PlainZIP

Gary, IN · standard

ZIP Code 46404

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

17,326
1,170/sq mi
$42,256
Median income
$95,200
Median home value
15.4%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Gary pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with among the most affordable home values nationally, in a low-density, mixed-tenure area.

7th pct
household income, US ZIPs
8th pct
home value, US ZIPs
1,170
people per sq mi
56%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 46404 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 46404 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Gary, Lake County, Indiana, home to 17,326 residents across 14.8 square miles, a density of 1,170 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.

ZIP 46404 reports a modest median household income of $42,256 (43% below the Indiana average), while per-capita income is $22,178. 28.4% of residents live below the poverty line, and the unemployment rate reads 8.1%. The typical home here is valued at $95,200 (51% below the state average); renters pay a median of $999 monthly, and 56.4% of units are owner-occupied.

Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 15.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 39.4, 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 46404 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone.

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 46404

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Gary, IN

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 46404.

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 46404, 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

17,326

Population

14.8

Area (sq mi)

1,170

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 46404?

39.4

Median Age

45.9%

Male

54.1%

Female

1.2%

Foreign-Born

White 1.4%
African American 90.4%
Asian 0.7%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.0%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 4.0%
Hispanic or Latino 3.3%

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?

$42,256

Median Household Income

-43% vs state

$22,178

Per Capita Income

28.4%

Poverty Rate

8.1%

Unemployment Rate

24.4 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 46404 ranks nationally

Gary, IN household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$42,256 7th percentile higher than 7% 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 49.3%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 15.4%

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

What does housing look like?

7,650

Total Housing Units

5,873

Occupied Units

1,777

Vacant Units

2.60

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 56.4%
Renter 43.6%

$95,200

Median Home Value

-51% vs state

$999

Median Rent

1958

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

+8.1%

YoY Change (2024)

254

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+154%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 46404 have increased 8.1% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +154% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +6.8% 137
2021 +15.8% 159
2022 +11.9% 178
2023 +31.9% 235
2024 +8.1% 254

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 122 business establishments in ZIP 46404, employing approximately 1,688 people with a combined annual payroll of $99,141,000.

122

Businesses

1,688

Employees

$99.1M

Annual Payroll

11

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Retail trade 33 27.1%
Other services (except public administration) 20 16.4%
Health care and social assistance 18 14.8%
Manufacturing 9 7.4%
Real estate and rental and leasing 7 5.7%
Accommodation and food services 7 5.7%
Construction 6 4.9%
Transportation and warehousing 6 4.9%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 5 4.1%
Wholesale trade 4 3.3%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 3 2.5%

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 46404 vs 46408 →

ZIP 46404 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 46404 ranks #5 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 46404 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 46404 ranks #8 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
46408 Gary, IN 17,030 2.7 mi
46407 Gary, IN 12,656 2.3 mi
46406 Gary, IN 9,900 2.2 mi
46402 Gary, IN 6,726 2.5 mi
46323 Hammond, IN 22,743 4.1 mi
46409 Gary, IN 8,932 3.6 mi
46319 Griffith, IN 18,404 4.7 mi
46322 Highland, IN 23,727 5.0 mi
46405 Lake Station, IN 11,746 5.9 mi
46324 Hammond, IN 23,165 6.6 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 46404 in? ▼
ZIP code 46404 (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 46404? ▼
ZIP code 46404 in Gary, IN has a population of 17,326 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 46404? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 46404 is $42,256, which is 45% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 46404? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 46404 is $95,200, which is 66% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 46404? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 46404 is African American at 90.4%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 3.3% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 46404? ▼
ZIP code 46404 has 122 business establishments employing approximately 1,688 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 46404? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 46404 are: Retail trade (33), Other services (except public administration) (20), Health care and social assistance (18). There are 11 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 46404? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 46404 increased by 8.1% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 154%. 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 46404? ▼
In ZIP code 46404, 49.3% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 15.4% 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 46404? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 46404 is 24.4 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 46404? ▼
In ZIP code 46404, approximately 56.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 43.6% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 46404? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 46404 is 28.4% 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.