City profile · West Virginia · Census ACS 2023

Gary, WV

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Gary - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

858
Residents
$40,000
Median income
$55,600
Median home
$869
Median rent (state)

Gary - the verdict

Nationally, Gary sits in the 8th percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

8th
percentile, household income
1st
percentile, home value
2nd
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Gary, WV

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 858 residents in Gary, a small town within West Virginia. Gary households earn a median of $40,000 annually, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 21.6%. Typical homes in Gary are valued around $55,600, and the median resident age is 45.3 years. Educational attainment runs 3.4% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 39.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Living costs in West Virginia run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts West Virginia at 89.5 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Well Below Average). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $869 per month statewide. Monthly utility costs average around $220 across West Virginia, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 76.7 out of 100 (High).

Population

858 residents

Census ACS 2023 - West Virginia

Median Household Income

$40,000 /yr

Poverty 21.6%

Cost of Living Index (state)

89.5 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, West Virginia average

How does Gary compare to other US cities?

Gary measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 8% higher than other cities
Home value 1% pricier than other cities
Median rent 2% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Gary against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to West Virginia only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

West Virginia-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Gary near the bottom of West Virginia's cities

Among the 390 West Virginia cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Gary ranks #253 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Gary only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#248 of 330
25th percentile in West Virginia
Median Gross Rent
#253 of 390
0th percentile in West Virginia
Median Home Value
#316 of 337
6th percentile in West Virginia
Poverty Rate
#90 of 389
77th percentile in West Virginia
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#336 of 390
14th percentile in West Virginia

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within West Virginia only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

8thIncome percentile

8th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Gary's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$55,600 Among the most affordable more affordable than 99% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). This entry sits in this band. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Above this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Gary $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Gary, WV Gary, WV's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Gary, WV-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Gary, WV median $40,000/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Gary, WV's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Gary, WV. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 3.4%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 21.6%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 39.0%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
858
Median Income
$40,000
Median Home Value
$55,600
Median Age
45.3
Poverty Rate
21.6%
Labor force participation
39.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
3.4%

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
650 residents700 residents750 residents800 residents 202020212022202320242025 768 residents 681 residents ▼ -11.3%
Gary's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
99.3%
Carpool
0.0%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.7%
Work from Home
0.0%

Based on 286 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for West Virginia - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$110
avg/month
Natural Gas
$72
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$38
avg/month
Total Utilities
$220
estimated/month

Estimates reflect West Virginia state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a West Virginia state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Gary sits in

Cost of Living Index
89.5
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$869/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
76.7 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in West Virginia

Belmont
853 people
Mason
863 people
Piedmont
872 people
McConnell
837 people
Great Cacapon
836 people
Triadelphia
885 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Gary's 858 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Knik River, AK
858 people
Garden Grove, FL
858 people
Broxton, GA
858 people
Van Buren, IN
858 people
Camargo, KY
858 people
Grove City, MN
858 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Gary's $40,000 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Rock Point, AZ
$40,000 median income
Winkelman, AZ
$40,000 median income
Ovid, CO
$40,000 median income
Attapulgus, GA
$40,000 median income
Wamac, IL
$40,000 median income
Bonaparte, IA
$40,000 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Gary, WV Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Gary, WV - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 75.6% 12.2% 11.5% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.2% White 75.6% Black or African American 12.2% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.6% Two or more races 11.5% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Gary compares to nearby West Virginia cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Gary (this city) 858 $40,000
Belmont 853 $60,750
Mason 863 $47,112
Piedmont 872 $44,792
Census ACS 5-year FIPS WV OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Gary, WV?

What is the population of Gary, WV? +

Gary, WV has a population of 858 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Gary, WV? +

Median annual household income in Gary runs $40,000, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Gary? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Gary; the closest available measure is the West Virginia state average, a cost of living index of 89.5 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within West Virginia vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Gary, WV? +

The median home value in Gary is $55,600, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.