Schererville, IN

Schererville sits in a bit of a political tug-of-war, and if you’ve lived here as long as I have, you’ve felt the ground shift under your feet. The Cook PVI clocks us at D+1, which sounds like a toss-up, but the reality is that this town has been leaning bluer in recent cycles, especially in presidential years. Back in the 2000s, you’d see a lot more “Don’t Tread on Me” flags in yards; now, you’re just as likely to spot a “Coexist” bumper sticker in the Meijer parking lot. The trajectory is concerning if you value limited government and personal freedom—the kind of freedom that means you don’t need permission to run a home business or keep a firearm in your truck. The local school board and town council have seen a slow but steady influx of progressive voices, and while they haven’t gone full Chicago yet, the handwriting is on the wall.

How it compares

Drive ten minutes east to Dyer, and you’ll find a town that’s still holding the line—more conservative, more “leave us alone” in its attitude. Head west to Highland or south to St. John, and the contrast gets sharper. St. John is reliably red, with a strong sense of local control and a council that doesn’t buy into the latest state mandates from Indianapolis. Schererville, by contrast, has become a bit of a bellwether for Lake County’s broader shift. The county itself is a Democratic stronghold, but Schererville used to be the moderate outlier. Now, it’s drifting toward the county average. The difference shows up in small ways: stricter noise ordinances, more talk about “equity” in local planning meetings, and a zoning board that’s gotten more aggressive about telling people what they can do with their own property. It’s not a full-blown progressive takeover, but the trend line is clear, and it’s not pointing toward more freedom.

What this means for residents

For the average family here, the political shift means you’re paying closer attention to local elections than you used to. School board races, which were once sleepy affairs, now draw crowds because parents are worried about curriculum overreach and the erosion of parental rights. The town council’s recent push for a “welcoming city” resolution raised eyebrows—not because anyone is unwelcoming, but because it felt like virtue signaling that could open the door to sanctuary-city policies down the road. Property taxes are another sore spot; they’ve crept up as the town takes on more social programs, and there’s a sense that your money is being spent on things you didn’t vote for. If you value the Second Amendment, you’ll notice that Schererville’s police department is still friendly, but the county sheriff’s office has started to waffle on cooperation with state preemption laws. It’s death by a thousand cuts, and the long-term outlook is that if you want to keep your freedoms intact, you might start eyeing property in unincorporated areas or towns like Cedar Lake that still have a libertarian streak.

Culturally, Schererville still has its charms—the annual Summer Concert Series at Redar Park is a good time, and the town does a solid job with snow removal. But there’s a creeping sense that the local government is getting too cozy with state-level progressive agendas, like the push for electric vehicle mandates and renewable energy zones that could affect property values. The biggest policy distinction is that Schererville hasn’t gone the way of Hammond or Gary, but it’s no longer the quiet conservative haven it was in the 1990s. If you’re thinking of moving here, just know that the political climate is in flux. The old-timers are fighting to keep it real, but the newcomers from Illinois are bringing their voting habits with them. Keep an eye on the next town council election—that’s where the real battle for Schererville’s soul will be won or lost.