State rank#2 of 92
Smallest county500,379 residentsMarion County
Published county profile · Official data · FIPS 18089
Lake County, Indiana
County-level income, housing, jobs, education, health, and population with transparent statewide comparisons and source periods.
Population500,379
Household income$71,493
Unemployment5.7%
Life expectancy74.4 years
County overview
Living metrics at a glance
Lake County has 500,379 residents and ranks #2 by population among Indiana county equivalents. Median household income is $71,493. The annual-average unemployment rate is 5.7%. Its clearest relative strength is mental health access. Its county population is above the state county median. Every figure below stays at county scope.
Within Indiana
County population range
The marker places this county between the smallest and largest county populations in the state.
Relocation guide
Moving to Lake County: what to check
Data narrows the search; municipality, neighborhood, commute, schools, and current listings complete the decision.
Before moving
Before moving, compare municipalities inside Lake County, because county averages do not describe every neighborhood. Review current housing inventory, commute destinations, school districts, healthcare access, and job locations. Its clearest relative strength is mental health access.
Cost and housing
Housing benchmarks are $230,600 median home value and $1,131/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $71,493, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
Who it may suit
Lake County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing mental health access, bachelor’s degree or higher, and primary care access. College attainment is 25.8% and life expectancy is 74.4 years.
Potential advantages
- Mental health access: 1 per 434 residents, rank #13 of 90 available Indiana counties.
- Bachelor’s degree or higher: 25.8%, rank #20 of 92 available Indiana counties.
- Primary care access: 1 per 1,971 residents, rank #30 of 89 available Indiana counties.
Trade-offs to check
- Unemployment rate: 5.7%, rank #91 of 92; investigate local variation before moving.
- Median gross rent: $1,131/mo, rank #84 of 92; investigate local variation before moving.
- Median home value: $230,600, rank #76 of 92; investigate local variation before moving.
Income, housing, jobs, education & health
County metrics within Indiana
Rank and range use only counties in Indiana with that field available. A lower rank number is stronger when the metric has a clear direction.
Median household income
$71,493
$71,493; above the state county median of $68,532.
State rank #34 of 92 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median home value
$230,600
$230,600; above the state county median of $179,200.
State rank #76 of 92 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median gross rent
$1,131/mo
$1,131/mo; above the state county median of $866/mo.
State rank #84 of 92 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Unemployment rate
5.7%
5.7%; above the state county median of 4%.
State rank #91 of 92 · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Local Area Unemployment Statistics
Bachelor’s degree or higher
25.8%
25.8%; above the state county median of 20.2%.
State rank #20 of 92 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Life expectancy
74.4 years
74.4 years; below the state county median of 75 years.
State rank #55 of 92 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Poor or fair health
19.6%
19.6%; above the state county median of 19%.
State rank #56 of 92 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Uninsured
7.7%
7.7%; below the state county median of 7.9%.
State rank #39 of 92 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Primary care access
1 per 1,971 residents
1 per 1,971 residents; below the state county median of 1 per 2,367 residents.
State rank #30 of 89 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Mental health access
1 per 434 residents
1 per 434 residents; below the state county median of 1 per 971 residents.
State rank #13 of 90 · County Health Rankings & RoadmapsCommon questions
Lake County FAQ
Is Lake County a good place to live?
Lake County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing mental health access, bachelor’s degree or higher, and primary care access. College attainment is 25.8% and life expectancy is 74.4 years.
What should I know before moving to Lake County?
Start with housing, employment, commute, schools, healthcare access, and the specific municipality. Housing benchmarks are $230,600 median home value and $1,131/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $71,493, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the population of Lake County?
Lake County has 500,379 residents in the 2020–2024 ACS 5-year dataset.
What is the FIPS code for Lake County?
The five-digit county FIPS code is 18089; the parent state FIPS is 18.
What is the median household income in Lake County?
The ACS median household income is $71,493.
How much does housing cost in Lake County?
Housing benchmarks are $230,600 median home value and $1,131/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $71,493, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the unemployment rate in Lake County?
The BLS LAUS annual-average unemployment rate is 5.7%.
Similar population
Nearby counties in the state ranking
Source and gate
Methodology and source periods
All records join by five-digit FIPS. Profiles publish when ACS county population is at least 100,000 or the county is the state’s largest. Missing source values remain unavailable and are excluded from ranks. Runtime data was generated 2026-07-26.
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