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Schererville, IN

Schererville, IN

Google MapsPhoto:Luke H·About Schererville·1 miles from downtown

A town of about 29,701 people in Lake County, part of the Chicago area. Resident comments and photos are about Schererville; job numbers cover the wider area.

Schererville at a glance

Each grade compares this area with all 813 U.S. metro and small-town areas: A is the top 20%, F the bottom 20%. Cost compares everyday prices with the U.S. average. Varro doesn't grade safety; crime facts are further down. Graded on the Chicago area's numbers.

D
Cost
Everyday prices about 4% above the U.S. average
Locals: Not enough local comments yet
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis price index, 2024
D
Housing
Typical home value is about 3.6 times the typical household's yearly income ($323,000 vs $90,887)
U.S. Census ACS 5-year, 2024
C
Getting around
Average commute 30 minutes; 13% walk, bike or take transit to work
Locals: Not enough local comments yet
U.S. Census ACS 5-year, 2024
B
Things to do
8,629 restaurants, museums, theaters, music, game and book shops and historic places in the area (about 91 per 100,000 people)
Locals: Not enough local comments yet
U.S. Census County Business Patterns 2023, National Register of Historic Places
A
Outdoors
38 hiking trails, 18 campgrounds and 110 paddling spots nearby
Public land: About 39,000 acres within 25 miles (3% of the area)
Locals: Not enough local comments yet
OpenStreetMap contributors and federal recreation data; public land: USGS Protected Areas Database
D
Jobs
Unemployment 6.1%; jobs grew 0.1% in the last year
Locals: Not enough local comments yet
U.S. Census ACS 5-year, 2024; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
A
Social life
5,331 bars, cafes, gyms, breweries and game shops in the area (about 56 per 100,000 people)
Locals: Not enough local comments yet
U.S. Census County Business Patterns 2023
B
Healthcare
0.9 primary care doctors per 1,000 people in the main county; nearest emergency room about 1 mile from the center
Locals: Not enough local comments yet
County Health Rankings 2025; Medicare Care Compare
B
Schools
Public school test pass rates about 1 points above the state average (2212 schools)
Locals: Not enough local comments yet
U.S. Department of Education, 2021-22 (compared within the state only)
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What kind of place it is

Big-city feel, Outdoorsy, Lively

Scored the same way as the quiz, against 813 U.S. metro areas. A feel is listed when Schererville scores 70 or higher out of 100.

Big-city feel
100 / 100
Big-city feel: 9.5 million people in the metro, 603 buildings 20+ stories, 5,908 bus and train stops
"lived in Chicago for 8 years, childless. Then moved to Atlanta for work and have recently moved back" A resident, Reddit
Outdoorsy
94 / 100
Outdoorsy: more trails, campgrounds and paddling spots than most
Lively
90 / 100
Lively: 9,176 bars, sit-down restaurants and music businesses in the area (about 97 per 100,000 people)
"The row of bars you wanna hit will be all younger people." A resident, Reddit
Historic
73 / 100
200 places on the National Register of Historic Places nearby
"I've always felt my direct, to the point communication style fits in there" A resident, Reddit

Less so: growing, cozy.

Everyday life
Everyday life
Shops, cafes, and daily routines
Hobbies & activities
Hobbies & activities
Trails, parks, and pastimes
Nearby scenery
Nearby scenery
Lakes, overlooks, and drives
Google MapsPhoto:fired51

Photos and reviews come from Google Maps and show single places, not the whole area. Reviews are the most relevant ones Google returns for each place. We show the longest highly rated review under 400 characters and, when there is one, the longest low-rated review. Google doesn't verify reviews but removes fake ones when it finds them.

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Around Schererville

Where it is, what's close by, trails, buses and trains, and health care.
Where it is
Schererville
Schererville in Indiana
Indiana in the U.S.
State outlines: U.S. Census Bureau.

What's nearby

Within 5 miles of Schererville's center.

