Population 1,030 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in Gary
Household size in Gary
| Period | Gary | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.58 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.23 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.06 | 2.44 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.91 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.33 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Gary are large by national standards, averaging 2.91 people against 2.65 for the U.S. That usually means more families with children at home. Household size has climbed from 2.58 in 2006–10, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Gary
| Period | Gary | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 45.2 | 41.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 55.0 | 42.2 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 51.3 | 43.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 39.0 | 43.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | −6.2 | +1.9 | +2.3 |
At 39.0, the median age in Gary is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. The population here is younger than in West Virginia as a whole, where the median age is 43.2.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Gary
| Period | Gary | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.9% | 9.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.3% | 10.4% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.6% | 10.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.1% | 10.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.8 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 8.1% of households in Gary, well below the national share of 11.6%.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Gary
Renters in Gary
| Period | Gary | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.9% | 25.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 13.4% | 27.0% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 20.8% | 26.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 15.2% | 25.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | −4.7 pts | −0.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
Gary is largely a place of homeowners: only 15.2% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 90.0% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Gary
| Period | Gary | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.4% | 15.1% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 32.7% | 15.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 41.1% | 16.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 36.8% | 14.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | +9.4 pts | −0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 36.8% of the housing in Gary, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Gary
| Period | Gary | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1939 | 1970 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1942 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1942 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1945 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +6 | +6 |
The housing in Gary is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1945, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Gary
| Period | Gary | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $418 | $578 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $534 | $657 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $486 | $759 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $503 | $905 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$85 | +$327 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Gary costs $503 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent takes 26.5% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Gary
Bachelor's degrees in Gary
| Period | Gary | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.6% | 18.4% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.6% | 19.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 9.2% | 21.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 15.2% | 25.0% | 35.6% |
| Change | +8.6 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Gary have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 15.2%, against 35.6% nationally.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Gary
| Period | Gary | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 71.7% | 82.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 78.0% | 84.8% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 80.9% | 87.2% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 91.6% | 89.4% | 89.3% |
| Change | +20.0 pts | +6.9 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Gary is a bit above the national rate: 91.6% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Gary
| Period | Gary | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.2% | 7.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.0% | 8.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 18.2% | 6.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 19.7% | 5.5% | 5.4% |
| Change | +13.5 pts | −1.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Gary runs well above the national rate: 19.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4%. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Gary compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gary | 2.91 | 39.0 | 8.1% | 15.2% | 36.8% | 1945 | $503 | 15.2% | 91.6% | 19.7% |
| Thorpe | 3.00 | 41.6 | 11.5% | 10.5% | 38.9% | 1947 | $569 | 20.3% | 94.5% | 17.5% |
| Elbert | 2.87 | 33.0 | 3.0% | 15.7% | 36.1% | 1938 | $335 | 9.0% | 89.8% | 28.7% |
| Monson | 2.43 | 51.3 | 7.2% | 45.3% | 23.4% | 1956 | $722 | 5.0% | 83.5% | 0.4% |
| Pageton | 2.63 | 38.0 | 3.8% | 17.5% | 36.1% | 1944 | $335 | 10.1% | 82.8% | 20.2% |
| Kimball | 2.54 | 44.0 | 16.0% | 25.9% | 32.7% | 1956 | $621 | 10.4% | 80.4% | 6.5% |
| Landgraff | 2.95 | 39.4 | 9.1% | 12.3% | 37.9% | 1945 | $508 | 17.0% | 92.8% | 20.2% |
| Caretta | 2.25 | 58.7 | 14.5% | 30.5% | 30.0% | 1958 | $719 | 8.8% | 59.9% | 0.0% |
| Anawalt | 2.31 | 46.7 | 6.8% | 19.6% | 37.7% | 1958 | $377 | 10.9% | 71.5% | 4.0% |
| Welch | 2.47 | 41.5 | 20.5% | 34.2% | 32.1% | 1955 | $631 | 5.4% | 76.1% | 4.1% |
| Keystone | 3.02 | 42.7 | 12.6% | 9.9% | 39.2% | 1948 | $599 | 21.8% | 95.2% | 16.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Bailey, TX · Alcovy, GA · Benham, KY · Belle Terre, NY · Bell, MI · Ballsville, VA · Wyndale, VA · Armagh, PA · Argyle, MN · Ancramdale, NY
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Gary. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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