ZIP code
46402
in Gary, IndianaPopulation 5,836
21.92/ 100
Ranked #31,749 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 1.0%)
Ranked #757 of 757 Indiana ZIPs (bottom 0.2%)
Ranked #374 of 374 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN ZIPs (bottom 0.3%)
Ranks are modeled estimates — ZIPs a few hundred places apart are effectively tied.
What defines this ZIP
Metrics where this ZIP sits in the tails of the national distribution — the ones that most set it apart. Select any tile for its definition and methodology.
Self-care disability
11.1%
in the top 0.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with difficulty dressing or bathing.
Full methodology ›Tooth loss
42.7%
in the top 0.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 65 and older who have lost all of their natural teeth.
Full methodology ›Diabetes
27.8%
in the top 0.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Full methodology ›Short sleep
55%
in the top 0.01% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Vision disability
14.1%
in the top 0.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are blind or have serious difficulty seeing even with glasses.
Full methodology ›Stroke
8.2%
in the top 0.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.
Full methodology ›Fair or poor health
41%
in the top 0.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who rate their own general health as fair or poor.
Full methodology ›Energy-cost burden
7.6%
in the top 0.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of household income spent on home energy bills — electricity, gas, and heating fuels.
A modeled share of household income spent on home energy. Estimates that hit the model’s 100% ceiling are suppressed rather than published, because at that point the figure reflects the model’s limit rather than a measured burden.
Full methodology ›Independent-living disability
16.8%
in the top 1.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have difficulty doing errands alone, such as visiting a doctor’s office, because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition.
Full methodology ›Obesity
54.4%
in the top 0.07% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›The read
By its overall health score, ZIP 46402, one of several in Gary, Indiana lands in the bottom 1.0% nationally (31,749th) and the bottom 0.2% of Indiana (757th).
The measures that press hardest set the tone here: modeled self-care disability stands in the top 0.3% nationally, and tooth loss settles in the top 0.3% nationally. Modeled diabetes lies in the top 0.2% nationally, and short sleep resides in the top 0.01% nationally. Modeled vision disability lands in the top 0.8% nationally, stroke registers in the top 0.3% nationally, and fair or poor health sits in the top 0.5% nationally. Modeled energy burden rests in the top 0.8% nationally, independent living disability is in the top 1.1% nationally, and obesity stands in the top 0.07% nationally.
Weighed against the ZIPs nearby, industrial-pollution burden runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. To translate a couple of terms, energy burden is the share of household income that goes to home energy bills. Overall, the nearest healthier neighbor is ZIP 46403, just across the boundary.
What’s driving this score
Nine domains make up the ZipVitals Score — here is how this ZIP does on each, and how much each one counts. Compare it against the US, this state and the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
healthier than 94%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
in the bottom 0.9%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
in the bottom 0.2%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 3%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 34%
13%
Risk Behavior
in the bottom 0.4%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 36%
8%
Disability
healthier than 1%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 26%
5%
Lifting this score
Mental Health
healthier than 75%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 91%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
in the bottom 0.2%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
in the bottom 0.2%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 2%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 16%
13%
Risk Behavior
in the bottom 0.3%
11%
Disability
in the bottom 0.3%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 9%
5%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
healthier than 90%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
in the bottom 0.3%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
in the bottom 0.6%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 15%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 36%
13%
Risk Behavior
in the bottom 0.6%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 5%
8%
Disability
in the bottom 0.6%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 5%
5%
“Share” is how much of this ZIP’s score the domain accounts for. Percentages are rounded; higher is healthier in every domain. How the score works, and who it compares you with ›
Findings that name this ZIP
2 of our published findings list this ZIP code. Each finding compares one published measure against a stated benchmark, and names only the ZIP codes whose estimates are reliable enough to rank. See all surprising findings.
Below what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 71.2 ± 1.8 years. A median household income of $33,529 predicts 75.8 years — 4.6 years below.
Ranked #5,387 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Below its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 71.2 ± 1.8 years. The 49 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 75.8 years — 4.6 years below them.