11
grocery stores
82
restaurants
9
coffee shops
87
parks
64
playgrounds
6
libraries
2
movie theaters
1
live theater
9
bookstores
1
comic shop
7
gyms
5
bars
13
pharmacies
3
hospitals

Counts from OpenStreetMap, a volunteer map, so small or new places can be missing. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Stores nearby

Membership warehouses and popular grocery stores, measured from the center of Schererville.
Costco
Membership warehouse (yearly fee to shop)
1 within 15 miles, nearest about 6 miles
Sam's Club
Membership warehouse (yearly fee to shop)
2 within 15 miles, nearest about 8 miles
Trader Joe's
Nearest about 23 miles
Whole Foods Market
1 within 15 miles, nearest about 3 miles
Target
5 within 15 miles, nearest about 3 miles
Aldi
16 within 15 miles, nearest about 2 miles
Not within 50 miles: BJ's Wholesale Club, Wegmans, Sprouts Farmers Market.
Straight-line miles, so the drive is longer. Store locations from each chain's own store finder, collected by the open-data project All the Places, October 2026.

Biking and trails

Within 5 miles of the center of Schererville.

Bike lanes and bike paths
36 miles
more than most U.S. towns
Walking and hiking trails
52 miles
more than most U.S. towns

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Counts depend on how well local volunteers have mapped the area, so treat them as a rough guide.

Buses and trains

Bus stops within 1 mile
0
Bus stops within 5 miles
17
Nearest train station
Munster Dyer Station
about 5 miles
Closest rail and ferry stops
  • Munster Dyer Station · Train station · about 5 miles
  • Munster Ridge Station · Train station · about 7 miles
  • South Hammond · Train station · about 8 miles
  • Gary/Chicago Airport · Train station · about 9 miles
U.S. Department of Transportation, National Transit Map (stops from each transit agency's schedule data, Sept. 2026). Straight-line distance from the town center. Counts stops, not how often buses come; check the local transit agency for schedules.

Health care

Nearest hospital with an emergency room: Franciscan Health Dyer in Dyer, about 4 miles away in a straight line.

Franciscan Health Dyer
Dyer, IN · about 4 miles
Hospital · Emergency room
Medicare rating: ★★★★★ 2 of 5
Franciscan Health Munster
Munster, IN · about 5 miles
Hospital · Emergency room
Medicare rating: ★★★★★ 3 of 5
Community Hospital
Munster, IN · about 6 miles
Hospital · Emergency room
Medicare rating: ★★★★★ 3 of 5
Franciscan Health Crown Point
Crown Point, IN · about 7 miles
Hospital · Emergency room
Medicare rating: ★★★★★ 3 of 5
In the county, compared with Indiana and the U.S.
Primary care doctors
0.5
per 1,000 people · Indiana: 0.7 · U.S.: 0.8
Dentists
0.6
per 1,000 people · Indiana: 0.6 · U.S.: 0.7
Mental health providers
2.3
per 1,000 people · Indiana: 2.1 · U.S.: 3.3
People under 65 without health insurance
7.7%
Indiana: 8.2% · U.S.: 9.5%
Hospitals: Medicare Care Compare (CMS Care Compare, July 2026); distances are straight-line miles from the town center (located with the U.S. Census Bureau geocoder), so drive distance is longer. Doctors, dentists, providers and insurance: County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, 2025 release. In an emergency, call 911.

Costs of moving here

Rent, the move itself, and getting set up.

What rent costs

Typical rent by size
$1,217
Studio
$1,021
1 bedroom
$1,359
2 bedrooms
$1,754
3 bedrooms
Living alone: about $1,021 a month for a 1-bedroom
With one roommate: about $680 each for a 2-bedroom

Middle (median) rent, Census American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 (table B25031). Includes utilities the renter pays. The roommate figure splits the rent evenly. Today's asking rents for open apartments usually run higher.

