Health Profile of Gary, Indiana
Gary Health Score
The Map AI Health Index is a score that reflects local life expectancy, disease rates, healthcare access, and physical environment to help you quickly compare the overall health and well-being of different areas.
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F
Gary Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
General Health Overview
| Metric | Gary | Indiana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life Expectancy (years) | 71.4 | 77.4 | 78.3 |
| Uninsured Population (%) | 8.2% | 7.4% | 8.4% |
| Self-Rated Poor Health | 32.6% | 17.1% | 16.3% |
Life expectancy in Gary is 71.4 years, about 6.0 years shorter than the Indiana average of 77.4 years. The uninsured rate is 8.2%, higher than the Indiana average of 7.4%. Self-rated poor health is reported by 32.6% of residents, higher than the Indiana average of 17.1%.
Population by Age
Older residents
24,475 residents in Gary are age 50 or older.
- 85+ 1,343 425 men · 918 women
- 75–84 3,329 1,422 men · 1,907 women
- 65–74 7,101 3,167 men · 3,934 women
- 50–64 12,702 5,754 men · 6,948 women
Younger residents
17,801 residents in Gary are age 17 or younger.
- 12–17 5,278 2,722 boys · 2,556 girls
- 7–12 5,510 2,661 boys · 2,850 girls
- 3–7 4,120 1,971 boys · 2,150 girls
- 0–3 2,893 1,465 boys · 1,428 girls
About 6,895 residents in Gary (10.1% of the population) are older than the area's life expectancy of 71.4 years.
The highlighted slice of the age axis is the share of residents older than the life-expectancy mark.
Disease Prevalence
| Disease / Condition | Gary | Indiana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes | 23.5% | 11.5% | 11.3% |
| Cancer | 6.0% | 6.8% | 6.9% |
| Heart Diseases | 9.5% | 7.2% | 7.1% |
| Adult Obesity | 52.3% | 38.8% | 34.3% |
The rate of diabetes in Gary is about 104% higher than in Indiana. The rate of obesity in Gary is about 35% higher than in Indiana. The rate of heart disease in Gary is about 31% higher than in Indiana.
Health Behaviors
| Behavior | Gary | Indiana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smokers | 28.1% | 22.4% | 19.0% |
| Binge Drinking | 11.0% | 16.1% | 16.5% |
| Sedentary Lifestyle | 43.0% | 27.6% | 25.1% |
The rate of sedentary lifestyle in Gary is about 55% higher than in Indiana. The rate of binge drinking in Gary is about 31% lower than in Indiana. The rate of smoking in Gary is about 26% higher than in Indiana.
Assuming each smoker smokes 10 cigarettes a day, that's about 137,378 cigarettes a day, 4.1 million a month, or 50.1 million a year! At 11 minutes* of life lost per cigarette, that's about 1.5 million minutes a day and 551.6 million a year lost to smoking overall - and since life expectancy in Gary is 71.4 years, that's roughly equivalent to 0.04 lifetimes a day, or 15 lifetimes a year.
* Source: Shaw M, Mitchell R, Dorling D. "Time for a smoke? One cigarette reduces your life by 11 minutes." BMJ. 2000;320:53.
Illustrative only. This is not an estimate of how many people actually die from smoking each day or year - it's a rough, order-of-magnitude comparison meant to help grasp the scale of smoking in this area. We take no responsibility for any decisions made based on this figure.
Air Quality
| Metric | Gary | Indiana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Pollution (μg/m³) | 7.93 | 7.71 | 6.09 |
With an annual average of 7.9 µg/m³ of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), air quality in Gary is good — generally safe air quality for the vast majority of residents.
Gary, IN Health Compared With Nearby Cities
How Gary, IN compares with the 1 cities closest to it.
| Area | Population | Life expectancy | Uninsured | Obesity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gary, IN | 68,315 | 71.4 yrs #2/2 | 8.2% #2/2 | 52.3% #2/2 |
| Hobart, IN | 28,846 | 76.0 yrs | 7.4% | 37.0% |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Gary, Indiana has an overall health index grade of F, making it worse than Indiana, and worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about health in Gary, Indiana.
Is Gary, Indiana a healthy place to live?
Gary, Indiana has a Map AI Health Index grade of F, based on life expectancy, disease rates, healthcare access, and the physical environment; an F grade means residents face significantly worse health outcomes than the U.S. average.
What is the average lifespan in Gary, Indiana?
People in Gary, Indiana can expect to live 71.4 years on average, 6.0 years shorter than the Indiana average of 77.4.
How many people lack health insurance in Gary, Indiana?
8.2% of residents in Gary, Indiana have no health insurance, about 1 in 12 people, 0.8 points above the Indiana rate of 7.4%.
What percentage of Gary, Indiana residents are obese?
52.3% of adults in Gary, Indiana are classified as obese, about 5 in 10, 13.5 points above the Indiana rate of 38.8%.
What is the biggest health concern in Gary, Indiana?
Compared with Indiana as a whole, diabetes stands out most: the adult rate here is 23.5%, about 104% higher than the Indiana rate of 11.5%.
How many cigarettes do smokers in Gary, Indiana go through, and how much life does that cost?
Assuming each smoker smokes 10 cigarettes a day, that's about 137,378 cigarettes a day, 4.1 million a month, or 50.1 million a year! At 11 minutes* of life lost per cigarette, that's about 1.5 million minutes a day and 551.6 million a year lost to smoking overall - and since life expectancy in Gary is 71.4 years, that's roughly equivalent to 0.04 lifetimes a day, or 15 lifetimes a year.
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