How many renters in Gary, IN pay more than 30% of their income on rent?

Name: Rent burden in Gary, IN, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

58.6% (±4.5 points) of renting households in Gary, IN spend 30% or more of their household income on gross rent (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

51.8% spend 35% or more.

The median renting household spends 36.4% of its income on rent.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Paying 30% or more: 58.6% (±4.5 points)
Paying 35% or more: 51.8% (±4.1 points)
Median share of income: 36.4% (±3.1 points)

Rent as a share of income in Gary

Renting households by gross rent as a percentage of household income, 2020–2024
Share of income spent on rent	Gary	Lake County	Indiana	United States
Less than 15%	14.6% (±2.7 points)	12.0%	14.1%	12.6%
15% to 19.9%	8.1% (±1.9 points)	12.2%	13.6%	12.2%
20% to 24.9%	9.0% (±2.0 points)	13.2%	12.9%	12.6%
25% to 29.9%	9.7% (±2.5 points)	10.3%	11.4%	11.5%
30% to 34.9%	6.8% (±1.8 points)	7.4%	9.2%	9.2%
35% or more	51.8% (±4.1 points)	44.8%	38.9%	41.9%

Households whose income could not be measured against their rent (for example, those reporting no income) are left out of these shares, as the Census Bureau leaves them out.

Gary against Lake County, its state and the nation

Estimate (90% margin of error)
	Gary	Lake County	Indiana	United States
Paying 30% or more	58.6% (±4.5 points)	52.2% (±2.0 points)	48.1% (±0.6 points)	51.1%
Paying 35% or more	51.8% (±4.1 points)	44.8% (±1.7 points)	38.9% (±0.5 points)	41.9%
Median share of income	36.4% (±3.1 points)	31.5% (±1.3 points)	29.1% (±0.3 points)	30.6%
Median renter household income	$28,626 (±$2,913)	$41,002 (±$1,339)	$42,811 (±$480)	$52,966
Median gross rent	$1,012 (±$38)	$1,131 (±$16)	$1,062 (±$5)	$1,413

In Gary, the share of renters paying 30% or more of income is higher than in Lake County (52.2%).

It is also higher than in Indiana (48.1%).

It is higher than the national figure (51.1%).

In Lake County, Gary ranks 6 of 31 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of renters paying 30% or more of income.

Statewide, it ranks 258 of 1,492.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

Renters paying 30% or more of income in places near Gary

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Gary
Place	Distance	Renters paying 30% or more of income	Compared with this place
Gary	—	58.6% (±4.5 points)	—
Calumet Township	1.0 mi	55.2% (±4.1 points)	Not measurably different
Ross	4.1 mi	50.4% (±13.1 points)	Not measurably different
New Chicago	4.5 mi	51.7% (±27.3 points)	Not measurably different
Lake Station	5.0 mi	47.6% (±16.9 points)	Not measurably different
Hobart Township	5.3 mi	54.7% (±9.5 points)	Not measurably different
Griffith	5.9 mi	36.9% (±15.6 points)	Lower
Hobart	6.5 mi	55.2% (±9.5 points)	Not measurably different
Highland	6.5 mi	49.4% (±10.8 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Griffith, IN (36.9%).

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Renters paying 30% or more of income across Lake County, place by place

Rank	Place	Renters paying 30% or more of income
1	Lake Dalecarlia	100.0% (±82.3 points)
2	Winfield	82.0% (±65.4 points)
3	Dyer	74.9% (±22.4 points)
4	Winfield Township	63.3% (±43.6 points)
5	West Creek Township	61.6% (±21.7 points)
6	Gary	58.6% (±4.5 points)
7	Hanover Township (Lake County)	58.5% (±24.1 points)
8	Merrillville	57.1% (±8.2 points)
9 (tie)	Hobart	55.2% (±9.5 points)
9 (tie)	Calumet Township	55.2% (±4.1 points)
11	Hobart Township	54.7% (±9.5 points)
12	Ross Township (Lake County)	54.1% (±6.9 points)

Showing 12 of 31 places in Lake County, ranked from highest to lowest.

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about Gary

Are renters in Gary rent-burdened?

58.6% of renting households in Gary pay 30% or more of their income in gross rent, the share housing researchers usually call rent-burdened (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

What share of income do renters in Gary spend on rent?

The median renting household in Gary, IN spends 36.4% (±3.1 points) of its household income on gross rent.

Sources

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) and detailed tables (acs/acs5) for Gary city, Indiana (place:27000, in state:18).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0136E, DP04_0136M, DP04_0137PE, DP04_0137PM, DP04_0138PE, DP04_0138PM, DP04_0139PE, DP04_0139PM, DP04_0140PE, DP04_0140PM, DP04_0141PE, DP04_0141PM, DP04_0142PE, DP04_0142PM, B25071_001E, B25071_001M, B25119_003E, B25119_003M

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.