Gary, Indiana Income Statistics
Gary Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of an area's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
-
F
Gary Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Gary | Indiana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $38,966 | $71,967 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $41,575 | $55,757 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.9% | 4.5% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 4.3% | 10.2% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 2.8% | 8.2% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Gary is about 46% lower than in Indiana. Income has been growing slower in Gary (3.9%/yr) than in Indiana (4.5%/yr).
About 4% of adults in Gary earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Indiana average of 10%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Gary, Indiana grew by 40.6% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $38,966 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.9% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Gary
| Metric | Gary | Indiana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.572 | 0.534 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $52,950 | $65,086 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $41,418 | $51,220 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 21.8% | 21.3% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Gary, it is 0.572, higher than Indiana's 0.534, so income is less evenly distributed here than there, and higher than the US's 0.552, so income is less evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 28% more than women's income in Gary, Indiana. Over a 35-year career, a 28% wage gap accumulates to roughly $403,620 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Gary, Indiana has narrowed from about 29% to 22% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 32% in 2011, and was narrowest at 16% in 2022. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $992 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Gary | Indiana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 10.9% | 4.3% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 6.6% | 10.7% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 22 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 2,800 people are unemployed in Gary, Indiana.
The average commute time in Gary is 22 minutes, longer than the 21 minutes in Indiana.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Gary, Indiana has fallen from 19.0% to 10.9% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 20.0% in 2012.
Gary, IN Wealth Compared With Nearby Cities
How Gary, IN compares with the 1 cities closest to it.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gary, IN | 68,315 | $38,966 #2/2 | 3.9%/yr #1/2 | 10.9% #2/2 | 0.572 #2/2 |
| Hobart, IN | 28,846 | $73,982 | 3.0%/yr | 5.0% | 0.527 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Gary, Indiana has an overall wealth index grade of F, making it somewhat worse than Indiana, and worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Gary, Indiana.
How Rich Is Gary, Indiana?
Gary has a wealth index grade of F. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; an F grade means residents are well below the U.S. average. The median household income is $38,966, about 46% lower than the Indiana average of $71,967.
How fast is household income rising in Gary, Indiana?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Gary, Indiana rose 41%, from $27,706 to $38,966. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Indiana as a whole: +41% against +52%.
What was the median household income in Gary in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Gary, Indiana was $37,355, up 2% from $36,584 in 2022. The Indiana median that year was $70,115.
What was the median household income in Gary in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Gary, Indiana was $31,513. By 2024 it had risen 24% to $38,966.
Is it hard to find a job in Gary, Indiana?
Unemployment in Gary, Indiana is 10.9%, well above the Indiana rate of 4.3%, so job seekers may face more competition than elsewhere.
What is the Gini coefficient in Gary, Indiana?
The Gini coefficient in Gary is 0.572. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is higher than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed less equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Gary, Indiana?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Gary, Indiana has narrowed from about 29% to 22% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 32% in 2011, and was narrowest at 16% in 2022. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $992 since 2009.
Analyze any area in the US
Get local demographics for any address, aggregated by drive time or radius, on the interactive map.
Explore the map →