Of about 2,374 rented homes in Schererville, 96% rent for under $2,000 a month and 100% for under $3,000.

Under $1,000: 24%
$1,000 to $1,499: 52%
$1,500 to $1,999: 20%
$2,000 to $2,499: 3%
$2,500 to $2,999: 1%
$3,000 or more: 0%

Census American Community Survey 2019 to 2023 (table B25063). Gross rent includes utilities the renter pays. Today's asking rents for open apartments usually run higher.

What moving costs

Hiring movers

Average cost: $1,946

From a 2025 survey of 1,000 people who hired movers. This Old House. Your quote depends on your stuff, stairs and the time of year.

Moving in as a renter

The middle rented home in Schererville rents for $1,000 to $1,499 a month. Before you get the keys, expect about $2,000 to $2,998 for first month plus a deposit, or up to $3,000 to $4,497 where landlords also ask for last month.

Many landlords want your income to be about 3 times the rent. For $1,000 to $1,499, that's a yearly income of about $36,000 to $53,964.

Estimate from Census rent data (2019 to 2023, rent plus tenant-paid utilities). Deposits and fees vary by landlord and state law.

Moving to Indiana: before and after

  • Forward your mail: USPS change of address. It costs about $1 online to confirm who you are.
  • Switch your driver's license and car registration. Each state sets its own deadline, often somewhere between 10 days and a few months after you move. Find the Indiana DMV.
  • Register to vote at your new address: Indiana voter registration.
  • Set up power, gas, water and trash. Some cities bill water and trash together, and some ask new customers for a deposit.
  • Update your address with your bank, employer, insurance and the IRS (Form 8822 if you're not filing soon).
  • Find a doctor and dentist early. New-patient waits can be weeks, even in big cities.

Schools and childcare

Schools

16 public school districts in this county, with about 67,908 students in all. The county also has 13 public charter schools and 40 private schools. Which public school serves a home depends on its address.

