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City · 15,295 residents · Lake County, Indiana

Cedar Lake , Indiana

In Cedar Lake, a typical home is worth $282,000 and typical rent is $1,350 a month. Compared with all of Lake County, the typical home value is 22% higher, typical rent is 19% higher, and the share of households that own their home is 14 points higher.

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  • Typical home value

    $282,000

    22% above the county

    29% above Indiana

    • Cedar Lake
    • Lake
    • Indiana

  • Typical rent

    $1,350a month

    19% above the county

    27% above Indiana

    • Cedar Lake
    • Lake
    • Indiana

  • Typical household income

    $83,381a year

    17% above the county

    16% above Indiana

    • Cedar Lake
    • Lake
    • Indiana

  • Households that own their home

    85%

    14 points above the county

    15 points above Indiana

    • Cedar Lake
    • Lake
    • Indiana

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$335,760
2.3% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Cedar Lake is in Lake County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Lake County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Cedar Lake apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Nearby, in St. John, the typical rent is $989: 27% less than in Cedar Lake ($1,350).

  2. 85% of households in Cedar Lake own their home, against 72% in Lake County.

  3. The typical home in Cedar Lake is worth $282,000, 22% more than in Lake County as a whole ($230,600).

  4. The typical rent in Cedar Lake is $1,350 a month, 19% more than in Lake County as a whole ($1,131).

  5. The typical household income in Cedar Lake is $83,381, 17% more than in Lake County as a whole ($71,493).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Cedar Lake

What homes there are in Cedar Lake, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

Detached houses, standing on their own, make up 77% of homes here, against 71% in Lake County.

Year built

The typical home in Cedar Lake was built in 1997, 29 years after the typical one in Lake County.

Much as in Lake County, 66% of homes in Cedar Lake have 3 bedrooms or more.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

With an FHA limit of $541,287, at least 96% of owner-occupied homes in Cedar Lake sit below it: they are worth less than $500,000.

Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$1,644 a month

Lake County: $1,529 a month

Without a mortgage

$584 a month

Lake County: $569 a month

Owners with a mortgage

72%

Lake County: 63%

Owning costs more in Cedar Lake: with a mortgage, the typical cost is $1,644 a month; in Lake County, $1,529. Without one, $584.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

The typical home value in Cedar Lake rose 54% since 2015–2019, about the same as in Lake County (54%).

Rents in Cedar Lake rose faster than in Lake County: 46% since 2015–2019, against 28%.

Here income did not keep up with housing: it rose 28%, while home values changed +54% and rent +46%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureCedar LakeLake CountyIndianaUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate5.1%5.6%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate0.6%0.8%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate2.3%1.8%3.4%
People per household 2.782.542.462.53
Drive alone 81%80%76%69%
Carpool 7%8%9%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimate1%1%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate1%2%3%
Work from home 7%8%11%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%1%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Households in Cedar Lake are bigger: 2.78 people on average; in Lake County, 2.54.

In Cedar Lake, 81% of workers drive alone to work; in Lake County, 80%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Cedar Lake?

A typical home is tight for the typical income

We start with a typical home in Cedar Lake, worth $282,000, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 34% of the typical household income in Cedar Lake, which is $83,381 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $100,339 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Lake County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Cedar Lake. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $9,870 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$2,341

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$276,892
Total interest
$398,383
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $4,762 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,946 a month

  • Tight

    $1,946 to $2,501 a month

    Your payment · 34%

  • Hard

    more than $2,501 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Cedar Lake ($83,381 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$2,341
Principal & interest$1,876
Property tax$223
Home insurance$118
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$125

You need at least $9,870 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Cedar Lake and Lake County

Cedar Lake is in Lake County, Indiana. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Cedar Lake's own numbers

Typical home value
$282,000
Typical monthly rent
$1,350
Typical yearly household income
$83,381
Households that own their home
85%
Effective property tax rate
0.95%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Lake County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,429
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+48%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
1.1%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Lake County.

Everything about Lake County

Buying

Buying a home in Cedar Lake

A typical home in Cedar Lake is worth $282,000: 22% above the county and 29% above Indiana. With the typical household income in Cedar Lake ($83,381 a year), a typical home costs 3.4 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Cedar Lake 3.4 years
  • Lake 3.2 years
  • Indiana 3.0 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Lake County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Lake County rose 82% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Lake County.

