ZIP Code 46402
standardSource:
Gary · Lake County · Indiana
- Population
- 6,726
- Median income
- $33,529
- Median home value
- $85,400
- Bachelor's or higher
- 10.7%
- Land area
- 9.9 sq mi
682/sq mi
▼ 56% vs US
higher than 3% of US ZIPs
▼ 69% vs US
higher than 6% of US ZIPs
Median age 33.5
Chicago
ZIP code 46402 in Gary, Indiana has a population of 6,726. The median household income is $33,529, which is 56% below the national average. Median home value is $85,400, 69% below the US average. 10.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
ZIP code 46402 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 9.9 square miles in Gary, Lake County, Indiana. The area is home to 6,726 residents, producing a population density of 682 people per square mile, and falls within the Chicago time zone. These USPS and Census boundary values drive every downstream statistic on this page, including the benchmarks that compare 46402 against Indiana and the nation.
On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 46402 sits at $33,529 (54% below the Indiana average), while per-capita income is $19,741. The poverty rate stands at 44.7% and the unemployment rate at 14.2%. On housing, the median home value is $85,400 (56% below the state average) with median rent at $951 per month, and 43.4% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 46402 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.
Education and household profile round out the picture: 10.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 33.5, and the average commute is 24 minutes. We also surface 10 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Lake County, so you can benchmark 46402 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone. Every figure is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, HUD Fair Market Rents, and FHFA Home Price Index data, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with HUD →
Top industries in ZIP 46402
Top 5 sectors by establishment count
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 46402.
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
29 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
17 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
12 establishments
- Manufacturing 11
Manufacturing
11 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services 11
Professional, scientific, and technical services
11 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + HUD FMR + FHFA HPI ACS demographics, ZBP business establishments, HUD Fair Market Rents, FHFA HPI for ZIP 46402, Gary, IN · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; HUD FMR + FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
6,726
Population
9.9
Area (sq mi)
682
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 46402?
33.5
Median Age
44.6%
Male
55.4%
Female
2.3%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$33,529
Median Household Income
-54% vs state
$19,741
Per Capita Income
44.7%
Poverty Rate
14.2%
Unemployment Rate
23.8 min
Mean Commute Time
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
3,418
Total Housing Units
2,258
Occupied Units
1,160
Vacant Units
2.52
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$85,400
Median Home Value
-56% vs state
$951
Median Rent
1945
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 146 business establishments in ZIP 46402, employing approximately 9,036 people with a combined annual payroll of $802,840,000.
146
Businesses
9,036
Employees
$802.8M
Annual Payroll
14
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 29 | 19.9% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 17 | 11.6% |
| Retail trade | 12 | 8.2% |
| Manufacturing | 11 | 7.5% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 11 | 7.5% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 11 | 7.5% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 10 | 6.8% |
| Accommodation and food services | 10 | 6.8% |
| Wholesale trade | 7 | 4.8% |
| Finance and insurance | 7 | 4.8% |
| Utilities | 4 | 2.7% |
| Construction | 4 | 2.7% |
| Information | 4 | 2.7% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 4 | 2.7% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 46402 vs 46407 →
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 46407 | Gary, IN | 12,656 | 1.4 mi |
| 46409 | Gary, IN | 8,932 | 3.5 mi |
| 46404 | Gary, IN | 17,326 | 2.5 mi |
| 46403 | Gary, IN | 12,601 | 3.5 mi |
| 46406 | Gary, IN | 9,900 | 4.0 mi |
| 46408 | Gary, IN | 17,030 | 4.3 mi |
| 46405 | Lake Station, IN | 11,746 | 3.9 mi |
| 46410 | Merrillville, IN | 38,340 | 8.2 mi |
| 46323 | Hammond, IN | 22,743 | 6.4 mi |
| 46319 | Griffith, IN | 18,404 | 6.9 mi |
More ZIP Codes in Lake County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 46402 in? ▼
What is the population of ZIP code 46402? ▼
What is the median household income in ZIP 46402? ▼
What is the average home value in ZIP 46402? ▼
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 46402? ▼
How many businesses are in ZIP code 46402? ▼
What are the main industries in ZIP code 46402? ▼
What is the education level in ZIP code 46402? ▼
What is the average commute time in ZIP 46402? ▼
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 46402? ▼
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 46402? ▼
ZIP Code Research Guides
Official Data Resources for Gary, IN
Verify and explore additional data for this area using these official government sources.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023). Business data: Source: Census ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023. Home value trends: Source: FHFA House Price Index (HPI), Five-Digit ZIP Codes.
PlainZIP is not affiliated with the U.S. Census Bureau or any government agency.
Read our methodology , how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.