Thea Bowman Leadership AcademyCharter School of the Dunes21st Century Charter Sch of GaryEast Chicago Urban Enterprise AcademyGary Lighthouse Charter SchoolEast Chicago LighthouseAspire Charter AcademyHammond Academy of Science & TechGary Middle CollegeSteel City AcademyHigher Institute of Arts & TechExcel Center - HammondExcel Center - GaryCrown Point High SchoolDouglas Macarthur Elem SchoolDwight D Eisenhower Elem SchoolLake Street Elementary SchoolRobert Taft Middle SchoolSolon Robinson Elementary SchoolTimothy Ball Elementary SchoolWinfield Elementary SchoolJerry Ross Elementary SchoolColonel John Wheeler Middle SchoolAbraham Lincoln Elementary SchoolBenjamin Harrison Elementary SchCarrie Gosch Pk CenterGeorge Washington Elementary SchJoseph Block Middle SchoolWilliam Mckinley Elementary SchoolEast Chicago Central High SchoolAlexander Hamilton Elementary SchThomas A Edison Jr-Sr HsVirgil I Bailey Elementary SchoolBanneker Elementary at MarquetteBeveridge Elementary SchoolFrankie Woods Mccullough AcademyMary M Bethune Early Child Dev CtrWest Side Leadership AcademyGlen Park Acad for Excel in LrnDaniel Hale Williams Elem SchBailly Middle SchoolGary Middle SchoolGary Virtual AcademyBeiriger Elementary SchoolElsie Wadsworth Elementary SchoolGriffth Jr/Sr High SchoolAbraham Lincoln Elementary SchoolBenjamin Franklin Elementary SchCharles N Scott Middle SchoolHammond Central High SchoolHenry W Eggers Middle SchoolKenwood Elementary SchoolLew Wallace Elementary SchoolAnnie Burns-Hicks Elementary SchoolMorton Senior High SchoolThomas Jefferson Elementary SchoolWarren G Harding Elementary SchoolWashington Irving Elementary SchFrank O'Bannon Elementary SchoolThomas A Edison Elementary SchoolMorton Elementary SchoolJoseph Hess Elementary SchoolHanover Central High SchoolJane Ball Elementary SchoolLincoln Elementary SchoolHanover Central Middle SchoolRed Cedars ElementaryAllen J Warren Elementary SchoolHighland High SchoolHighland Middle SchoolJudith Morton Johnston ElementaryMildred Merkley Elementary SchoolSouthridge Elementary SchoolJoan Martin Elementary SchoolEarly Learning Center-George EarleHobart Middle SchoolHobart High SchoolLiberty Elementary SchoolVeterans Elementary School at MundellHenry S Evans Elementary SchoolJohn I Meister Elementary SchoolRiver Forest Middle SchoolRiver Forest High SchoolGeorge Bibich Elementary SchoolJames H Watson Elementary SchoolKahler Middle SchoolKolling Elementary SchoolLake Central High SchoolMichael Grimmer Middle SchoolPeifer Elementary SchoolProtsman Elementary SchoolHoman Elementary SchoolHal E Clark Middle SchoolCalumet New Tech High SchoolLake Ridge New Tech Middle SchoolLongfellow New Tech Elementary SchErnest R Elliott Elementary SchoolFrank H Hammond Elementary SchoolJames B Eads Elementary SchoolMunster High SchoolWilbur Wright Middle SchoolEdgar L Miller Elementary SchoolMerrillville Intermediate SchoolHenry P Fieler Elementary SchoolHomer Iddings Elementary SchoolJohn Wood Elementary SchoolJonas E Salk Elementary SchoolMerrillville High SchoolPierce Middle SchoolLake Prairie Elementary SchoolLowell Middle SchoolLowell Senior High SchoolOak Hill Elementary SchoolThree Creeks Elem SchoolWhiting Middle SchoolNathan Hale Elementary SchoolWhiting High SchoolIlliana Christian High School (private)Protestant Reformed/Heritage Christian Schools (private)St John the Baptist Catholic School (private)St Mary School (private)Bishop Noll Institute/Catholic Dioece of Gary (private)St Casimir School (private)Our Lady of Grace School (private)Andrean High School (private)Aquinas Catholic Community School (private)St Thomas More School (private)St John Evangelist School (private)St Mary Catholic Community School (private)St John Bosco Elementary School (private)Trinity Lutheran School (private)Trinity Lutheran School (private)Highland Christian School (private)Forest Ridge Academy (private)St Paul'S Lutheran School (private)Bible Baptist School (private)Northwest Adventist Christian School (private)Avicenna Academy (private)Calumet Christian School (private)2450 Childcare Inc Dba Happy Days Childcare (private)Indiana Horizon Academy (private)Happy Days Learning Center (private)Morning Star Academy (private)Plum Creek Christian Academy (private)Ascension Lutheran Christian School (private)Illiana Christian High School (private)Montessori Academy of Nwi (private)My Safari Preparatory Academy Georgia St. Campus (private)St Michael School (private)St Michael School (private)St Michael Catholic School (private)Repairer of the Breach Ministries (D211) (private)Crown Point Christian School (private)St Stanislaus School (private)My Safari Preparatory Academy (private)Happy Days Child Care Center (private)Montessori Childrens Schoolhouse (private)LAKE COUNTYPORTER COUNTYJASPER COUNTYLAPORTE COUNTYSchererville
Public Public charter Private County line District that covers the center of Schererville: Lake Central School Corporation
District and county lines: U.S. Census Bureau. Tap a dot for details. A home's assigned school depends on its address; check with the district before you buy or rent.

