At a Glance
Median Income
$37,380
$22,700 per capita
Home Value
$85,300
Zillow: $86,170
Median Rent
$975/mo
34.8% of income on rent
Violent Crime
554/100K
3,556/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
14.3%
86.0% high school+
Unemployment
6.6%
29.0% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
52.0%
26.2% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
50°F
275 sunny days/yr
How Gary Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Gary's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Gary a Good Place to Live?
C+
2.5 / 5.0 — Fair
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Gary residents earn a median household income of $37,380 , which is 50% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $22,700. The unemployment rate stands at 6.6% (83% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 29.0% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 11,872 business establishments, including 1,110 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Gary is $85,300 , 70% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $86,170. Median rent is $975/month, with 34.8% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 93.3 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1956.
Safety & Crime
Gary reports 554 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 46% above the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 3,556/100K. The murder rate is 76.3/100K.
Education
14.3% of adults in Gary hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(58% below the national average).
86.0% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.5/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Gary has an average annual temperature of 50°F (10°C).
Winters average 25°F in January while summers reach 73°F in July. The area gets 275 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 39.2 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 41.
Data Overview
People
Population68,604
Median Age36.4 yrs
Density1,374/mi²
Male / Female47% / 54%
Foreign Born13.6%
Veterans7.7%
Economy
D
Median Income$37,380
Per Capita$22,700
Unemployment6.6%
Poverty29.0%
County GDP$31,242M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,177
Housing
A+
Home Value$85,300
Rent$975
Ownership47.4%
Zillow$86,170
Housing Units38,575
Rent Burden34.8%
Crime
F
Violent554/100K
Property3,556/100K
Murder76.3/100K
Assault216/100K
Burglary759/100K
Health
Obesity52.0%
Diabetes21.2%
Smoking26.2%
Heart Disease7.9%
Premature Death10,981/100K
Climate
Avg Temp50°F
Sunny Days275/yr
Rain39.2 in/yr
AQI41 (Good)
Elevation600 ft
Education
C
Bachelor's+14.3%
High School+86.0%
Graduate+5.7%
School Score5.5/10
Community
2024 VoteR 46% / D 52%
Commute26 min
Broadband77.8%
Internet Speed110 Mbps
EV Stations1
Libraries26
Did You Know?
Gary was founded in 1906.
The median home in Gary was built in 1956.
The nearest airport is Gary/Chicago International (4 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.453 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively High" by FEMA.
17.5% of the population has a disability.
13.6% of residents are foreign-born.
Average internet download speed is 110 Mbps.
There are 1,110 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 53 fatal vehicle crashes.
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