Median Age
39 Years
Largest Age Group
5-14 Years
Approximately 14% of Residents
Under 20
27%
Over 65
20%
Gary
Gary, IN Area Guide
Avg Rent
$828
Population
85,722
Renter Mix
52% Rent
The Steel City is the inspiration behind a Broadway hit song and the birthplace of the Jackson 5.
Lakefront
•
Beachside
•
Historic
•
Midwestern
•
Near Chicago
•
Gary, Indiana, sits right on the southern shore of Lake Michigan, giving renters sandy beaches and sweeping views of the Chicago skyline practically in their backyard. As the western gateway to Indiana Dunes National Park, outdoor life here is genuinely spectacular — miles of shoreline, towering dunes, and wooded trails are all within easy reach. Downtown Gary has historic architecture and local dining worth exploring, while neighborhoods like Aetna and Tolleston carry the kind of deep-rooted character that takes generations to build. Indiana University Northwest anchors an academic presence that adds energy to the community year-round.
Gary holds a proud place in music history as the birthplace of the Jackson 5, and the Broadway musical "The Music Man" famously put the city's name in lights back in 1957. Commuters love the South Shore Line, which connects directly to downtown Chicago in under an hour. The rental landscape includes classic brick bungalows, spacious multi-bedroom homes, and apartment communities that offer solid square footage at accessible price points compared to neighboring metro areas. Whether you're drawn by the lakefront access, the proximity to Chicago, or the city's storied past, Gary offers a lot more than most people expect.
Explore the City
Indiana Dunes National Park features expansive beaches near Gary, IN.
Residents of Gary can wakeboard on Lake Michigan in the summer.
Play a round of Disc Golf at Marquette Park in Miller.
Grab an iced coffee and walk to the beach from Tiny's Coffee.
Residents of Gary hop on the South Shore Line to take then from Gary to Chicago.
Residents of Gary have the convenience of the Gary International Airport in their backyard.
Demographics
Median Household Income
$34,205
Average: $47,212
Education
11,732
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
30,250
Workers Employed
Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.
Housing Distribution
Gary has more renters than homeowners.
Renters
52%
Non-Renters
48%
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
Bachelor's or Higher
9%
Other Education
91%
Rent Trends
As of April 2026, the average apartment rent in Gary, IN is $874 for a studio, $828 for one bedroom, $986 for two bedrooms, and $1,311 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Gary has decreased by -1.7% in the past year.
Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$828/month
582 Sq Ft
House
$1,433/month
810 Sq Ft
Getting Around
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Gary, IN is for everyday living.
Fairly Walkable
Walkability
50
/ 100
Very Drivable
Drivability
80
/ 100
Fairly Bikeable
Bikeability
40
/ 100
Scores provided by
Schools
Public
Grades K-8
666 Students
Banneker Elementary at Marquette
Public
Grades K-5
299 Students
21st Century Charter School Of Gary
Public
Grades K-12
1,337 Students
Gary Lighthouse Charter School
Public
Grades K-12
1,127 Students
Public
Grades K-8
684 Students
Public
Grades K-8
666 Students
21st Century Charter School Of Gary
Public
Grades K-12
1,337 Students
Gary Lighthouse Charter School
Public
Grades K-12
1,127 Students
Public
Grades K-8
684 Students
Public
Grades K-8
476 Students
21st Century Charter School Of Gary
Public
Grades K-12
1,337 Students
Gary Lighthouse Charter School
Public
Grades K-12
1,127 Students
Thea Bowman Leadership Academy
Public
Grades K-12
840 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
619 Students
Public
Grades K-12
343 Students
School data provided by
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
Points of Interest
Shopping Centers
Parks and Recreation
- Beyond the Beach Discovery Trail
Airports
- Chicago Midway International
Top Apartments in Gary
Houses for Rent in Gary
Property Management Companies in Gary, IN
Methodology
† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.