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Buying a home in Chesterton, Indiana

The typical owner-occupied home in Chesterton is worth about $300,900, 38% above the Indiana median of $218,200 and 10% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $2,528 a year in property taxes, about 0.84% of their home's value, higher than the Indiana rate of 0.74%. The median household earns $91,060 a year, so the median home costs 3.3 times the median income (3.0 times for Indiana). 75% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 66% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Chesterton at a glance

Chesterton Indiana U.S.
Median home value $300,900 $218,200 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $2,528 $1,614 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.84% 0.74% 0.94%
Median household income $91,060 $71,957 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 75% 71% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 66% 64% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,791 $1,404 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 19.9% 18.1% 21.0%
Median rent $1,274 $1,062 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 30.7% 29.1% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1982 1976 1980
Vacant homes 5.0% 8.8% 10.1%
Population 14,446 6,851,073 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Chesterton

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Chesterton home of $300,900 with 20% down costs about $1,955 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $2,457, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.

Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $83,801 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 26% of the median Chesterton household income of $91,060; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $327,000.

The median rent here is $1,274 a month, so owning the median home costs about $681 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$60,180
Loan amount$240,720
Principal and interest$1,619
Property taxes (0.84% a year)$211
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$125
PMI$0
Total per month$1,955

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$10,532
Loan amount$295,450
Principal and interest$1,988
Property taxes (0.84% a year)$211
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$125
FHA mortgage insurance$133
Total per month$2,457

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Questions about home buying in Chesterton

What is the median home value in Chesterton?

About $300,900 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Chesterton?

Homeowners pay a median $2,528 a year, which is about 0.84% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.

What income do you need to buy a home in Chesterton?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,955 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $83,801 a year.

More about Chesterton

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data