What Makes Hammond Indiana A Great Place To Live

Many homebuyers are searching for homes for sale in Hammond, Indiana. This is not surprising due to the fact Hammond is the largest city in Northwest Indiana. Homebuyers are attracted to Hammond close location to Chicago and other Northwest Indiana job markets. Additionally, home prices the city features affordable home prices compared to other areas. Let’s take a look at what makes Hammond, Indiana a great place to live.

Pros Of Buying A House For Sale In Hammond, Indiana

• Close to Chicago, less than 30 miles from The Loop
• Affordable home prices
• Consistent, above-average real estate appreciation rates
• Good paying jobs in many fields in and nearby Hammond
• Easy access to higher education

About Hammond, Indiana

Hammond is located less than 30 miles from The Loop. This makes Hammond one of the Indiana cities closest to Chicago. Hammond is located in northwestern Northwest Indiana. Much of the city’s north to the southern border is in the Indiana-Illinois state line. Parts of Hammond even border Chicago city limits. Other towns bordering Hammond include Gary, East Chicago, Munster, and Highland.

Hammond, Indiana is the largest city in Northwest Indiana. The U.S. Census Bureau has estimated the population of Hammond, Indiana is 75,522. This makes the city slightly more populated than Gary, Indiana.

Hammond was originally established as a major industrial and manufacturing powerhouse. Today, the city is home to many businesses and maintains a significant role in the Northwest Indiana economy and supporting Chicago.

Hammond Indiana Schools

The School City of Hammond is the public school district in the city. This school district serves over 12,000 students.  The school city of Hammond has 12 elementary, three middle, and three high schools to serve its students.

Due to the school district’s size, there are many opportunities for students. Academic programs include STEM and dual immersion opportunities. Other clubs include academic competition teams, art clubs, JROTC, student government, and journalism. Athletic opportunities include all of the expected sports as well as swimming, football, and golf.

You can learn more about the School City of Hammond’s performance at the Indiana Dept. of Education.

Hammond Indiana Colleges And Universities

Hammond Indiana residents have access to higher education. Purdue University maintains a campus in Hammond Indiana. This branch campus provides students the opportunity to start and finish a degree right in their hometown. Additionally, Indiana University maintains a campus in nearby Gary Indiana.

Hammond residents can commute to other nearby colleges and universities. These include Valparaiso University and Ivy Tech in Indiana. Options in Chicago include DePaul, The University of Chicago, Northwestern, Loyola, and the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Economy, Career Opportunities, And Jobs In Hammond Indiana

The median household income in Hammond, Indiana is $46,406. This is about 18% below the average for all of Indiana but is in line with the median household income of other cities and towns in Northwest Indiana. Despite this, there are many good-paying job opportunities in and near Hammond.

The Northwest Indiana economy is diverse. Employment categories in Northwest Indiana generally fall into one of the categories of professional services, government, industry, healthcare, or the retail-hospitality industry. What is missing from the Northwest Indiana economy is any major tech-related employers. Regardless, there are many opportunities.

Northwest Indiana remains a major industrial and logistics powerhouse. One of the largest oil refineries in America is located near Hammond, Indiana. Billions of dollars of goods pass through Northwest Indiana on trucks, rail cars, or through the Port of Indiana. Lastly, Northwest Indiana remains a major producer of steel. The industry is alive and well in Northwest Indiana, and Hammond is located close to all of it.

Lastly, the jobs are where the people are. Hammond is a city of over 75,000 people, located in the Northwest Indiana region which is home to nearly 900,000 people. Moreover, Hammond borders Chicago and its millions of residents. For those who are ready to work there are rewarding jobs to have close to Hammond Indiana.

Hammond Indiana Transportation

Hammond, Indiana sees an enormous amount of traffic. Interstates 94 and 80/90 as well as U.S. Routes 41, 20, and 12 all cross through Hammond. Traffic originating and destined for Chicago will pass through Hammond, Indiana. Additionally, Hammond is near the major industrial facilities located in Northwest Indiana. Therefore, people commuting to those jobs pass through Hammond also.

Residents in Hammond have access to public transportation into downtown Chicago. Hammond has a stop on the South Shore Line which is a commuter rail line with stops from downtown Chicago and across the Northwest Indiana region.

The closest airport to Hammond, Indiana with passenger services is Midway. Midway is located about 25 miles from Hammond. Other airports with passenger flights include O’Hare and South Bend International Airport. Both the Gary and Porter County Airport are usable for private air travel.

Hammond, Indiana Lifestyle, Leisure, And Things To Do

Hammond is a busy place with lots of things to see and do both in the city and nearby. Let’s take a look at some of what Hammond offers.

Hammond Indiana Restaurants

Hammond and the surrounding areas have some great restaurants. Here are some of our favorites!

