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Gary, IN
City in Lake County, Indiana. ZIP codes: 46402, 46403, 46404, 46405, 46406, 46407 and more.
Population
68,113
Land area
49.9sq mi
People per sq mi
1,364
ZIP codes
8
Gary and its ZIP codes
Gary at a glance
- Gary is about 7.1 times as dense as Indiana as a whole.
- By population, it ranks 11th among 967 cities and towns in Indiana.
- The median household income is $38,731, 46% below the Indiana median of $71,957.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $94,700 (57% below Indiana) and median rent is $1,012 a month.
Local data for Gary, IN
Counts from official public data
- Hospitals1
- Emergency Rooms1
- Nursing Homes2
- Schools24
- Colleges2
- Libraries3
- Banks14
- Post Offices5
- Parks26
- Grocery Stores21
- Restaurants173
- Affordable Housing15
- Home Health Agencies2
- Dialysis Centers3
- Rehab & Long-Term Care Hospitals1
- Community Health Centers13
- Mental Health & Addiction Treatment6
- Private Schools5
- Community Colleges & Trade Schools1
- Superfund Sites5
- Toxic Release Facilities5
- Historic Places12
Housing and community stats
Gary, IN, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$38,731
Poverty rate
33.1%
Median home value
$94,700
Median rent
$1,012/mo
Homeownership
49.1%
Bachelor's or higher
14.8%
Median age
36.5
Average commute
25.9 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Mexican Americans (4,193), Puerto Ricans (2,338), German Americans (1,816).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Lake County. PPP loans are for Gary.
Unemployment rate
4.7%
Sep 2026, +0.1 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$62,399
191,579 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$58,423
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$3.3B
FY 2026, $6,604 per person
PPP loans
$175M
4,276 loans, 13,616 jobs reported
How people get to work
Gary, IN, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone74.7%
- Carpooled13.0%
- Public transit1.9%
- Walked1.0%
- Bicycle0.1%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other2.8%
- Worked from home6.6%
Average one-way commute: 25.9 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Gary, IN, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively High
Top: cold wave
Storm events since 1996
799
Countywide, mostly thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
857
0.5% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
82° / 18°F
39.2 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone12 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Gary, IN, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
51.9%
U.S. 33.3% +18.6 pts
Diabetes
25.0%
U.S. 12.1% +12.9 pts
Smoking
25.6%
U.S. 12.8% +12.8 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
13.1%
U.S. 11.1% +2.0 pts
ZIP codes in Gary
8 in or overlapping Gary. Population shown
Cities near Gary
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| RossCensus-designated place | 3.7 mi | 5.7 |
| New ChicagoTown | 4.6 mi | 0.7 |
| GriffithTown | 5.3 mi | 7.8 |
| Lake StationCity | 5.4 mi | 8.3 |
| HighlandTown | 5.8 mi | 6.9 |
| HobartCity | 6.6 mi | 26.2 |
| East ChicagoCity | 7.2 mi | 14.1 |
| MerrillvilleTown | 7.4 mi | 33.2 |
| MunsterTown | 8 mi | 7.5 |
| ScherervilleTown | 8.1 mi | 15.1 |
| Ogden DunesTown | 8.7 mi | 0.7 |
| HammondCity | 8.7 mi | 22.7 |
| WhitingCity | 9 mi | 1.8 |
| PortageCity | 9.5 mi | 25.6 |
| Lansing, ILVillage | 9.6 mi | 7.5 |
| Calumet City, ILCity | 9.6 mi | 7.2 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Gary, IN in?
- Gary is in Lake County, Indiana.
- What ZIP codes are in Gary, IN?
- ZIP codes in or overlapping Gary include 46402, 46403, 46404, 46405, 46406, 46407, 46408, 46409.
- What is the population of Gary, IN?
- About 68,113 people live in Gary, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Gary?
- Nearby places include Ross (3.7 mi), New Chicago (4.6 mi), Griffith (5.3 mi), Lake Station (5.4 mi), Highland (5.8 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023