Home Insurance in Lake County, Indiana
With a median home value of $230,600, Lake County is 6% higher than the Indiana median.
The typical home in Lake County was built around 1968. About 39% of homes were built before 1960, about 8 points above Indiana's 31%. Because older housing stock often has aging wiring, roofing or plumbing, it can cost more to insure or rebuild.
Housing in Lake County breaks down to 79% single-family homes, 13% apartments in buildings with 5+ units and 2% mobile or manufactured homes.
63% of owner-occupied homes in Lake County carry a mortgage, and mortgage lenders require hazard insurance for as long as the loan is active.
About 72% of occupied homes in Lake County are owner-occupied. The vacancy rate is 10%; vacant or unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form than an owner-occupied policy.
Most homes in Lake County - 86% - are primarily heated with natural gas.
The top hazards for Lake County, per FEMA's National Risk Index, are tornado (Very High), inland flooding (Relatively High) and winter weather (Relatively High).
As of September 2026, Lake County has 1,005 active NFIP flood insurance policies. Standard homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage, so flood coverage needs a separate NFIP or private flood policy.
The statewide average premium for a standard HO-3 homeowners policy in Indiana is $1,259 per year, according to the NAIC homeowners insurance report (2023 data).
Key figures
| Median home value | $230,600 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1968 |
| Owner-occupied share | 72% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 63% |
| Top hazards (FEMA National Risk Index) | Tornado (Very High), Inland Flooding (Relatively High), Winter Weather (Relatively High) |
| Active NFIP flood policies (county) | 1,005 |
| Home insurance premium | $1,259 - statewide average (NAIC, 2023 data) |
Towns and cities
- Cedar Lake
- Crown Point
- Dyer
- East Chicago
- Gary
- Griffith
- Hammond
- Highland
- Hobart
- Lake Station
- Lowell
- Merrillville
- Munster
- New Chicago
- Schererville
- Schneider
- St. John
- Whiting
- Winfield
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau Gazetteer Files (2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates (2024)
- FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025)
- FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Policies v3 (2026)
- NAIC Dwelling Fire, Homeowners Owner-Occupied, and Homeowners Tenant and Condominium/Cooperative Unit Owners Insurance: Data for 2023 (published 2026) (2023)