Residential comparison · 13 facts
Gary, IN vs Michigan City, IN
Compare the housing, tax, cost, income, safety, school, and climate facts that are available for both places. The table shows the numbers without declaring one city universally better.
A household earning $85,000 in Gary needs about $87,500 in Michigan City to keep the same lifestyle.
Coming from Michigan City, $85,000 of lifestyle costs about $82,500 in Gary.
A few differences
- Michigan City is higher on median household income ($53,089 vs $38,731).
- Gary is lower on cost of living index (73 vs 77).
- Gary is lower on 2-bedroom rent ($937/mo vs $977/mo).
Gary vs Michigan City · facet by facet
| Facet | Gary, IN | Michigan City, IN |
|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $94,700 | $143,100 |
| 2-bedroom rent | $937/mo | $977/mo |
| Property tax rate | 0.83% | 0.83% |
| State & local income tax | 4.55% | 4.75% |
| Sales tax | 7% | 7% |
| Cost of living index | 73 | 77 |
| Groceries index | 95 | 95 |
| Utilities | $165/mo | $165/mo |
| Median household income | $38,731 | $53,089 |
| Unemployment rate | 3.6% | 3.6% |
| Crime index | 45/100 | 45/100 |
| School rating | 5.8/10 | 5.8/10 |
| Sunny days / year | 190 days | 190 days |
Data: Census ACS 2024 · BLS · Tax Foundation 2024 brackets · HUD/Zillow · NOAA 1991–2020 · FEMA NRI · Values are shown as reported; no universal winner is implied.
Full profiles: Gary, IN · Michigan City, IN
Questions & answers
- Is Gary cheaper than Michigan City?
- Gary has the lower day-to-day cost index (73 vs 77 against a national 100). The other differences are shown facet by facet in the table.
- What household income in Michigan City equals $85,000 in Gary?
- A household earning $85,000 in Gary needs about $87,500 in Michigan City to keep the same lifestyle; coming the other way, $85,000 of Michigan City lifestyle costs about $82,500 in Gary.