Whiting ( WYTE-ing) is a city located in the Chicago Metropolitan Area in Lake County, Indiana, which was founded in 1889. The city is located on the southern shore of Lake Michigan. It is roughly 16 miles from the Chicago Loop and two miles from Chicago's South Side. Whiting is home to Whiting Refinery, the largest oil refinery in the Midwest. The population was 4,559 at the 2020 census.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Whiting ranks

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#21Lowest depression in IN #58Closest to a top hospital in IN #92Most conserved land in IN All IN rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code46394

Area code219

Living in Whiting

Housing in Whiting

$207K▲ 0.9% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Whiting home is worth about $207,000, up 0.9% in a year, 21% below the Indiana typical home.

Only 2 sales in May 2026, too few for a market read. The typical value is the steadier guide.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Whiting

C⁻

Safety Grade C-

Whiting reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 76% report less.

Violent crime per 1,000

Whiting 3.4

Indiana 3

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Whiting 17.7

Indiana 12.5

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Whiting

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Most working residents leave Whiting for work: only 15% work in town. The top destinations are Hammond (15%), Chicago (13%) and East Chicago (6%). Half commute less than 13 miles.

Hammond

15%

Chicago, IL

13%

East Chicago

Munster

15%Work in townlive and work in Whiting 13 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 2,891Jobs based herea job hub

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Whiting →

Health in Whiting

Health Grade D

Healthier than 10% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates.

Compared with Indiana

2better than IN·17worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 13 are too close to call.

Conditions 2▲ 2▼ 8 close Habits 3▼ 1 close Care 5▼ 2 close Mind 3▼ 2 close Everyday needs 4▼ 0 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

6.9%Fewer adults who have had cancerIN 8.3% · better 21.5%Fewer adults with depressionIN 25.1% · better 16.8%More uninsured adultsIN 8.9% · worse

Care nearby

St. Catherine HospitalEast Chicago · 2.4 mi · ER

Southlake Community Mental Health Center, Inc., D.B.A. Regional Health ClinicEast Chicago · 2.2 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careNo shortage

DentalNo shortage

Mental healthNo shortage

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Whiting · CMS · HRSAHealth in Whiting →

Natural hazards in Whiting

Low

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 38% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🌪️ Tornadoes🥶 Cold waves

2Does Whiting flood?paid flood claims since 1981 10Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Whiting MapWhiting vs. its neighborsnearby towns shaded by rating

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Whiting →

Climate in Whiting

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Whiting has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 83°, a January night drops to 19°, and about 39 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

36° / 22°Winter

58° / 40°Spring

81° / 63°Summer

62° / 46°Fall