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 High-density area
- $45,991
- Median income Below-median income area
- $177,600
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 26.2%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
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.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 46403 (Gary, IN) rose +6.8% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 228.2 in 2023 to 243.7 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
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 average Indiana ZIP), while per-capita income is $32,932. Economic pressure is pronounced: 24.3% of residents are below the poverty line and unemployment is 11.4%. Median home value is $177,600 (8% below the average Indiana ZIP) and median rent is $966; 48.8% of occupied homes 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. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Lake County, so 46403 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
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.
- 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 + 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
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 ZIP avg
$32,932
Per Capita Income
24.3%
Poverty Rate
11.4%
Unemployment Rate
30.4 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 46403 ranks among Indiana ZIPs
Gary, IN household income vs. every Indiana ZIP code
Median household income among 721 reporting Indiana ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$45,991 5th percentile higher than 5% of 721 Indiana ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more Indiana 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?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
6,363housing units
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 ZIP avg
$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.
- 46368
Portage (46368)
38,691 residents
- 46342
Hobart (46342)
31,244 residents
- 46404
Gary (46404)
17,326 residents
- 46408
Gary (46408)
17,030 residents
- 46407 12,656
Gary (46407)
12,656 residents
- 46403 12,601
Gary (46403)
12,601 residents
- 46405 11,746
Lake Station (46405)
11,746 residents
- 46406 9,900
Gary (46406)
9,900 residents
- 46409 8,932
Gary (46409)
8,932 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 46403 ranks #6 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 46403 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 46368
Portage (46368)
$76,368 median income
- 46342
Hobart (46342)
$75,521 median income
- 46405
Lake Station (46405)
$60,881 median income
- 46393
Wheeler (46393)
$56,250 median income
- 46408
Gary (46408)
$47,453 median income
- 46403
Gary (46403)
$45,991 median income
- 46409
Gary (46409)
$44,667 median income
- 46404
Gary (46404)
$42,256 median income
- 46406
Gary (46406)
$35,839 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.
| 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 |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 46403, both outside IN so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (12,601 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Lake County
Related Areas
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.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 46403's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 46403 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Gary, IN ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.