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 High-density area
- $42,256
- Median income Below-median income area
- $95,200
- Median home value Below-median home value
- 15.4%
- Bachelor's or higher Below-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
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.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 46404 (Gary, IN) rose +8.1% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 234.9 in 2023 to 253.9 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
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 average Indiana ZIP), while per-capita income is $22,178. The poverty rate is 28.4%, so the area-level income figures should not be treated as typical household experience. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $95,200 (51% below the average Indiana ZIP), and median rent is $999; owner occupancy is 56.4%.
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. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Lake County, so 46404 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 46404
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Gary, IN
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 46404.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
33 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
20 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
18 establishments
- Manufacturing 9
Manufacturing
9 establishments
- Real estate and rental and leasing 7
Real estate and rental and leasing
7 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 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
Who lives in ZIP 46404?
39.4
Median Age
45.9%
Male
54.1%
Female
1.2%
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?
$42,256
Median Household Income
-43% vs state ZIP avg
$22,178
Per Capita Income
28.4%
Poverty Rate
8.1%
Unemployment Rate
24.4 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 46404 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)
$42,256 3rd percentile higher than 3% 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
7,650housing units
7,650
Total Housing Units
5,873
Occupied Units
1,777
Vacant Units
2.60
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$95,200
Median Home Value
-51% vs state ZIP avg
$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.
- 46322
Highland (46322)
23,727 residents
- 46324
Hammond (46324)
23,165 residents
- 46323
Hammond (46323)
22,743 residents
- 46319
Griffith (46319)
18,404 residents
- 46404
Gary (46404)
17,326 residents
- 46408
Gary (46408)
17,030 residents
- 46407
Gary (46407)
12,656 residents
- 46405
Lake Station (46405)
11,746 residents
- 46406
Gary (46406)
9,900 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 46404 ranks #5 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 46404 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 46322
Highland (46322)
$78,062 median income
- 46319
Griffith (46319)
$74,662 median income
- 46324
Hammond (46324)
$63,052 median income
- 46405
Lake Station (46405)
$60,881 median income
- 46323
Hammond (46323)
$59,688 median income
- 46408
Gary (46408)
$47,453 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 46404 ranks #8 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| 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 |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 46404, 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 (17,326 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 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.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 46404's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 46404 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
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ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.