ZIP Code 46403
standardSource:
Gary · Lake County · Indiana
- Population
- 12,601
- Median income
- $45,991
- Median home value
- $177,600
- Bachelor's or higher
- 26.2%
- Land area
- 21.4 sq mi
588/sq mi
▼ 40% vs US
higher than 10% of US ZIPs
▼ 36% vs US
higher than 37% of US ZIPs
Median age 40.4
Chicago
ZIP code 46403 in Gary, Indiana has a population of 12,601. The median household income is $45,991, which is 40% below the national average. Median home value is $177,600, 36% below the US average. 26.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
ZIP code 46403 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 21.4 square miles in Gary, Lake County, Indiana. The area is home to 12,601 residents, producing a population density of 588 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 46403 against Indiana and the nation.
On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 46403 sits at $45,991 (38% below the Indiana average), while per-capita income is $32,932. The poverty rate stands at 24.3% and the unemployment rate at 11.4%. 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, a direct signal of whether 46403 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.
Education and household profile round out the picture: 26.2% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 40.4, and the average commute is 30 minutes. We also surface 10 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Lake County, so you can benchmark 46403 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 46403
Top 5 sectors by establishment count
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 46403.
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
23 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
19 establishments
- Transportation and warehousing
Transportation and warehousing
17 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
14 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
14 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 46403, 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
12,601
Population
21.4
Area (sq mi)
588
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 46403?
40.4
Median Age
48.2%
Male
51.8%
Female
1.8%
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?
$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
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?
6,363
Total Housing Units
4,950
Occupied Units
1,413
Vacant Units
2.19
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$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 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
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 46403 in? ▼
What is the population of ZIP code 46403? ▼
What is the median household income in ZIP 46403? ▼
What is the average home value in ZIP 46403? ▼
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 46403? ▼
How many businesses are in ZIP code 46403? ▼
What are the main industries in ZIP code 46403? ▼
How have home values changed in ZIP code 46403? ▼
What is the education level in ZIP code 46403? ▼
What is the average commute time in ZIP 46403? ▼
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 46403? ▼
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 46403? ▼
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.