PlainZIP

Gary, IN · standard

ZIP Code 46403

Lake County, Indiana - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

12,601
588/sq mi
$45,991
Median income
$177,600
Median home value
26.2%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Gary pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with below-median home values, in a low-density, mixed-tenure area.

10th pct
household income, US ZIPs
37th pct
home value, US ZIPs
588
people per sq mi
49%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 46403 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 46403 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Gary, Lake County, Indiana, home to 12,601 residents across 21.4 square miles, a density of 588 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.

ZIP 46403 reports a modest median household income of $45,991 (38% below the Indiana average), while per-capita income is $32,932. Local economic indicators show a 24.3% poverty rate alongside 11.4% unemployment. On housing, the median home value is $177,600 (8% below the state average) with median rent at $966 per month, and 48.8% of occupied units are owner-occupied.

Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 26.2% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 40.4, and the average commute is 30 minutes. To put 46403 in local context, 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles appear further down this page alongside 6 additional ZIPs in Lake County, for a geography-aware comparison.

Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →

Top industries in ZIP 46403

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Gary, IN

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 46403.

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 · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 46403, Gary, IN · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.

Quick Facts

12,601

Population

21.4

Area (sq mi)

588

People / sq mi

Chicago

Time Zone

standard

ZIP Type

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 46403?

40.4

Median Age

48.2%

Male

51.8%

Female

1.8%

Foreign-Born

White 17.9%
African American 74.1%
Asian 0.1%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.1%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 5.1%
Hispanic or Latino 7.2%

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?

$45,991

Median Household Income

-38% vs state

$32,932

Per Capita Income

24.3%

Poverty Rate

11.4%

Unemployment Rate

30.4 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 46403 ranks nationally

Gary, IN household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$45,991 10th percentile higher than 10% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). This entry sits in this band. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). Above this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What is the education profile here?

High School Graduate or Higher 55.6%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 26.2%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

6,363

Total Housing Units

4,950

Occupied Units

1,413

Vacant Units

2.19

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 48.8%
Renter 51.2%

$177,600

Median Home Value

-8% vs state

$966

Median Rent

1960

Median Year Built

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

How have home values changed over time?

FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals

+6.8%

YoY Change (2024)

244

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+144%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 46403 have increased 6.8% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +144% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +3.1% 160
2021 +17.6% 188
2022 +15.3% 216
2023 +5.5% 228
2024 +6.8% 244

Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.

What businesses operate in this ZIP?

Census Bureau data shows 157 business establishments in ZIP 46403, employing approximately 2,145 people with a combined annual payroll of $119,443,000.

157

Businesses

2,145

Employees

$119.4M

Annual Payroll

14

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Accommodation and food services 23 14.7%
Retail trade 19 12.1%
Transportation and warehousing 17 10.8%
Health care and social assistance 14 8.9%
Other services (except public administration) 14 8.9%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 12 7.6%
Real estate and rental and leasing 10 6.4%
Wholesale trade 8 5.1%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 8 5.1%
Utilities 7 4.5%
Construction 7 4.5%
Manufacturing 7 4.5%
Finance and insurance 6 3.8%
Educational services 3 1.9%

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 46403 vs 46405 →

ZIP 46403 vs its nearest neighbors, by population

Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 46403 ranks #6 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 46403 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

median income

What this shows By household income, ZIP 46403 ranks #6 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
ZIP Code City Population Distance
46405 Lake Station, IN 11,746 2.1 mi
46402 Gary, IN 6,726 3.5 mi
46407 Gary, IN 12,656 3.9 mi
46368 Portage, IN 38,691 4.5 mi
46342 Hobart, IN 31,244 6.1 mi
46409 Gary, IN 8,932 5.0 mi
46404 Gary, IN 17,326 5.9 mi
46406 Gary, IN 9,900 7.5 mi
46408 Gary, IN 17,030 6.9 mi
46393 Wheeler, IN 399 8.0 mi

More ZIP Codes in Lake County

46307 standard
Crown Point, IN
Pop: 60,619
46410 standard
Merrillville, IN
Pop: 38,340
46342 standard
Hobart, IN
Pop: 31,244
46312 standard
East Chicago, IN
Pop: 29,698
46375 standard
Schererville, IN
Pop: 23,820
46322 standard
Highland, IN
Pop: 23,727

Related Areas

Lake County Gary, IN Indiana

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 46403 in? ▼
ZIP code 46403 (Gary) is located in Lake County, Indiana. Lake County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/lake-in.
What is the population of ZIP code 46403? ▼
ZIP code 46403 in Gary, IN has a population of 12,601 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 46403? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 46403 is $45,991, which is 40% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 46403? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 46403 is $177,600, which is 36% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 46403? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 46403 is African American at 74.1%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 7.2% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 46403? ▼
ZIP code 46403 has 157 business establishments employing approximately 2,145 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 46403? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 46403 are: Accommodation and food services (23), Retail trade (19), Transportation and warehousing (17). There are 14 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 46403? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 46403 increased by 6.8% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 144%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 46403? ▼
In ZIP code 46403, 55.6% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 26.2% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 46403? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 46403 is 30.4 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend more time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 46403? ▼
In ZIP code 46403, approximately 48.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 51.2% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 46403? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 46403 is 24.3% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.