Closest public schools to the center of Schererville

Elementary
Homan Elementary School0.6 mi
Public
grades Pre-K to 4 · 450 students · 13.6 per teacher
Passed the state test: math 65% (state: reading 41%, math 38%)
Peifer Elementary School0.6 mi
Public
grades Pre-K to 4 · 444 students · 15.9 per teacher
Passed the state test: math 60 to 64% (state: reading 41%, math 38%)
James H Watson Elementary School1.0 mi
Public
grades Pre-K to 4 · 655 students · 17.2 per teacher
Passed the state test: math 65 to 69% (state: reading 41%, math 38%)
Middle
Michael Grimmer Middle School1.0 mi
Public
grades 5 to 8 · 788 students · 17.9 per teacher
Passed the state test: math 40% (state: reading 41%, math 38%)
Hal E Clark Middle School2.5 mi
Public
grades 5 to 8 · 1,097 students · 18 per teacher
Passed the state test: math 41% (state: reading 41%, math 38%)
Griffth Jr/Sr High School3.3 mi
Public
grades 6 to 12 · 1,090 students · 15.6 per teacher
Passed the state test: math 20% (state: reading 41%, math 38%)
High school
Lake Central High School2.0 mi
Public
grades 9 to 12 · 2,992 students · 20.4 per teacher
Passed the state test: math 41% (state: reading 41%, math 38%)
Griffth Jr/Sr High School3.3 mi
Public
grades 6 to 12 · 1,090 students · 15.6 per teacher
Passed the state test: math 20% (state: reading 41%, math 38%)
Highland High School4.3 mi
Public
grades 9 to 12 · 980 students · 18.5 per teacher
Passed the state test: math 30% (state: reading 41%, math 38%)
Private
St Michael School0.6 mi
Private
grades Pre-K to 8 · 179 students · 19.9 per teacher
St Michael School0.6 mi
Private
grades Pre-K to 8 · 181 students · 9.7 per teacher
St Michael Catholic School0.6 mi
Private
grades K to 8 · 179 students · 10.8 per teacher

Straight-line miles from the center of Schererville, nearest first. Being closest doesn't mean a school serves a given home. "Passed the state test" is the share of students who scored proficient or better on Indiana's own reading and math tests in the 2021-22 school year, the latest year the U.S. Department of Education has published for every school. Each state sets its own test and passing bar, so compare schools within the same state, not across states. Test results track family income closely and leave out a lot (teachers, programs, how a school fits your child). For newer results, see the state's school report card.

Public school districts in the county

School City of Hammond · Hammond
11,505 students · 17.6 students per teacher · 17 schools · grades Pre-K to 12
Lake Central School Corporation · Saint John
9,293 students · 17.4 students per teacher · 10 schools · grades Pre-K to 12
Crown Point Community School Corp · Crown Point
9,064 students · 19.9 students per teacher · 10 schools · grades Pre-K to 12

School choice and pre-K in Indiana

Going to school in another district
State law lets each district decide whether to take students from other districts. Some do, some don't; ask the district you'd like.
Picking a different school in your district
State law says families can ask for a different school in the same district, and the district must allow it when there's room.
Free state pre-K
Indiana runs pre-K with income or work requirements; the national report doesn't count it alongside other states.

School choice: state law as summarized by the Education Commission of the States, 50-State Comparison: Open Enrollment Policies (2022). Pre-K: share of children in state-funded pre-K, National Institute for Early Education Research, State of Preschool 2025 Yearbook (2024-25 school year).

Special education in Indiana

Federal rating for the state: Meets requirements
Each year the U.S. Department of Education rates every state on how well it follows the special education law (IDEA) and on results for students with disabilities. This rates Indiana as a whole, not your district or school. Each state also publishes yearly special education results for every district on its education department's website. Read Indiana's 2026 rating letter.

Source: U.S. Department of Education, 2026 determinations on state implementation of IDEA Part B (issued June 18, 2026).

NCES Common Core of Data 2022-23, National Center for Education Statistics. Private schools: NCES Private School Survey, 2021-22. Varro doesn't rank single schools. The area's Schools grade at the top of the page compares its test pass rates with the rest of the state only. For programs and newer results, see each district's site and the state's school report card.