Ranked #3,259 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
46403
Indianashares a border
Score 33.78
Closest healthier
46404
Indianashares a border
Score 31.77
Similar health profile
62207
Illinois100% similar profile
Score 26.34
How these were chosen: only ZIPs with a published Score appear — a nearby ZIP with too little data to score won’t. Nearby means closest by distance between ZIP boundaries, which can cross state lines. A similar health profile is a close match across the nine Score domains, not similar demographics. Distances are measured between ZIP boundaries — ZIPs that touch share a border. How distance is measured
Evidence
Every measure this page draws on, by source. Collapsed by default — the full data stays in the page for search engines either way.
Health OutcomesCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Arthritis among adults | 35.3% | 32.8–37.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 55.6% | 52.9–58.3 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 5.6% | 5.1–6.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 14.7% | 13.2–16.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 10.9% | 9.9–11.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 14.6% | 13.2–16.0 |
| Depression among adults | 19.1% | 16.8–21.4 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 27.8% | 25.5–30.2 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.0% | 34.2–39.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 54.4% | 50.5–58.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 8.2% | 7.6–8.8 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 42.7% | 38.4–46.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 13.8% | 11.8–15.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 82.8% | 80.9–84.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 83.9% | 81.7–85.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 84.9% | 83.1–86.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 63.6% | 60.1–67.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 36.4% | 33.8–39.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.5% | 72.9–81.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 10.8% | 9.2–12.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 27.6% | 24.8–30.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 44.4% | 40.6–48.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 55.0% | 51.7–58.3 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 41.0% | 37.8–44.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 21.3% | 19.2–23.3 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 21.0% | 19.0–23.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 21.4% | 19.3–23.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 45.3% | 41.8–48.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.8% | 7.0–8.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 16.8% | 15.2–18.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 29.8% | 27.2–32.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 11.1% | 10.1–12.0 |
| Vision disability among adults | 14.1% | 13.0–15.4 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 34.9% | 31.5–38.4 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 47.7% | 43.7–51.5 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 42.3% | 38.4–46.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 31.6% | 28.5–34.9 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 22.4% | 20.2–24.8 |
| Loneliness among adults | 36.9% | 33.3–40.5 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 29.5% | 26.7–32.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IN median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 44.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.8% (3.3–23.6%) n=764 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 9.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.3% (2.5–19.0%) n=761 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 13.4% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 8.8% (3.0–19.3%) n=766 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 10.7% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 19.4% (8.1–38.5%) n=766 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 14.2% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.4% (0.0–8.2%) n=760 |
| Households without a vehicle | 20.5% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.6% (0.0–11.5%) n=764 |
| Broadband subscription | 69.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.8% (76.7–95.9%) n=764 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 44.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 20.0% (9.8–33.1%) n=764 |
| Homeownership rate | 43.4% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 81.7% (58.9–94.5%) n=764 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.2% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–4.2%) n=764 |
| Foreign-born population | 2.3% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.3% (0.0–8.8%) n=767 |
| Single-parent households | 26.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 53.2% (40.5–69.1%) n=756 |
| Population 65+ | 17.8% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.2% (11.0–26.5%) n=767 |
| Median age | 33.5 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 40.5 yr (32.5–49.6) n=756 |
| Median household income | $33,529 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $71,016 ($50,417–$99,531) n=721 |
| Median home value | $85,400 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $178,250 ($109,430–$287,310) n=724 |
| Median gross rent | $951 | $1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670 | $925 ($704–$1,261) n=640 |
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IN median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth | 71.2 yr ± 0.90 | 78.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,308 | 78.5 yr (75.1–81.5) n=754 |
About the ± — it’s this estimate’s give-or-take (statisticians call it the standard error). The true life expectancy for this ZIP most likely falls within 0.90 years of 71.2, and it’s very unlikely to be off by more than twice that.
More ZIPs to explore ▾More ZIPs to explore ▴
How these lists were built: they draw only from ZIPs that have a published Score, so ZIPs with too little data to score are not listed. Distance-based lists use distance between ZIP boundaries with no state filter, so an out-of-state ZIP can appear. Statistically similar means a close match across the nine Score domains, not a demographic match: the measure is the cosine similarity between two ZIPs’ domain scores, taken over the domains both ZIPs have data for and only where that overlap covers at least six of the nine — and where no ZIP clears that minimum-overlap floor, that list is left out rather than filled with a weak match. How distance is measured