PlainZIP

Gary, IN · standard

ZIP Code 46408

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

17,030
674/sq mi
$47,453
Median income
$102,600
Median home value
12.4%
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.

11th pct
household income, US ZIPs
11th pct
home value, US ZIPs
674
people per sq mi
59%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 46408 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 46408 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Gary, Lake County, Indiana, home to 17,030 residents across 25.3 square miles, a density of 674 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.

ZIP 46408 reports a modest median household income of $47,453 (36% below the Indiana average), while per-capita income is $22,702. 32.3% of residents live below the poverty line, and the unemployment rate reads 10.5%. On housing, the median home value is $102,600 (47% below the state average) with median rent at $1,061 per month, and 58.8% of occupied units are owner-occupied.

Formal educational attainment runs low here: just 12.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 36.8, and the average commute is 26 minutes. Beyond these figures, 10 nearby ZIP codes within about 10 miles are surfaced below, along with 6 more sharing Lake County, letting you compare 46408 to its immediate surroundings rather than a national baseline 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 46408

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Gary, IN

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 46408.

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 46408, 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

17,030

Population

25.3

Area (sq mi)

674

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 46408?

36.8

Median Age

46.5%

Male

53.5%

Female

3.3%

Foreign-Born

White 36.7%
African American 43.7%
Asian 0.4%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.1%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 14.3%
Hispanic or Latino 22.0%

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?

$47,453

Median Household Income

-36% vs state

$22,702

Per Capita Income

32.3%

Poverty Rate

10.5%

Unemployment Rate

25.5 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 46408 ranks nationally

Gary, IN household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$47,453 11th percentile higher than 11% 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 56.5%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 12.4%

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

What does housing look like?

7,993

Total Housing Units

6,099

Occupied Units

1,894

Vacant Units

2.57

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 58.8%
Renter 41.2%

$102,600

Median Home Value

-47% vs state

$1,061

Median Rent

1954

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

+11.9%

YoY Change (2024)

220

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+120%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 46408 have increased 11.9% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +120% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +1.4% 136
2021 +14.5% 156
2022 +17.9% 184
2023 +7.1% 197
2024 +11.9% 220

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 202 business establishments in ZIP 46408, employing approximately 2,053 people with a combined annual payroll of $105,849,000.

202

Businesses

2,053

Employees

$105.8M

Annual Payroll

14

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Retail trade 45 22.3%
Other services (except public administration) 36 17.8%
Construction 21 10.4%
Accommodation and food services 21 10.4%
Health care and social assistance 20 9.9%
Finance and insurance 12 5.9%
Transportation and warehousing 10 5.0%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 8 4.0%
Real estate and rental and leasing 6 3.0%
Manufacturing 5 2.5%
Wholesale trade 5 2.5%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 4 2.0%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 4 2.0%
Educational services 3 1.5%

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 46408 vs 46404 →

ZIP 46408 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 46408 ranks #7 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 46408 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 46408 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
46404 Gary, IN 17,326 2.7 mi
46409 Gary, IN 8,932 2.4 mi
46319 Griffith, IN 18,404 3.0 mi
46407 Gary, IN 12,656 3.1 mi
46322 Highland, IN 23,727 4.6 mi
46402 Gary, IN 6,726 4.3 mi
46406 Gary, IN 9,900 4.5 mi
46410 Merrillville, IN 38,340 4.8 mi
46323 Hammond, IN 22,743 5.3 mi
46375 Schererville, IN 23,820 5.5 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 46408 in? ▼
ZIP code 46408 (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 46408? ▼
ZIP code 46408 in Gary, IN has a population of 17,030 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 46408? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 46408 is $47,453, which is 38% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 46408? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 46408 is $102,600, which is 63% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 46408? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 46408 is African American at 43.7%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 22.0% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 46408? ▼
ZIP code 46408 has 202 business establishments employing approximately 2,053 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 46408? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 46408 are: Retail trade (45), Other services (except public administration) (36), Construction (21). There are 14 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 46408? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 46408 increased by 11.9% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 120%. 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 46408? ▼
In ZIP code 46408, 56.5% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 12.4% 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 46408? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 46408 is 25.5 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 46408? ▼
In ZIP code 46408, approximately 58.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 41.2% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 46408? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 46408 is 32.3% 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.