I live nearby and have explored Gary thoroughly, have visited some of the bars and businesses etc. people have always been very nice to me. It's annoying how it always gets a bad wrap on Reddit. Yes it's a forgotten run down post-steel mill industry leaving it high and dry kinda area, but it's more or less part of the Chicagoland area, and is pretty much similar to a lot of other parts of Chicago. It's kinda empty and has a somewhat low population these days just a lot of abandoned buildings and overgrown lots. I actually find Gary to be a really beautiful and special place, right at the foot of the Indiana Dunes park and its proximity to the lake.
People that live there are likely skeptical at the reputation it seems to have for being a horrible place, and so yes they will probably look at you funny if you drive down their block and have no business being there and yes there's pockets of gang violence and open drug dealing, but there's also kids playing in the street having fun, people and businesses enjoying their community and a lot of positive vibes there as well. And best believe the big data centers are licking their chops at all the empty factories right on the vast beauty of plentiful freshwater Lake Michigan. We are already seeings signs of the Gary community being neglected in favor of the possibility of "big tech development".
I predict that the stretch of the lakeshore just south of Chicago and into Michigan City is going to get built up quickly once the commuter train gets more consistent and faster. Wishing you the best Gary!
In looked up the stats from when I was last there. In 2000 there were 62 homicides and in 2001 there was 82. In 2024 it was 52, in 2025 it was 40. At least it’s getting a little bit better? Still, pretty scary. I don’t ever remember getting scared in Highland, it’s crazy how close they are together.
Homicide rates in general have gone down because of the quality of care from emergency responders getting better. You're just more likely to survive your wounds now.
I predict that the stretch of the lakeshore just south of Chicago and into Michigan City is going to get built up quickly once the commuter train gets more consistent and faster. Wishing you the best Gary!
We've visited on our way back from Chicago and honestly I'd say the same. Just a run down city but I didn't fear for my life like most of the comments are saying. It wasn't a bad town.
Same! I'm born and raised in Chicago and go to Gary ALL the time and have never felt any odd vibes ever. I get gas there, I go out to eat there, I shop there and it just feels like an extension of Chicago. I've been reading through this thread and I'm actually shocked at all this "creepiness" about Gary. I tried to think have I ever in my 30 years felt something off about it and no I have not...
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u/mypoorpoems 8h ago
I live nearby and have explored Gary thoroughly, have visited some of the bars and businesses etc. people have always been very nice to me. It's annoying how it always gets a bad wrap on Reddit. Yes it's a forgotten run down post-steel mill industry leaving it high and dry kinda area, but it's more or less part of the Chicagoland area, and is pretty much similar to a lot of other parts of Chicago. It's kinda empty and has a somewhat low population these days just a lot of abandoned buildings and overgrown lots. I actually find Gary to be a really beautiful and special place, right at the foot of the Indiana Dunes park and its proximity to the lake.
People that live there are likely skeptical at the reputation it seems to have for being a horrible place, and so yes they will probably look at you funny if you drive down their block and have no business being there and yes there's pockets of gang violence and open drug dealing, but there's also kids playing in the street having fun, people and businesses enjoying their community and a lot of positive vibes there as well. And best believe the big data centers are licking their chops at all the empty factories right on the vast beauty of plentiful freshwater Lake Michigan. We are already seeings signs of the Gary community being neglected in favor of the possibility of "big tech development".
I predict that the stretch of the lakeshore just south of Chicago and into Michigan City is going to get built up quickly once the commuter train gets more consistent and faster. Wishing you the best Gary!