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Chesterton, IN

Full City Profile · Indiana · Porter County County

3.6 /5.0
B+ Good
14,326 Population 1,522/sq mi density
$88,536 Median Income $47,807 per capita
$280,400 Home Value $335,268 Zillow
$1,145 Median Rent 25.2% income on rent
50°F Avg Temperature 275 sunny days/yr
65 Violent Crime/100K 897 property/100K
B+
Overall
3.6 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A
Economy
4.1 / 5.0
$88,536 median income, 5.4% unemployment
A+
Affordability
4.9 / 5.0
$280,400 home value, $1,145/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
65 violent crimes/100K
A
Education
4.2 / 5.0
40.2% bachelor's degree or higher
Chesterton experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 50°F (10°C). Winters average 25°F in January while summers reach 73°F in July. The area gets 275 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 39.2 inches. The area receives 40.3 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 41.

Temperature

25°F Jan (-4°C) 73°F Jul (23°C)
Annual Average50.2°F
7% below US avg
January Average25°F (-4°C)
July Average73°F (23°C)
Sunny Days275 days/yr

Geography

Elevation645 ft (197 m)
Area9.4 sq mi (24.4 km²)
Population Density1,522/sq mi
Coordinates41.5998°N, 87.0550°W
TimezoneAmerica/Indiana/Indianapolis
CountyPorter County County
Nearest AirportPorter County Regional (VPZ)
10 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 39.2"
3% above US avg
Snowfall 40.3"
Wettest Month (Jun) 4.29"
Driest Month (Feb) 1.57"

Air Quality

AQI Median41.0
RatingGood

Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)

Ozone (O₃)0.0465 ppm
SO₂ (Sulfur Dioxide)2.55 ppb
PM2.5 (Fine Particles)9.7 μg/m³

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Moderate
Risk Score81.4 / 100
Social Vulnerability13.4 / 100
Community Resilience89.0 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Relatively High
Hurricane Very Low
Earthquake Relatively Low
Wildfire Very Low
Flood Relatively Moderate
Hail Very Low
Strong Wind Relatively High
Heat Wave Relatively Low
Winter Weather Relatively Moderate
Lightning Relatively Moderate
Ice Storm Relatively Low
Drought No Rating
Cold Wave Relatively High
Landslide Very Low
Coastal Flood Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

7 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M3.8. Most recent: M2.6 on Mar 15, 2025.

Feb 10, 2010 2 km NW of Lily Lake, Illinois M3.8 127 km
Nov 4, 2013 1 km SSW of Lyons, Illinois M3.2 68 km
Jul 15, 2024 2 km WNW of Somonauk, Illinois M3.1 138 km
Jan 26, 2012 5 km NE of Topeka, Indiana M3.0 130 km
Mar 25, 2015 3 km WNW of Lake in the Hills, Illinois M2.9 127 km
Jun 10, 2013 4 km NNE of Virgil, Illinois M2.6 128 km
Mar 15, 2025 6 km W of Dwight, Illinois M2.6 134 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990-2025)

Tornado History

525 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF4. Total: 123 fatalities, 1,837 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Jun 29, 1979 EF4 98 km 0
Jun 13, 1976 EF4 79 km 2
Apr 21, 1967 EF4 65 km 33
Apr 11, 1965 EF4 71 km 36
Apr 11, 1965 EF4 82 km 31
Apr 17, 1963 EF4 99 km 1
Jun 20, 2021 EF3 96 km 0
Jun 5, 2010 EF3 83 km 0
Oct 18, 2007 EF3 81 km 0
Oct 24, 2001 EF3 52 km 1
Mar 27, 1991 EF3 87 km 0
Apr 2, 1982 EF3 99 km 0
May 13, 1980 EF3 98 km 0
Mar 12, 1976 EF3 86 km 1
Mar 12, 1976 EF3 49 km 0
Mar 12, 1976 EF3 13 km 0
Jun 20, 1974 EF3 47 km 0
Oct 24, 1967 EF3 15 km 0
Nov 26, 1965 EF3 47 km 0
Nov 12, 1965 EF3 36 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950-2024)

Tsunami History

1 tsunami recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 3.0 m (10 ft).

Year Location Cause Max Wave Deaths Distance
1954 MICHIGAN CITY, IN (LAKE MICHIGAN) Avalanche 3.0 m 7 18 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database. Sorted by wave height.

Wildfire History

12 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: UNNAMED (1,741 ac, 2019).

Year Name Acres Distance
2019 UNNAMED 1,741 96 km
2019 UNNAMED 1,664 92 km
2000 UNNAMED 1,602 81 km
2021 NORTHEAST PRAIRIE UNIT 3 978 85 km
2024 NORTHEAST PRAIRIE 3 RX 938 86 km
1986 OGDEN DUNS 863 14 km
2021 UNNAMED 738 86 km
2021 MIDDLE GRANT CREEK 700 95 km
2019 UNNAMED 698 85 km
2021 21-INDU TOLLESTON DUNES EAST 594 13 km
2017 UNNAMED 549 95 km
2017 17 INDU COWLES DUNES 522 7 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 25°F (-4°C) 1.9 in Coldest
February 27°F (-3°C) 1.6 in Driest
March 37°F (3°C) 2.7 in
April 48°F (9°C) 3.7 in
May 59°F (15°C) 3.7 in
June 69°F (20°C) 4.3 in Wettest
July 73°F (23°C) 3.7 in Warmest
August 71°F (22°C) 3.7 in
September 64°F (18°C) 3.8 in
October 53°F (11°C) 3.0 in
November 41°F (5°C) 3.4 in
December 29°F (-2°C) 2.7 in

Chesterton has a seasonal temperature swing of 48°F / from 25°F in January to 73°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 38.2 inches, with June being the wettest month (4.3") and February the driest (1.6").

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