• El Taco Real located at 935 Hoffman St, Hammond, IN 46327. This cantina features some of the best authentic Mexican food in Northwest Indiana.
• Johnel’s Restaurant located at 4145 Calumet Ave, Hammond, IN 46320is a diner restaurant serving breakfast all day and classic American meals.
• Asian Kitchen located at 6412-A Calumet Ave, Hammond, IN 46324 features common Asian inspired meals.
• Jack Binnion’s Steak – located at 777 Casino Center Dr, Hammond, IN 46320 located in the Horseshoe Casino is a fine dining restaurant with many steak, chicken, and fish options.

Foodies can find more fantastic dining options in other nearby towns like Munster and Highland. Also, don’t forget downtown Chicago is less than 30 miles from Hammond, Indiana.

Hammond Indiana Parks

The Hammond Parks & Recreation Department does a lot to make sure residents have excellent parks to enjoy. This includes maintaining more than a dozen parks, playgrounds, and running the city programs including city-wide sports programs. The city also has a civic center which can be rented out for shows and concerts. The Parks & Recreation Department also oversees festivals like the Festival of the Lakes.

Hammond Indiana Dog Parks

Hammond maintains two parks with features for our furry four-legged friends. The first is Riverside Dog Park located at 1245 River Dr, Hammond, IN 46324. The other park is Amy Park located at 3915 173rd Ave Hammond IN, 46323.

Other Noteworthy Parks Near Hammond Indiana

Hammond is located near Lake Michigan. Though Hammond does not have much of a recreational lakeshore area, other nearby cities do. In Gary, you will find Marquette Park with access to the beach. Further east you will find the Indiana Lakeshore state park and the Indiana Dunes National Park. Here, you can enjoy a day in nature walking forested trails, relax on the sandy beaches, or take a swim in one of Lake Michigan.

Hammond Indiana Entertainment

There are things to do in and around Hammond, Indiana. Hammond is a vibrant city of over 75,000 people. Between the parks department and an active business community, there are things to do.

If you are feeling lucky, take a chance at one of the two casinos in Hammond, Indiana. These casinos are the AmeriStar and the Horseshoe. If you are not much of a gambler, still take a look at these two places. Each features events throughout the year including concerts.

Throughout Northwest Indiana, there are more entertainment options. Northwest Indiana features a national park, the largest water park in the state, some outstanding restaurants, and is within reach of some agri-tourism businesses like orchards and dairies.

Lastly, Hammond is less than 30 miles from Chicago. Chicago is home to seven professional sports teams, Broadway in Chicago, world class museums, and some of the greatest restaurants in America. Chicago is a metropolis to be enjoyed by Hammond residents. Anything you could want to do can be found there.

Hammond Indiana Real Estate

Homebuyers can find affordable houses for sale in Hammond, Indiana. The city features home sale prices below the average for the area. Additionally, Hammond real estate is appreciating at a higher annual rate than other real estates in Lake County Indiana. Let’s take a deeper look at the Hammond Indiana real estate market.

Hammond Indiana Real Estate Highlights

• Average Hammond Indiana Single Family Home Price: $132,033 (last 12 months)
• Median Hammond Indiana Single Family Home Price: $134,900 (last 12 months)
• Number Of Homes Sold In Hammond Each Year: 750 to 800 homes
• Average Hammond Home Size: 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, and 1,439 finished square feet
• Hammond Real Estate Appreciation Rates: 2021 +8%, 2020 +14%, 2019 +15%, 2018 +11%
• Click here to start searching homes for sale in Hammond, Indiana today!

Houses For Sale In Hammond Indiana

Single-family homes make up over 99% of the Hammond owner-occupied residential real estate sold each year. The typical home for sale in Hammond, Indiana is a single-family house with three bedrooms, one bathroom, and about 1,400 finished square feet.

The majority of the homes were built between 1920 and 1980. Single story, one and one-half story bungalow style, and two-story homes are the most common home designs. The lot size is typically less than 0.20 acres.

Hammond Indiana homes for sale sell at a discount compared to other areas of Lake County. So far in 2022, the average Hammond Indiana house sale price is $135,579 which is 39% below the average sale price for all Lake County real estate.

The median sale price for a house sold in Hammond is $140,000. This is 29% below the median for Lake County Indiana real estate. However, Hammond homes for sale may have better upside potential than other Lake County Indiana homes.

Hammond Indiana real estate has appreciated at a higher annual rate over the last four years compared to homes for sale in Lake County Indiana. The average sale price for a house for sale in Hammond, Indiana has increased more each year compared to Lake County Real estate. Hammond real estate has appreciated at annual rates of 9% to 14% annually over each of the last four years. However, when looking at all Lake County real estate it has only appreciated by 3% to 8% annually each of those same years.

Due to the fact Hammond real estate can still be bought at a discount compared to other areas of Lake County, it is likely Hammond real estate will continue to appreciate at a higher rate than other areas of Lake County in the near future.

Conclusion

Hammond Indiana is of the many great Northwest Indiana cities to live in.  Homebuyers will find affordable homes for sale in the largest city in Northwest Indiana.  All of the goods and services you could need are available in or nearby Hammond.  Furthermore, the city borders Chicago and is just 30 miles from The Loop.  Click here to start searching homes for sale in Hammond, Indiana today!

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