Where does this demographic data come from?

All demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which samples about 3.5 million households annually. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for small geographies like municipalities.

What is the difference between Census data and ACS data?

The decennial Census (conducted every 10 years) is a full population count focusing on basic demographics. The ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed data on income, education, housing, commute patterns, and more. ACS data is updated annually but represents averages over a 5-year period.

How accurate is this data for small towns?

For smaller municipalities, ACS estimates have wider margins of error because fewer residents are sampled. The 5-year estimates reduce this uncertainty by averaging over a longer period. For towns under 5,000 people, treat specific numbers as approximations rather than precise counts.

Gary, IN Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

68,113

Median Agei

36.5

Race & Ethnicityi

Black

75.7%51,585

Hispanic/Latino

10.4%7,069

White

9.4%6,421

Two or More

3.3%2,248

Other

0.7%484

Asian

0.4%240

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.1%59

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0%7

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

5%2,169

High School Diploma

32.1%13,920

Some College (<1 yr)

7.8%3,362

Some College (1+ yr)

16.6%7,196

Associate's Degree

10.2%4,408

Bachelor's Degree

9.8%4,238

Master's Degree

4.2%1,819

Professional Degree

0.6%246

Doctorate

0.3%113

HS or Higher

86.4%

BA or Higher

14.8%

Graduate+

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$94,700

Median Renti

$1,012

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

49.1%13,356

Renter-Occupied

50.9%13,871

Total Units

37,816

Homeownership

49.1%

Vacancy Rate

28%

Home Values

Under $50K

22.3%2,983

$50K–$100K

31.6%4,224

$100K–$150K

14%1,875

$150K–$200K

15.8%2,104

$200K–$300K

9.1%1,209

$300K–$500K

5.1%685

$500K–$1M

1.7%225

$1M+

0.4%51

Rent Distribution

Under $500

1,422

$500–$750

1,248

$750–$1,000

3,436

$1,000–$1,250

3,191

$1,250–$1,500

2,253

$1,500–$2,000

765

$2,000+

200

Year Built

2020 or later

0.3%99

2010–2019

2.2%817

2000–2009

3.2%1,202

1990–1999

2.9%1,107

1980–1989

3%1,152

1970–1979

12.2%4,615

1960–1969

18.5%7,008

1950–1959

24.6%9,287

1940–1949

15.9%6,002

1939 or earlier

17.3%6,527

Heating Fuel

Utility Gas

86%23,420

Electricity

11.7%3,189

Bottled/LP Gas

1.2%326

No Fuel

0.6%155

Fuel Oil

0.3%69

Other

0.2%63

Wood

0%5

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$38,731

Mean Household Incomei

$56,358

Per Capita Incomei

$23,453

Poverty Ratei

32.8%

Unemploymenti

11%

Labor Forcei

25,505

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

14.6%3,980

$10K–$15K

6.9%1,868

$15K–$20K

5.4%1,463

$20K–$25K

6.7%1,834

$25K–$30K

6.1%1,664

$30K–$35K

6.1%1,651

$35K–$40K

5.4%1,459

$40K–$45K

4.6%1,264

$45K–$50K

4.3%1,161

$50K–$60K

7.6%2,070

$60K–$75K

8.9%2,434

$75K–$100K

8.6%2,340

$100K–$125K

4.7%1,286

$125K–$150K

3.7%1,009

$150K–$200K

3.6%984

$200K+

2.8%760

Federally Subsidized Housingi

HUD

The federal government helps low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities afford housing through several programs. Residents typically pay about 30% of their income toward rent, with the government covering the rest. This data shows how many households in this community receive that assistance.

Subsidized Homesi

5,540

Residentsi

9,643

Avg. Tenant Renti

$338/mo

Avg. Waitlisti

19 months

Programs in this community

Public Housing619 homes72% occupied$401/mo rent

Government-owned housing managed by local housing authorities

Housing Choice Vouchers2,810 homes78% occupied$401/mo rent

Rental vouchers (Section 8) that help tenants pay for private-market housing

Project Based Section 82,015 homes87% occupied$228/mo rent

Privately owned apartments with rent subsidies tied to the building

202/PRAC95 homes97% occupied$410/mo rent

811/PRAC1 homes

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $38,731/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $12K/yr

82.2%

Very low income$12K–$19K/yr

13.7%

Low income$19K–$31K/yr

3.7%

Moderate / aboveOver $31K/yr

0.4%

Who Receives This Housing

79.9% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

97% of subsidized households are minority

17.3% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

25.5% of subsidized households include a senior (62+)

Ancestry & Heritage

Self-reported ancestry groups. Residents may report multiple ancestries, so totals may exceed 100%.

Foreign-Born Populationi

Foreign-Borni

1,6472.4%

By Region

Top Countries

Mexico

855

Guatemala

136

Philippines

Germany

United Kingdom

Poland

Korea

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

21,695

Avg. Commutei

25.9 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

22,711

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

3,520(7.2% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

91.9%Insured

8.1%Uninsured