Childcare and colleges

Daycare and preschool

Indiana keeps an official list of licensed childcare, with inspection reports and openings in many states. In a lot of towns, infant spots fill up months ahead, so it helps to get on waitlists before you move.

Search licensed childcare in Indiana →
Link via childcare.gov (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services).

4 colleges in the county and the wider metro around Schererville. Prices are yearly tuition and fees for full-time undergrads, before financial aid.

Purdue University Northwest · Hammond
Public, 4-year · 8,679 students · $8,048 in-state, $14,933 out-of-state
Indiana University-Northwest · Gary
Public, 4-year · 3,045 students · $8,179 in-state, $22,043 out-of-state
Calumet College of Saint Joseph · Whiting
Private nonprofit, 4-year · 674 students · $22,650 a year
Valparaiso University · Valparaiso (metro)
Private nonprofit, 4-year · 2,846 students · $46,588 a year

Moving for school? Public colleges charge state residents much less. Most states want you to have lived there about 12 months, for reasons other than school, before you count as a resident for tuition. The rules differ by state, so check with the college's registrar.

IPEDS 2023-24, National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS). Degree-granting public and nonprofit schools with 100+ students. Varro doesn't rank colleges.

The facts behind it
Typical home value
$355,650
What a typical home sells for across the Chicago area.
Source: Zillow Home Value Index, September 2026
Cost of living
About 4% above the U.S. average
Everyday prices (rent, groceries, services) run about $104 here for what costs $100 nationally.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis price index 103.6 (U.S. = 100), 2024
Drive to the nearest big job hub
About 1 hr 0 min at rush hour
To downtown Chicago, IL, 37 miles. About 53 min with no traffic.
Source: Google traffic estimate for a weekday morning around 8am
Average commute
31 minutes one way
How long residents' trips to work take on average, counting every job and way of getting there. U.S. average: about 27 minutes.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
Data centers nearby
None within 15 miles
No mapped data center buildings near the town center.
Source: PNNL IM3 Data Center Atlas, from OpenStreetMap (ODbL), loaded July 2026
Homeowners insurance
About $2,887 a year
The statewide average for a typical policy in IN. Your own quote will depend on the home.
Source: Statewide estimate, 2026
Natural disaster risk
Relatively High
FEMA's overall rating for the county, covering floods, storms, wildfire, earthquakes and more.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025
Hail risk
Relatively Low
FEMA's rating for hail damage in the county, compared with other U.S. counties.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025
Hospitals nearby
3 within 5 miles
Hospitals mapped within 5 miles of the center. Emergency and specialty care vary, so check which ones fit your needs.
Source: OpenStreetMap (ODbL)
Drug overdose deaths (county)
21.1 per 100,000 people a year
106 deaths in the 12 months ending March 2026. IN average: 19 per 100,000. U.S.: 19.9. Counts are by where people lived, and recent months may still be updated.
Source: CDC National Center for Health Statistics, provisional counts through March 2026; Census population estimates 2024
People without housing (local count)
About 7 per 10,000 residents
HUD's one-night count in January 2025 found 4,860 people without housing in the Indiana Balance of State area (92 counties): 3,659 in shelters and 1,201 outside, up from 4,584 in 2024. IN: 9.6 per 10,000. U.S.: 21.9. One-night counts miss people, and how areas count differs.
Source: HUD Point-in-Time Count, January 2025 (HUD, 2025 report to Congress); Census population estimates 2024
Median household income
$68,985
Half of households in the county earn more than this, half earn less.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
Property tax
0.93% of home value a year
About $930 a year for every $100,000 of home value.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
State income tax
Flat 2.95%
IN's state income tax. Some cities and counties add their own.
Source: Tax Foundation and the state's tax agency, 2026
Local income tax
1.5%
1.5% county income tax (Lake County). This is on top of the state income tax.

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