Why Chesterton Is the Best Place to Live in Indiana

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This post will help you if you are moving to Chesterton, Indiana or are searching for homes for sale in Chesterton, Indiana. Chesterton is one of the best towns to live in Indiana. Let’s get you familiar with Chesterton’s real estate, schools, jobs and local economy, and lifestyle.

About Chesterton Indiana

Chesterton is a town located in northern Porter County, Indiana just 40 miles from downtown Chicago. According to the 2010 census Chesterton has 13,068 residents. Currently, the U.S. Census Bureau estimates the population of Chesterton is 14,554 residents.

Chesterton is somewhat of a beach town. Chesterton is located at the gates of both the Indiana Dunes State Park and the Indiana Dunes National Park. Chesterton is one of the “go-to” locations for necessities for people living in or visiting the Indiana lakeshore.

6 Reasons Why Chesterton Is the Best Place to Live In Northwest Indiana

• Household income 25% above the average for Indiana with a robust job market
• Easy commute to Chicago via the interstates or the commuter rail line
• Chesterton real estate is affordable with quality housing options to fit everyone’s needs
• Extremely close proximity to Lake Michigan, beaches, and the Indiana Dunes National Park
• Duneland Community Schools is a large school system with greater breadth of opportunities for all students
• Chesterton is a safe place to live with a low crime rate

Chesterton, Indiana Real Estate

Chesterton real estate has a huge spectrum. Here, we will take a closer look at the overall real estate market to help you better understand what to expect when searching for homes for sale in Chesterton.

Chesterton Real Estate Highlights

• Homes sold In Chesterton annually: About 250 to 300 homes
• Chesterton, Indiana average home sale price: $368,254
• Chesterton, Indiana median home sale price: $331,500
• Typical home for sale in Chesterton, Indiana: Single family home with three to four bedrooms, two to three bathrooms, and a 2-car garage, with a lot on about one-quarter to one-third of an acre.

The Chesterton Real Estate Market

The Chesterton real estate market remains strong. During 2023 the average days on market for homes for sale in Chesterton, Indiana was 37 days. The median days on market was nine days meaning half of the Chesterton homes for sale were under contract within seven days.

Although there are several types of homes in Chesterton, houses make up the majority of the market. 90% of Chesterton home sales are single family homes. The remainder of homes includes townhomes, duplexes, and condos for sale in Chesterton. This proportion is common in Northwest Indiana’s larger towns and cities.

Chesterton is growing, and there are new homes for sale in Chesterton IN. About 11% of Chesterton homes sold in the last 10 years were also built in the last 10 years. This is higher than many Northwest Indiana towns.

Types of Chesterton Homes for Sale

Chesterton, Indiana Houses for Sale

The average house in Chesterton has three to four bedrooms, two to three bathrooms, 2,400 finished square feet, and a one-quarter to one-third acre lot. However, there are many houses for sale in Chesterton that are bigger, smaller, and have different features. This description is for the average house.

The average selling price for a house for sale in Chesterton, Indiana is $382,497. The median Chesterton house sale price is $339,990. This average and median are 10% and 11% above the Porter County average and median single family home sale price, respectively.

Popular Subdivisions and Neighborhoods with Homes for Sale in Chesterton, IN

• Abercrombie Woods
• Dogwood Estates
• Chestnut Hills
• Duneland Cove
• Easton Park
• Morgan Park – Historic neighborhood
• Porter Cove
• Tamarack
• Villages of Sand Creek

Luxury Homes for Sale in Chesterton, Indiana

The top 10% of homes for sale cost more than $550,000. These are typically luxury homes. Nearly all of the luxury homes for sale in Chesterton, Indiana are single family homes. These homes typically have four or more bedrooms, three or more bathrooms, over 4,000 finished square feet, and a lot size of one half-acre or larger. Popular luxury neighborhoods in Chesterton include:

• Sand Creek – Gated, golf-course community with private club & amenities
• Whitethorne Woods – Gated community, heavily wooded with old growth trees
• Easton Park – New construction homes

Chesterton, Indiana Townhomes & Half-Duplexes for Sale

Only about 15 to 20 townhomes or half-duplexes are sold each year in Chesterton, Indiana. These townhomes commonly have two or three bedrooms and two bathrooms. The average Chesterton townhome has just under 2,000 finished square feet.

During 2023 Chesterton townhome sales have had an average sale price of $359,492 and a median sale price of $330,060. The average days on market for townhomes for sale in Chesterton was 18 days.

Chesterton, Indiana Condos for Sale

Each year there are about 20 condo sales in Chesterton. Condos sold in Chesterton typically have three bedrooms, one bathroom, and about 1,400 finished square feet. The average sale price for these homes is $234,196 and the median sale price is $186,250. Chesterton condos sell quickly spending an average of just 39 days on the market before selling.

Is Chesterton a Safe Place to Live?

Chesterton, Indiana is a safe place to live. Chesterton’s crime rates are far below the Indiana average. Recent data states there were 1.92 violent crimes per 1,000 residents.  This is 66% below the average for Indiana. Chesterton’s property crime rate was 73% below Indiana’s average and just 4.12 property crime incidents per 1,000 residents.

