76,000+Population
Lake CountyCounty
1869Founded
46320 / 46323 / 46324Zip Codes
20 miTo Downtown Chicago

The Story

About Hammond

Hammond was first settled in 1847 and founded in 1869, taking its name from George H. Hammond, whose meatpacking company anchored the city's early industrial economy. It incorporated as a town in 1883 and as a city in 1907, making it one of the oldest cities in northern Lake County.

Hammond holds a distinction no other Indiana city shares — it's the only one that borders Chicago directly, running from the Lake Michigan shoreline south to the Little Calumet River along the Illinois state line. The city's industrial roots later diversified into manufacturing, transportation, retail, and healthcare, and it remains home to a campus of Purdue University Northwest.

Real Estate

The Hammond Housing Market

Most of Hammond's housing stock was built between the 1940s and 1970s, and the city generally offers lower price points than many other parts of the Chicago metro, along with Indiana's lower property tax rates relative to neighboring Illinois communities. Buyers are typically drawn by affordability, direct access to Chicago, and established neighborhoods across the city's Hessville, Robertsdale, and other historic areas.

Home values shift block by block. The team builds every comparative market analysis using a verified methodology — a 1-mile radius, comparable square footage within 20%, matching bed and bath count, and similar age, garage, and basement — so Hammond buyers and sellers get a number they can trust, not a computer-generated estimate. Call or text 630-912-9129 for current, verified Hammond market data.

Market Data

Current Hammond Market Data

Education

Schools in Hammond

Hammond is served by the School City of Hammond, the public school corporation covering the entire city across 17 schools.

  • Hammond High School and Morton High School serve the district's secondary students, feeding from several elementary and middle schools throughout the city.
  • Purdue University Northwest maintains a campus in Hammond, offering undergraduate and graduate programs across six colleges.

Outdoors

Parks & Recreation

Hammond's parks system centers on its lakefront, with additional natural areas tucked into its neighborhoods.

  • Wolf Lake Memorial Park — built around an 800-acre lake that straddles the Indiana-Illinois border, popular for boating, birdwatching, and the Aquatic Play Center splash pad along the east shore.
  • Hammond Lakefront Park — direct access to Lake Michigan.
  • Gibson Woods Nature Preserve — 179 acres of protected dune and swale habitat in the Hessville neighborhood.

Around Town

Things to Do, Dining & Shopping

Hammond's entertainment scene is anchored by its lakefront casino and a handful of distinctive local landmarks.

  • Horseshoe Hammond Casino — one of the largest casinos in the Midwest, connected to a hotel and home to The Venue, a concert hall hosting major touring acts.
  • Towle Theater — a historic venue for live local performances.
  • Hammond is the birthplace of the Hammond Organ and the childhood home of author and radio humorist Jean Shepherd, whose stories inspired the film "A Christmas Story."

Getting Around

Location & Commute

Hammond is the only Indiana city that shares a border with Chicago, putting downtown Chicago about 20 miles away. The city is served by the Borman Expressway (I-80/94/90), the Indiana Toll Road, and the South Shore Line, which offers direct commuter rail service into downtown Chicago.

Local Expertise

Buying or Selling in Hammond?

Steve Roake & Kimberly Genovese work with buyers and sellers throughout Hammond and greater Lake County, applying the team's verified comp methodology to Northwest Indiana's most direct connection to Chicago.

  • 615+Transactions Closed
  • $113M+Sales Volume
  • 103.7%*List-to-Sale Ratio
  • 2003Licensed Since

*Based on 22 sellers who listed at the team's recommended starting price, averaging 103.7% of list price at 13 days to contract — compared to MRED's 98.4% and NIRA's 95.8% 12-month market averages (as of Aug 2026).

Call or Text the Team: 630-912-9129

FAQ

Hammond Real Estate: Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hammond, IN a good place to buy a home?
Hammond offers generally lower price points than much of the Chicago metro along with Indiana's lower property taxes, and it's the only Indiana city that directly borders Chicago.
What school district serves Hammond, IN?
The School City of Hammond serves the entire city across 17 schools, including Hammond High School and Morton High School. Purdue University Northwest also has a campus in Hammond.
How far is Hammond from downtown Chicago?
Hammond directly borders the city of Chicago along the Illinois-Indiana state line, with downtown Chicago about 20 miles away via the Borman Expressway and South Shore Line commuter rail service.
What is Hammond, IN known for?
Hammond is known for Horseshoe Hammond Casino, Wolf Lake Memorial Park, being the birthplace of the Hammond Organ, and as the childhood home of author and broadcaster Jean Shepherd, whose stories inspired "A Christmas Story."
Who should I contact to buy or sell a home in Hammond, IN?
Steve Roake & Kimberly Genovese of Constellation Home Sales | Freedom Group Global serve Lake County and all of Northwest Indiana. Call or text 630-912-9129 for a verified market analysis.

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