Keep your Chicago job and live in Lake or Porter County, Indiana. Ride the South Shore Line to Millennium Station or drive in. Here are the facts, with official sources, and a local broker who has lived and worked here for decades.
| Chicago / Cook County | Lake & Porter County, IN | |
|---|---|---|
| Time zone | Central time | Central time (Lake and Porter counties) |
| State income tax | 4.95% flat | 2.95% in 2026 (2.90% in 2027), plus a county income tax |
| Property tax | Cook County assessment and bills | Capped at 1% of assessed value for an owner-occupied home, 2% for rentals |
| Train to the Loop | CTA and Metra | South Shore Line to Millennium Station at Randolph St. |
| City vehicle sticker | Required in Chicago within 30 days of moving in | No city sticker; title your car with the Indiana BMV within 60 days |
General information, not tax advice. If you live in Indiana and work in Illinois, you'll file in both states. Ask a tax professional how the credits work for you.
The South Shore Line runs from Millennium Station at Randolph St. in downtown Chicago east through Northwest Indiana to South Bend International Airport. Most Indiana stations have free parking. Stations and schedules
New stations at Hammond Gateway, South Hammond (173rd St.), Munster Ridge and Munster/Dyer, with free parking. Some trains run straight to Chicago; shuttles connect at Hammond Gateway, and one ticket covers both. Monon Corridor details
Nearest station: Munster/Dyer — Monon Corridor (new South Shore branch), about 13 miles away (estimate)
Nearest station: Munster/Dyer — Monon Corridor (new South Shore branch), about 4 miles away (estimate)
Nearest station: Munster Ridge — Monon Corridor (new South Shore branch), about 1 mile away (estimate)
Nearest station: Munster/Dyer — Monon Corridor (new South Shore branch), about 1 mile away (estimate)
Nearest station: Munster/Dyer — Monon Corridor (new South Shore branch), about 5 miles away (estimate)
Nearest station: Munster Ridge — Monon Corridor (new South Shore branch), about 3 miles away (estimate)
Nearest station: Munster/Dyer — Monon Corridor (new South Shore branch), about 11 miles away (estimate)
Nearest station: Hammond Gateway — Monon Corridor (new South Shore branch)
Nearest station: Dune Park — South Shore Line main line, about 13 miles away (estimate)
Nearest station: Miller — South Shore Line main line, about 12 miles away (estimate)
Nearest station: Miller — South Shore Line main line, about 9 miles away (estimate)
Nearest station: Dune Park — South Shore Line main line, about 2 miles away (estimate)
Nearest station: Portage/Ogden Dunes — South Shore Line main line, about 3 miles away (estimate)
From Lake County, the Borman Expressway (I-80/94) and the Chicago Skyway (I-90, a toll road) lead into the city; from Porter County, I-94 and the Indiana Toll Road (I-90). Each town page lists an estimated off-peak drive to the Loop. Traffic varies, so we'll map your real commute from any home.
Many people who move from Chicago rent first, learn the area, then buy. We offer lease-purchase (test the house before you buy it), and Douglas handles Indiana home purchases and sales directly. Selling a home in Illinois? We'll refer you to a vetted Illinois-licensed broker.
See every town we cover → Weighing the city, the Illinois suburbs and Indiana? Compare them →No cost to you: the owner pays our placement fee. HR and relocation teams: how we work with you.
Your broker: Douglas Willems. Licensed since 1997, a landlord since 1998, placing tenants since 2008. Not a tour guide.
Last checked October 2026. Drive times are estimates. General information, not legal or tax advice.