Period County Indiana U.S.
Last year (2025) +3.2% +4.3% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +48% +53% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +82% +95% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Cedar Lake next to Lake County, Indiana and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Cedar Lake $282,000
  • Lake $230,600
  • Indiana $218,200
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Cedar Lake $1,350
  • Lake $1,131
  • Indiana $1,062
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Cedar Lake $83,381
  • Lake $71,493
  • Indiana $71,957
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Cedar Lake next to Lake County and Indiana
Measure Cedar Lake Lake County Indiana U.S.
Typical home value $282,000 $230,600 $218,200 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,350 $1,131 $1,062 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $83,381 $71,493 $71,957 $80,734
Households that own their home 85% 72% 71% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $2,688 $2,112 $1,614 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.95% 0.92% 0.74% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 48% 52% 48% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Lake County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Cedar Lake

For a typical $282,000 home in Cedar Lake, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Cedar Lake's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $2,341a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $9,870
    Cash to close
    $18,330
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $125

  • Conventional, 5% down $2,290a month

    Down payment
    $14,100
    Cash to close
    $22,560
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $134

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,869a month

    Down payment
    $56,400
    Cash to close
    $64,860
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $2,130a month

    Down payment
    $42,300
    Cash to close
    $50,760
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Cedar Lake and for Lake County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Cedar Lake

0.95%of the home’s value each year

$2,688 a year for the typical owner in Cedar Lake.

  • Cedar Lake 0.95%
  • Lake 0.92%
  • Indiana 0.74%

What Indiana publishes Homestead standard deduction: the amount drops each year (Indiana Department of Local Government Finance (DLGF), Form HC10)

Exemptions and deadlines in Indiana

Flood risk in Lake County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Lake County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
1.1%
2,019
Of those, with NFIP insurance
26%
County Indiana U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 1.1% 2.3% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 26% 17% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Cedar Lake

Typical rent in Cedar Lake is $1,350 a month: 19% above the county. In Cedar Lake, 48% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Lake County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,429 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $27.48 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Lake County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $1,117 $21.48 $44,680
1 bedroom $1,176 $22.62 $47,040
2 bedrooms $1,429 $27.48 $57,160
3 bedrooms $1,739 $33.44 $69,560
4 bedrooms $1,898 $36.50 $75,920

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Cedar Lake

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Cedar Lake is in ZIP code 46303.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,580: $151 more than the fair market rent for Lake County ($1,429).

  • 46303 $1,580$1,920

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Cedar Lake when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Cedar Lake

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

There are 3 HUD-approved agencies with an office in Lake County; 1 says it serves in Spanish.

Two women and a girl laugh together at the bus stop.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Cedar Lake

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Cedar Lake or Lake County. The ones below are statewide in Indiana: they work in Cedar Lake the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Indiana

  • Next Home

    Statewide in Indiana

    Indiana state agency program with down payment assistance of 2.5% or 3.5% of the price, alongside a 30-year FHA or conventional mortgage. Offered by Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA).

    Type not stated

    See the program Official page

  • First Step

    Statewide in Indiana

    Indiana state agency 30-year FHA or conventional mortgage for first-time buyers (or homes in designated areas), with down payment assistance as a second mortgage with no interest or payments, repaid when the first mortgage ends. Offered by Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Cedar Lake

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Cedar Lake, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES, INC dba CoACTION

    5240 Fountain Dr, Crown Point · 7 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 5 more
    (800) 826-7871

  • City of Gary Department of Community Development

    401 Broadway, Gary · 17 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 7 more
    (219) 881-5075

  • Northwest Indiana Reinvestment Alliance

    5233 Hohman Ave Ste 104, Hammond · 17 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 7 more
    (219) 750-1206

Every agency in Lake County All counseling agencies in Indiana

Help in Spanish near Cedar Lake

1 of the 3 agencies on this list says it serves in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Cedar Lake

In HUD’s record, no housing authority with an office in Lake County is named for Cedar Lake or Lake County.

3 other authorities have an office in Lake County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Lake County

These cities are also in Lake County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Lake County Housing in Indiana
See 5 more cities in Lake County, with prices and rents

Every city has its own page with prices, rents and help.

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Cedar Lake, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Lake County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Cedar Lake.

All guides
Two girls write and draw together at the living-room table.

Questions

Housing questions about Cedar Lake

Short answers with the numbers for Cedar Lake and all of Lake County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Cedar Lake?

The typical home value in Cedar Lake is $282,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Lake County it is $230,600.

How much does it cost to rent in Cedar Lake?

Typical rent in Cedar Lake is $1,350 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Lake County is $1,429.

What is the FHA loan limit in Cedar Lake?

Cedar Lake uses the FHA limit for all of Lake County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Cedar Lake?

The typical homeowner in Cedar Lake pays $2,688 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.95% of the home’s value; in Lake County, the rate is 0.92%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Cedar Lake?

There are 3 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Lake County. 1 says it serves in Spanish. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).