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Living in
Gary.
About
Life in Gary
If you're considering Gary, understand upfront that this is a post-industrial city still working through decades of economic decline from steel industry collapse. The median home value is quite affordable at around $95,000, and rent averages $1,012 monthly—genuinely inexpensive compared to the Chicago region. Commuting to Chicago is realistic at 26 minutes average, making it viable if you work in the metro area.
Gary at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
36.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
33.1%
Foreign-Born
2.4%
Broadband Internet
82.2%
of households
Population Growth
-2.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics2.4% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Gary: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Gary, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (51.9%), and 5.0% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
28.5%
of residents
65 and Older
18.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
30.1%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
37.6%
of households
Married Couples
20.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.48
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent about average for IN
Rent, home values, and income in Gary
In Gary, home values are 57% below the IN average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
48.1%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
26.8%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
103.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$915
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
49.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1957
median year built
Vacant Homes
28.0%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $87,485 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 4.8 pts above IN average
Unemployment in Gary
Unemployment in Gary is 4.8 percentage points higher than the IN average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Gary Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute25.9 min avg
How Gary residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Gary, most residents drive alone to work (75%), and 63% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 25 mi
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
Medium hub9.4M passengers boarded in 2025
- 39 mi
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
Major hub40.7M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 323% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Gary runs 323% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
1,392.9
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
3,077.5
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Gary Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 31 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
95.9 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Lake County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Lake County, which includes Gary, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 31 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 31 | Thunderstorm Wind | $4.0M |
| 2024 | 21 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 20 | Thunderstorm Wind | $10.0M |
| 2022 | 22 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2021 | 20 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2020 | 26 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 25 | Flood | $1,000 |
| 2018 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Lake County, county-wide
Air Quality53 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Lake County, which includes Gary, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
53
Good Days
152
per year
Moderate Days
198
per year
Unhealthy Days
4
per year
Lake County, county-wide
Climate80°F summers, 21°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Gary has mild summers (avg high 80°F) and cold winters (avg low 21°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
57°/40°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
80°/62°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
62°/45°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
35°/21°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
40.8"
Annual Snowfall
26.6"
Hot Days/Year
10
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
117
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
112
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 32°F | 18°F | 2.21" |
| Feb | 36°F | 21°F | 1.97" |
| Mar | 46°F | 30°F | 2.34" |
| Apr | 57°F | 40°F | 3.55" |
| May | 68°F | 50°F | 4.27" |
| Jun | 78°F | 60°F | 4.31" |
| Jul | 82°F | 64°F | 3.98" |
| Aug | 80°F | 63°F | 4.08" |
| Sep | 74°F | 56°F | 3.65" |
| Oct | 62°F | 45°F | 3.75" |
| Nov | 49°F | 34°F | 2.76" |
| Dec | 37°F | 24°F | 2.29" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 1.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Gary
Gary has 1 hospital, averaging 1.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
8.1%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
1.0 / 5
Methodist Hospitals Inc.
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
St Catherine Hospital Inc.
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.1 mi away · East Chicago
St Mary Medical Center Inc.
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7 mi away · Hobart
Community Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8.8 mi away · Munster
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education16.0:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Gary
Gary's student/teacher ratio is 16.0:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 14.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
19
within city limits
Private Schools
3
within city limits
College Degree Rate
14.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.0:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Gary
Public · 4-year · 2,661 students · in-state tuition $8,424 · 41% graduate · median earnings $48,764 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Public · 4-year · 5,671 students · in-state tuition $8,675 · 51% graduate · median earnings $58,620 (10 yrs after entry)
Calumet College of Saint Joseph
9.4 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 529 students · in-state tuition $24,820 · 47% graduate · median earnings $50,059 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Indiana Dunes National Park, 13 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Gary
Gary has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Indiana Dunes National Park (13 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Indiana Dunes National Park
National Park
13 mi awayPullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
15 mi awayPublic Libraries in Gary
Gary Public Library
220 W. 5th Avenue, Gary
Carter G Woodson Branch
501 South Lake, Gary
J.F. Kennedy Branch
3953 Broadway, Gary
Cities Near Gary
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Gary?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Gary FAQ
Is Gary, Indiana affordable?⌄
Gary's median rent is $1,012/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $38,731/year. Median home value is $94,700.
Is Gary, Indiana safe?⌄
Gary's violent crime rate was 1393 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 3078 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Gary, Indiana?⌄
Gary has an unemployment rate of 8.5%, which is above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Gary, Indiana?⌄
The cost of living in Gary is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,012/month and median household income is $38,731/year. The median home value is $94,700. About 48% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Gary, Indiana?⌄
The average commute in Gary is 26 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from