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C-

Is Gary, Indiana Safe?

Population 67,289 · Safer than 29% of US cities

Declining· 2023 FBI UCR data

Gary, Indiana sits below average for US cities. The C- grade comes from a 229.2 crime rate per 1,000 and violent crime close to the national average. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,421 per 100K.

Gary Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricGaryIndiana AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate325.7309.2363.8
Property Crime Rate1966.62091.51,832.3
Murder Rate6.0--5.7
Assault Rate248.0--268.2
Theft Rate1421.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate496.0--318.3

All rates per 100,000 residents. 2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report + Census Bureau population estimates.

Overall SafetyC-

229.2 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC

326/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeC-

1967/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Gary

Violent crime in Gary is close to the national average. The rate of 325.7 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 1966.6 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,421 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Gary Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder6
01.1x national avgAvg: 5.7
Assault248
092% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery57
090% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary245
091% of avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,421
01.0x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft496
01.6x national avgAvg: 318.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. Vertical marker = national average.

How Gary Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Gary
325.7
State
309.2
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Gary
1966.6
State
2091.5
National
1832.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. National averages from 2023 FBI UCR data.

Frequently Asked Questions About Gary Safety

Is Gary safe?
Not especially. Gary earns a C- with a crime rate of 229.2 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs close to the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Gary?
229.2 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 325.7 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 1966.6 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Gary safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Gary's C- grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,421 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Gary?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Gary generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Gary police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Gary?
Yes, there's been an uptick. Gary's crime rates have moved in the wrong direction recently, though the city still holds a C- grade overall.
How does Gary compare to other cities in Indiana?
Below average for the state. Gary ranks behind about 75% of Indiana cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.1x the national rate.
How safe is Gary to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is close to the national average, which is encouraging. The upward trend in crime is concerning.
How bad is crime in Gary?
Bad. A C- grade and 229.2 per-thousand rate put Gary below 71% of US cities. Violent crime at 326 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Gary?
325.7 per 100,000, which is 10% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (248), robbery (57), and murder (6.0) per 100,000.

Nearby Cities in Indiana

Similar-sized communities in Indiana. Compare crime rates across the state.

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See crime rates in Westfield66,258 pop · Grade C
D
See crime rates in Muncie65,466 pop · Grade D
D+
See crime rates in Greenwood69,349 pop · Grade D+
D
See crime rates in Lafayette71,238 pop · Grade D
D
See crime rates in Kokomo59,999 pop · Grade D
D-
See crime rates in Hammond75,712 pop · Grade D-
View all Indiana city safety grades

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2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report data and Census Bureau population estimates. Safety grades calculated using national and state-level crime rate distributions. Not a substitute for local law enforcement guidance.

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