Chesterton, IN Elementary, Middle, and High Schools and Other Educational Opportunities

Primary school students living in Chesterton attend the Duneland School Corporation. The Duneland School Corporation serves nearly 6,000 students through its five elementary, two intermediate and single middle and high schools.

This robust school system provides a significant amount of educational, extracurricular, and athletic opportunities to its students. Homebuyers moving to Chesterton, Indiana can learn more about the Duneland School Corporation performance by reading their profile with the Indiana Dept. of Education.

Chesterton Indiana Nearby Colleges and Universities

Chesterton residents have direct access to highly regarded collegiate education institutions. Many young people growing up in Chesterton can begin or even complete their studies without going too far from home.

Valparaiso University, a private university with over 4,000 undergraduate students is located just seven miles south of Chesterton in Valparaiso. This university offers over 30 degree programs, master’s degree programs, and Ph.D. programs.

Purdue University has two satellite campuses located near Chesterton. These campuses are known as Purdue Northwest and are located in Westville, IN which is just 15 minutes from Chesterton and Hammond, IN which is about 35 minutes from Chesterton.

Indiana University also maintains a satellite campus in Gary, IN. Chesterton residents can expect about a 25 to 30 minute commute to drive to this campus.

Ivy Tech Community College also maintains a campus in Valparaiso, IN and another in Michigan City, IN. These campuses are about a 10 to 20 drive minutes away from Chesterton.

Chesterton Parks, Restaurants, and Entertainment

Chesterton and the surrounding area has a lot to offer its residents a high quality of life. There is a lot to do in Chesterton and throughout the immediately surrounding area. If you like being outdoors and active, Chesterton may have more to offer than any other community in Northwest Indiana.

Chesterton Parks & Recreation

The Chesterton Parks Department maintains the town’s parks, and there is a lot to keep up with! Chesterton Park, Thomas Centennial Park, Kipper Park, Friendship Land Park, Westwood Park and so much more.

Dogwood Park is a great park in the center of town. It has a playground, softball fields, soccer fields, volleyball courts, and basketball courts. The Prairie-Duneland Trail/Skate Park has skateboard obstacles. Coffee Creek Park is massive with trails, water features, marshes, and a huge pond.

Indiana Dunes National Park

Indiana Dunes National Park is America’s 61st National Park. Chesterton residents are just minutes from this national treasure. Here, too, you can enjoy miles of trails, sandy beaches, the lakefront, and camp.

Chesterton Indiana Restaurants

Chesterton has many locally owned restaurants for its residents to enjoy. Here’s a list of some of our favorites!

• Lucrezia Cafe – American-Italian classic dishes. This restaurant is located at 428 S Calumet Rd. Chesterton, IN 46304 has a great environment. It is in an old house which has been converted for a restaurant. There is a great garden patio to enjoy, too!
• Val’s Famous Pizza & Grinders – Located at 112 S 11th St. Chesterton, IN 46304 this is a great place for families to enjoy some small-town classic pizza.
• Octave Grill – This gastropub at 105 S Calumet Ave. Chesterton, IN 46304 takes the cheeseburger to unprecedented levels with their creative toppings. You have to try something from their homemade dessert menu, too.
• Craft House – Located at 711 Plaza Dr. Chesterton, IN 46304 this eatery offers classic American style meals. A really great place with an outstanding environment.

Chesterton Economy and Chesterton Jobs

Chesterton residents have a household income of $90,753. This is 35% higher than the Indiana average household income of $67,173. Chesterton’s location is what leads to this fantastic socioeconomic status of Chesterton residents.

Chesterton residents have many options for jobs and careers. In the town itself, there are not too many major employers. The largest employer outside of government or education would be Porter Regional Hospital located at the southern edge of Chesterton. Other common higher paying careers are mostly related to professional services. However, Chesterton residents have a lot of opportunities right outside of their town.

Chesterton is located near Indiana’s major manufacturing and industrial facilities located along the Lake Michigan shore. These include oil refining, steel production, services supporting the steel industry, logistics, and other manufacturing which occurs throughout the Northwest Indiana region. In addition, there are major corporations based in Northwest Indiana. Some of these include Horizon Bank, Family Express, Centier Bank, NIPSCO, and Methodist Hospitals, and many others.

Lastly, Chesterton is well within reach of a daily commute to Chicago, IL. Chesterton is located along I-94 and I-80/90. Chesterton residents can often make it to downtown Chicago within about 40 to 50 minutes. Alternatively, residents can ride the South Shore Commuter Rail Line which makes multiple stops each day at the Dune Park station located in Chesterton.

Chesterton Indiana Hospitals and Healthcare

Chesterton residents are most likely to use Northwest Health – Porter for emergency or primary care needs. This hospital located at 85 East US Highway 6 Valparaiso IN has a 24/7/365 emergency room. In addition there are many primary care and specialist physicians belonging to this hospital’s network, and many of these physicians have offices at the hospital. Care services are wide ranging and full-spectrum.

