Cost of Living in Cedar Lake, IN

Population 14,686 · Indiana · Data vintage 2023

88
Cost Index
(100 = US avg)
Page updated: · Data vintage: 2023 ACS 5-Year
Sources: Census ACS·BLS·NOAA·EPA·Zillow · Methodology

Under 25,000 residents gives Cedar Lake a small-town character that shows up in every data point below — from the commute patterns to the rental inventory. A typical home runs $260,000.

Located 35 miles southeast of Chicago, Cedar Lake falls within that metro's commuting orbit. Median home values run roughly 18% lower than Chicago's $315,000.

Cost Overview

Housing 85
Rent 92

Scale: 100 = US national average. Green < 90, Red > 110.

About the Cost of Living in Cedar Lake

The median home value in Cedar Lake is $259,900 — 15% below the national median of $305,000. Median rent runs $1,209/month, 8% lower than the national median of $1,314/month. The median household income of $79,177/year is 6% higher than the US median of $74,580. The local unemployment rate is 4.7%, below the national average of 4.8%. Indiana's top state income tax rate is 3.0% and the combined sales tax is 7.0%. Overall, Cedar Lake has a cost of living index of 88 versus the US average of 100, meaning it is 12% less expensive.

🏠 Housing

Median Home Value
$259,900
15% below avg
Zillow Home Value
$325,829
Zillow ZHVI
Median Rent
$1,209/mo
8% below avg
Zillow Rent
$1,795/mo
Zillow ZORI
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.9x
Favors buying
Property Tax Rate
0.8%
Effective rate

HUD Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$731
1 BR
$783
2 BR
$985
3 BR
$1,286
4 BR
$1,456
Owner-occupied 80.1%
Renter-occupied 19.9%

💰 Estimated Monthly Budget

Rent median rent
$1,209
Groceries national estimate
$400
Utilities local estimate
$88
Transportation local gas prices
$126
Estimated Total $1,823/mo

Estimates based on median data and national averages. Actual costs vary.

🛒 Food & Groceries

National BLS average prices (2023). Local prices may vary.

🥚
Eggs (dozen)
$0.548
🍞
White Bread (lb)
$1.912
🥩
Ground Beef (lb)
$5.61

🚗 Transportation

Avg Commute
36.1 min
34% above avg
Gas Price
$3.145/gal
0% below avg
Work From Home
4.4%

Commute Mode

Drove alone
85.2%
Carpooled
5.6%
Public transit
0.5%
Walked
0.7%
Work from home
4.4%

Utilities

Electricity
$0.176/kWh
0% below avg

📋 Taxes

State Income Tax (flat) 3.0%
Total Sales Tax 7.0%
State rate 7.0%
Avg local rate 0.0%
Property Tax 0.8%

💼 Income & Employment

Median Household Income
$79,177
6% above avg
Per Capita Income
$38,037
Unemployment Rate
4.7%
3% below avg
Poverty Rate
3.6%
Labor Force Participation
65.5%

🎓 Education

Bachelor's degree+ 15.1%
Graduate degree 9.8%

👥 Demographics

Median Age 40.3
Male median age 39.8
Female median age 40.5

💨 Air Quality

EPA AQS 2023 — county-level monitoring data

Median AQI 55 — Moderate
34.2%
Good air days/yr
215
Max AQI recorded
294
PM2.5 days
69
Ozone days

🏫 Schools

NCES CCD 2019 — public school district data

97%
4-Year Graduation Rate
17.7:1
Student-teacher ratio
4
Public schools
2,461
Total enrollment

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cost of living in Cedar Lake, IN?

Cedar Lake has a cost index of 88 (100 = national average). It is 12% below the national average.

What is average rent in Cedar Lake, IN?

The median gross rent in Cedar Lake is $1,209 per month based on 2023 Census data.

What is the average home price in Cedar Lake?

The median home value in Cedar Lake is $259,900 according to Zillow and Census data.

What is the median income in Cedar Lake?

The median household income in Cedar Lake is $79,177 per year (2023 ACS 5-year estimates).

What is the sales tax in Cedar Lake, IN?

The combined state and local sales tax rate in Cedar Lake is 7.0%. The Indiana state income tax top rate is 3.0%.

Is Cedar Lake, IN affordable?

Yes, Cedar Lake is generally considered affordable, with a cost of living index of 88 — about 12% below the US national average of 100.

Cedar Lake at a Glance

Population
14,686
Median Income
$79,177
Home Value
$259,900
Median Rent
$1,209/mo
Unemployment
4.7%
Sales Tax
7.0%
View all cities in Indiana →
🗺️ County data for Indiana

Explore county-level cost of living data

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