Once Thriving Midwestern Town Has Nation’s Highest Rate of Abandoned Homes, 31% of City’s Houses Sit Empty

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Gary, Indiana, once a bustling industrial hub, now tells a sobering story of economic decline.

This former steel town, famously Michael Jackson’s birthplace, now leads the nation in abandoned homes.

A recent study by 247WallSt paints a bleak picture: 31.41% of Gary’s homes sit empty.

This isn’t just about vacant buildings – it’s a sign of a city in crisis. From 2010 to 2020, Gary’s population dropped by 18.2%, leaving only 5,800 residents.

One longtime local, Alphonso Washington, summed it up: “Gary just went down. Used to be a beautiful place, once in a time, then it just wasn’t.”

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To understand Gary’s fall, we need to look at its past.

In the mid-1900s, Gary was booming. Its spot near the Great Lakes made it perfect for steel production.

The United States Steel Corporation set up shop, and by the 1920s, Gary had the country’s biggest steel plant.

Over 16,000 steel workers called Gary home, driving a thriving economy.

But Gary’s success was too tied to one industry. When the steel mill closed in the 1970s, it started a domino effect.

Thousands lost their jobs, and many left town. As people moved out, tax money dried up, services declined, and poverty took hold.

Today, Gary’s struggles are clear in its housing market.

The average home value is just $69,400 – far below what you’d see in healthier cities.

This low value shows both the glut of empty homes and the lack of jobs in the area.

Even Gary’s claim to fame – being Michael Jackson’s hometown – doesn’t help much.

His childhood home stands on an abandoned street, with no tours or tributes to draw in tourists. It’s a missed chance to bring in some much-needed money.

Gary’s problems go beyond empty homes.

At one point, it was called “America’s murder capital,” highlighting how economic troubles often lead to social issues.

Gary isn’t alone in its struggles. Many old manufacturing towns have had a hard time adapting to new economic realities.

But Gary’s case is extreme. While Indiana ranks seventh in the U.S. for empty homes, Gary’s rate is much higher than the state average.

It’s hard to believe Gary once rivaled Chicago economically. Now, the 30 miles between them might as well be 300 in terms of opportunity and growth.

Gary’s story is a warning about what can happen when a city relies too heavily on one industry.

It raises tough questions about how to plan for economic changes and how to bring life back to struggling cities.

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As government officials and community leaders wrestle with these issues, Gary’s empty streets show how much work there is to do.