Northwest Health – Porter includes a Level III trauma center and has a neonatal intensive care unit.

Other relatively nearby major hospital systems include Methodist Hospitals, St. Mary’s Hospital, and Franciscan Alliance Hospitals.

Veterinarians in Chesterton and Chesterton Animal Hospitals

Ark Of The Dunes Animal Hospital located at 135 E 1100 N Chesterton IN 46304 is a small, locally owned veterinary practice located in Chesterton. This Chesterton veterinary clinic has been in the community for years and is both well-known and well-respected.

The Westchester Animal Clinic located at 55 E. U.S. 20 Porter, IN 46304 is another long-standing, locally owned veterinarian clinic worthy of your trust to take care of your four-legged family members.

Chesterton residents also have an option for off-hours emergency animal care needs. The Purdue North Central Veterinary Emergency Center is staffed with veterinarians 24/7/365. This full service clinic and emergency care center is available to help you and your pet. The emergency center’s Westville location located at 1645 US 421 Westville, IN 46391 is just 10 minutes from Chesterton.

Chesterton Indiana Transportation

Chesterton does not have local route public transportation; therefore, residents will likely need to own a car.

Chesterton is located near I-94 and I-80/90. Each of these interstates feeds into Chicago and can be used to commute to Chicago. To the east, I-94 can quickly take you north into Michigan and I-80/90 can take you east to South Bend, northeast Indiana, and Ohio.

Chesterton does have a stop along the South Shore Commuter Rail Line. The South Shore Train Dune Park station is located at 1068 W Dunes Hwy, Porter, IN 46304. This commuter rail line makes numerous stops at the Dune Park station each day, including during commuter rush hours. The South Shore Rail Line makes stops on Chicago’s south side and ends at Millenium Station in downtown Chicago.

Chesterton Indiana Weather

Chesterton has a temperate, all-seasons climate common in the Midwest. Residents truly experience all four seasons.

Spring temperatures with lows in the 30s and 40s and highs in the 50s and 60s are common in March through May. June, July, and August are the hottest months. Highs during this time can often be in the 80s, and 90+ degree temperatures is not at all uncommon. Nightly summer low temperatures are often in the 60s or low 70s.

September starts to bring a gradual cooling to the area as fall settles in. The temperature falls in reverse from spring. October highs are often in the 60s and the 50s later in the month. Night time lows during September, October, and November regularly fall into the 40s, 30s, and even the 20s in November. Winter temperatures become common in late November and stay around until early March.

January and February are the coldest months of the year in Chesterton, IN. At this time, highs can be in the 30s, but can also be as low as the 20s or, teens, or even single digits. Nighttime temperatures often fall into the 20s or less. Zero degrees to below zero temperatures are not uncommon.

Chesterton experiences adequate precipitation throughout the year, too. Monthly precipitation totals are relatively even throughout the year with only moderate differences. Chesterton, Indiana can experience all forms of precipitation from rain, sleet, snow, and hail. Chesterton averages about 37 inches of rain per year and about 55 inches of snow each year. Most of the snowfall total occurs from December through February.

Wrapping Up Why Chesterton Indiana Is a Great Place to Live

Chesterton is one of the best places to live in Northwest Indiana. The city offers an outstanding quality of life to its residents. Residents have a wide variety of education experiences, employment opportunities, and many recreational activities. Chesterton homes for sale are affordable relative to regional income potential.

Homebuyers moving to Chesterton will find a wide variety of home types, features, and prices when looking at Chesterton houses for sale.

About the Quadwalls Real Estate Team

The Quadwalls Real Estate Team is a team of real estate agents in Chesterton IN led by one of the top real estate agents in Northwest Indiana. We help you save money and make better decisions when buying and selling homes in Northwest Indiana. Chesterton, IN homebuyers can save money by signing up for our real estate rewards program which offers a 20% home purchase commission rebate. Home sellers can save money with our low real estate commission fees.

Contact us and we can help you get started buying or selling a home in Chesterton, Indiana or anywhere else in Northwest Indiana.

Frequently Asked Questions About Chesterton

How many people live in Chesterton, Indiana?

The population of Chesterton, Indiana is 14,554 people.

Is Chesterton Indiana a safe place to live?

Chesterton, Indiana is a safe place to live.  The violent crime rate is 66% below the Indiana average crime rate, and the property crime rate is 73% below the Indiana average property crime rate.

What school system is in Chesterton, Indiana?

Students living in Chesterton attend the Duneland School Corporation.

Are there good jobs in Chesterton, Indiana?

Yes, so much so that Chesterton residents have a household income of $90,753. This is about 37% higher than the average for the state of Indiana. Major manufacturing, steel production, professional services, and logistics are all major industries in and near Chesterton.

What is there to do in Chesterton, Indiana?

Chesterton, Indiana has a robust park system, is close to the Indiana Dunes National Park, and is located close to other major population centers including Chicago, IL. World class entertainment is located either in or within one hour of Chesterton in Chicago.