana.  The population of St. John is 22,847 people.

Facts About St. John, Indiana

• Distance From Downtown Chicago: 39 miles
• Schools: Lake Central School Corporation
• Median Household Income: $123,799
• Public Transportation To Downtown Chicago: None
• Average Home Price in St. John, Indiana: $449,260
• Median Home Price in St. John, Indiana: $403,495
• Read our post about Why St. John Is The Best Place To Live In Northwest Indiana
• Click To Search Homes For Sale In St. John Indiana

15. Valparaiso, Indiana

Valparaiso is one of the cities in Indiana located close to Chicago. Located 53 miles from downtown Chicago this city of 34,565 people is a great place to call home. The city has a feeling of being in the Chicago metro area, but also a rural slower-paced feeling at the same time. I like to think of it as the last stop in the Chicagoland area. Quadwalls.com knows a whole lot about Valparaiso, too, because Quadwalls.com was started in Valparaiso, Indiana! Valparaiso is a great place to live because the city has the amenities and services you need and affordable home prices. Also, Valparaiso, IN has an excellent downtown area with festivals, shops, and restaurants.

Facts About Valparaiso, Indiana

• Distance From Downtown Chicago: 53 miles
• Schools: Valparaiso Community Schools
• Median Household Income: $59,943
• Public Transportation To Downtown Chicago: Yes, Chicago Dash Bus Service
• Average Home Price in Valparaiso, Indiana: $363,863
• Median Home Price in Valparaiso, Indiana: $330,000
• Read our Deep Dive article about Valparaiso, Indiana
• Click To Search Homes For Sale In Valparaiso Indiana

16. Whiting, Indiana

The Indiana city or town closest to downtown Chicago is Whiting, Indiana. This town of 4,559 residents is located in a heavily industrialized area with many highways and interstates nearby. A tremendous amount of traffic passes through or near the Whiting area due to its location close to Chicago. Whiting is located less than one mile from the Indiana-Illinois state line and Chicago city limits.

Facts About Whiting, Indiana

• Distance From Downtown Chicago: 19 miles
• Schools: School City of Whiting
• Median Household Income: $50,590
• Public Transportation To Downtown Chicago: No, but the Hammond South Shore Commuter Rail Station is very close to Whiting
• Average Home Price in Whiting, Indiana: $218,355
• Median Home Price in Whiting, Indiana: $210,000
• Click To Search Homes For Sale In Whiting Indiana

Conclusion

There are many towns and cities in Indiana close to Chicago. Many of these are excellent places to live. Commuting from Northwest Indiana to Chicago is doable. About 10% of Northwest Indiana residents regularly commute to Chicago. Indiana offers people a lower cost of living, lower property taxes, and less state and local government burdens compared to many communities in Illinois.

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