City · Indiana
Gary, Indiana
Gary, city, in Lake County, Indiana. Gary had 67,289 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 2.6% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 69,093 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 68,113 (±121). GEOID 1827000.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
67,289
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 69,093 · ACS 2020-2024: 68,113 ±121
Median household income
$38,731
±$2,687 (90% margin)
Indiana: $71,957
Median home value
$94,700
±$3,944 (90% margin)
Indiana: $218,200
Median gross rent
$1,012
±$38 (90% margin)
Indiana: $1,062
Where is Gary and what county is it in?
Gary is a city in Lake County, Indiana. It covers 49.9 square miles of land, 1,384 residents per square mile in 2020.
Gary is in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 13 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Gary lies entirely within Calumet Township, a township with its own local government (2020 census blocks).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Gary, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 67,289 people lived in Gary on July 1, 2025, down 2.6% since 2020, while Indiana grew 2.8%. The 2020 Census counted 69,093 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 68,113 (±121).
| Measure | Gary | Lake County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 68,113 ±121 | 500,379 | −7,897 |
| Households | 27,227 ±829 | 195,130 | −4,288 |
| Average household size | 2.48 ±0.07 | 2.54 | +0.09 |
| Housing units | 37,816 ±697 | 217,436 | −5,562 |
Gary's population since 2000
From 102,746 in 2000 to 67,289 in 2025: down 34.5%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Gary as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Gary?
The median resident of Gary is 36.5 years old; 28.5% are under 18 and 18.9% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic Black residents at 75.7%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 10.4%. 2.4% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Gary | Lake County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.5 ±1.0 | 39.7 | −2.5 |
| Under 18 years | 28.5% ±1.3 pts | 23.2% | – |
| 65 years and over | 18.9% ±0.9 pts | 17.9% | – |
| Male | 46.7% ±1.2 pts | 48.7% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 10.4% ±1.7 pts | 20.9% | +2.4 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 9.4% ±1.5 pts | 51.4% | −2.4 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 75.7% ±2.1 pts | 22.7% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.4% ±0.2 pts | 1.6% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.3% ±0.8 pts | 2.9% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.7% ±0.5 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 2.4% ±0.7 pts | 7.3% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 6.1% ±1.2 pts | 15.1% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 7.2% ±1.0 pts | 5.8% | – |
| With a disability | 19.4% ±1.6 pts | 13.6% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 8.1% ±1.1 pts | 6.6% | −2.7 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 86.4% ±1.4 pts | 90.2% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 14.8% ±1.2 pts | 25.8% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 5.0% ±0.7 pts | 8.5% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 86.0% ±2.0 pts | 90.5% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 3.4% ±1.3 pts | 2.9% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Gary earn?
Half of Gary's 27,227 households earn less than $38,731 a year (±$2,687), against $71,493 in Lake County and $71,957 in Indiana. In 2015-2019 it was $39,303 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 33.1% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Gary | Lake County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $38,731 ±$2,687 | $71,493 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $56,358 ±$2,839 | $93,636 | – |
| Per capita income | $23,453 ±$1,128 | $37,284 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 33.1% ±2.6 pts | 14.3% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 53.1% ±4.6 pts | 21.6% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 30.2% ±2.4 pts | 12.9% | – |
| Households with a computer | 91.1% ±1.3 pts | 94.1% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 82.2% ±1.8 pts | 89.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Gary?
Owners occupy 49.1% of Gary's occupied homes and renters 50.9%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $94,700 by its owner (±$3,944). The median renter pays $1,012 a month including utilities, and 51.8% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Gary | Lake County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $94,700 ±$3,944 | $230,600 | +$13,351 |
| Median gross rent | $1,012 ±$38 | $1,131 | +$46 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 51.8% ±4.1 pts | 44.8% | +6.3 pts |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,175 ±$40 | $1,529 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 49.1% ±2.1 pts | 71.7% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 50.9% ±2.1 pts | 28.3% | – |
| Housing units | 37,816 ±697 | 217,436 | −5,562 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.3% ±0.7 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 7.0% ±1.5 pts | 5.1% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 71.9% ±1.7 pts | 71.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 2.5% ±0.6 pts | 1.5% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.3% ±0.2 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 2.2% ±0.5 pts | 5.7% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 17.3% ±1.3 pts | 14.6% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 13.6% ±1.7 pts | 7.2% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Gary building?
Builders took permits for 9 new housing units in Gary in 2025 (9 in single-family houses), 0.1 per 1,000 residents against 4.2 across Indiana.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Gary work and get to work?
74.7% of Gary's workers drive alone and 6.6% work from home. The average trip to work takes 25.9 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 11.0%.
| Measure | Gary | Lake County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 50.2% ±2.1 pts | 61.1% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 11.0% ±1.7 pts | 6.1% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 74.7% ±2.4 pts | 79.6% | – |
| Carpooled | 13.0% ±2.0 pts | 8.0% | – |
| Public transportation | 1.9% ±0.8 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Walked | 1.0% ±0.5 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Worked from home | 6.6% ±1.4 pts | 8.2% | +4.6 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 25.9 min ±1.2 | 28.5 min | −2.9 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Gary?
32 census tracts lie mostly in Gary, and 1 more reaches into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $17,608 (Tract 119) to $66,775 (Tract 101).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 125Lake County | 4,452 | $61,375 |
| Tract 124Lake County | 4,148 | $30,341 |
| Tract 112Lake County | 3,929 | $46,875 |
| Tract 111Lake County | 3,901 | $45,647 |
| Tract 101Lake County | 3,732 | $66,775 |
| Tract 103.02Lake County | 3,567 | $34,930 |
| Tract 104Lake County | 2,972 | $35,915 |
| Tract 127Lake County | 2,870 | $54,391 |
| Tract 102.07Lake County | 2,802 | $25,018 |
| Tract 123Lake County | 2,771 | $41,185 |
| Tract 412Lake County | 2,509 | $49,808 |
| Tract 102.03Lake County | 2,447 | $42,155 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Gary) · Census block assignment files
How does Gary compare with other places in Indiana?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Gary is the 582nd-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 12th-most populous of 566 in Indiana.
Gary ranks 1,066th of 1,072 places in Indiana with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 12th | 566 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 1,031st | 1,056 |
| Residents per square mile | 224th | 1,088 |
| Median household income | 1,066th | 1,072 |
| Per capita income | 1,060th | 1,087 |
| Median home value | 1,039th | 1,075 |
| Median gross rent | 279th | 904 |
| Poverty rate | 11th | 736 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 793rd | 1,029 |
| Median age | 822nd | 1,083 |
| Owner-occupied share | 1,071st | 1,087 |
| Work from home | 417th | 595 |
| Travel time to work | 491st | 1,088 |
Gary's figures with every place in Indiana (CSV)
Every place in Indiana, sortable · Compare Gary with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Gary?
4 of the 57 figures for Gary on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Gary are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Gary.