Commute
A high commute score suggests convenient, easy access to public transportation, with shorter-than-average work commute times to work.
Cost Of Living
The cost of living in this region is notably lower than the national average, encompassing everyday goods, housing, utilities, transportation and health care expenses.
Housing
High scores in the housing category are attributed to this area, possibly pointing to a favorable home affordability ratio, robust appreciation rates or elevated home values.
Crime
This area exhibits elevated crime rates per 100,000 residents, which may suggest it's a potentially unsafe place to reside. These rates encompass both property and violent crimes.
Employment
Low income levels and high unemployment rates results in a low score in the employment category. It could prove difficult to find well-paying employment in this area.
Schools
The lower than average schools score may be influenced by below-average education levels, subpar reading and math scores and the lack of access to local elementary and high schools.
Ratings
Surveys and polls conducted by AreaVibes with residents of the area revealed unfavorable results concerning the walkability of amenities, the availability of parks and public transit access.
Gary, Indiana is a mid-sized city with a population of 77,151 people. With a total of 78%, the Black or African American racial group makes up the majority of the population in Gary. The next most represented races are 15% White and 0% Asian. Single men and women might be happy to hear that in Gary, only 38% of the population is married. Long commute times to work can be incredibly frustrating, ranking just behind housework on the list of life's annoyances. If you opt to make Gary your home, your one-way commute time will typically last around 29 minutes, a duration that aligns with the national average commute time of 26 minutes.
Whether you’re moving to a new town to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Gary could be a positive experience compared to other cities in Indiana if you know where to search. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. Using the livability score which includes data from categories like crime, health & safety, education, employment, you can easily compare the best places to live in Gary and also determine if there are any nearby cities that might be a better match for your lifestyle. You can also compare Gary to Indiana and the national average.
Gary, IN receives 72/100 for its livability score; this results in a ranking of #97 in Indiana and #5,592 in the USA. For each of the livability categories, we can establish that Gary ranks very well for cost of living (A+) and housing (A). There are some categories that Gary scores poorly for, including: crime (F), education (F) and employment (F). It might be worth taking a closer look to figure out why.
A robust real estate market serves as a crucial economic indicator, reflecting the local area's strength, stability and the confidence of its residents. Gary excels in the housing sector, scoring high marks based on factors such as median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability. These calculations suggest that the apartment rental and real estate market in the region is exceptionally healthy, highlighting the area's economic vitality and attractiveness to potential homebuyers and renters.
Gary real estate prices and overall affordability will play a huge role in determining if the area is the right fit for you. Of course there are probably some other items on your “wish list”, but even before they are considered, let’s take a look at the home prices and affordability in Gary. Median real estate prices in Gary come in at $122,694, which is 45.9% lower than the Indiana average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Gary, the home price to income ratio is 2.6, which is 13.3% lower than the Indiana average.
Why stop at city-to-city? With Local Insights, you can compare neighborhoods, zip codes, or even exact addresses. Access 300+ hyperlocal data points—from schools and crime to housing and amenities—to see which area is the better fit.
| Statistic | Gary | Indiana | National |
| Average one way commute | 29min | 23min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 76.2% | 83.0% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 10.3% | 8.9% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 5.7% | 1.1% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.2% | 0.5% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 1.7% | 2.1% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 2.5% | 3.5% | 4.6% |
Here are the best places to live in Indiana
These are the largest cities in Indiana
Check out the 10 safest cities in Indiana
These are the 10 cheapest cities in Indiana