What are the schools like in Gary, IN?

Gary is served primarily by Gary Community School Corp. The district operates 6 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 15.5:1.

What is the median household income in Gary?

The median household income in Gary, IN is $36,874 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 13.5%.

What is the weather like in Gary, IN?

Gary has an average high temperature of 32.1°F in January and 81.6°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 40.8 inches and annual snowfall averages 26.6 inches.

Gary, IN Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Gary, IN affordable or expensive?

Gary's cost of living index is 103, where 100 represents the national average. This means Gary is 3% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $81,800 and the median rent is $929 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Gary, IN?

Gary has a violent crime rate of 196.1 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 945.6 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Gary, IN a Good Place to Live?

Gary is a mid-sized city of 69,136 in Indiana, with a median household income of $36,874 and a 13.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 103 (US average = 100), which is 3% above the national average.

Strengths: Gary stands out for below-average home prices.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Gary is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Gary city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 102.6

Gary's overall cost of living index is 102.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Gary costs roughly 3% more than the average American city.

Metric	Gary, IN	National Avg
Median Home Value	$81,800	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$929	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	48.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$36,874	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Gary's violent crime rate is 196.1 per 100,000 residents — 48% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

196.1 /100k

Property Crime

945.6 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Gary is served primarily by Gary Community School Corp. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.5:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Gary, IN	National Avg
School District	Gary Community School Corp	—
Elementary Schools	6	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	15.5:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	14.4%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	86.0%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Gary sees average highs of 32.1°F in January and 81.6°F in July, with 40.8 inches of annual precipitation and 26.6 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Gary, IN
Average High — January	32.1°F
Average High — July	81.6°F
Annual Precipitation	40.8"
Annual Snowfall	26.6"

Demographics

Metric	Gary, IN	National Avg
Population	69,136	—
Median Age	36.9	38.9
Unemployment Rate	13.5%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	27.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	13.1%	59.3%
Black or African American	77.6%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	6.4%	18.9%
Asian	0.3%	6.3%
Under 18	27.6%	22.2%
65 and over	18.5%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

New Chicago, IN 4 mi Lake Station, IN 5 mi Griffith, IN 6 mi Hobart, IN 6 mi Highland, IN 6 mi

ZIP Codes in Gary

Gary, IN is covered by 7 ZIP codes:

46406 46402 46403 46404 46408 46407 46409

Gary vs Other Cities

Gary, IN vs New Chicago, IN Gary, IN vs Lake Station, IN Gary, IN vs Griffith, IN Gary, IN vs Hobart, IN Gary, IN vs Highland, IN

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Gary, IN affordable or expensive?

Gary's cost of living index is 103, where 100 is the national average. That puts Gary roughly 3% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $81,800 and median rent is $929/month.

What is the crime rate in Gary, IN?

Gary's violent crime rate is 196.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 945.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Gary?

Public schools in Gary are operated by Gary Community School Corp. The district has 6 elementary, 2 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.5:1. 14.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Gary, IN a good place to live?

Gary, IN has a population of 69,136, a median household income of $36,874, and an unemployment rate of 13.5%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Gary?

Gary averages 32.1°F in January and 81.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 40.8 inches with about 26.6 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Gary?

Gary, IN is covered by 7 ZIP codes: 46406, 46402, 46403, 46404, 46408, 46407, 46409.

What is the population of Gary?

The population of Gary, Indiana is 69,136 with a median age of 36.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Gary?

Key numbers for living in Gary: cost of living index 103 (100 = US average), median home $81,800, median household income $36,874, crime index 49 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Gary side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.