Neighborhood · Gary, IN

University Park Eviction Risk: Moderate

4 census tracts · pop 7,672 · pop-weighted Eviction Risk Score 5.8/10 · range 4.7–6.1

University Park is a black (non-hispanic) neighborhood in Gary with 4 census tracts and a population of 7,672 residents. The neighborhood's pop-weighted eviction-risk score of 5.8/10 (Moderate tier) blends state law, county-level filing rates, parent-city politics, and tract-specific rent-to-income ratios + poverty. 45% of renters here pay at least 30% of household income on rent, and 23% are severely cost-burdened (≥50% of income). Average gross rent of $1,053/month sits 4% higher than the Gary citywide average ($1,012).

Risk score

5.8

Moderate

4 tracts · population-weighted

University Park vs Gary How this neighborhood stacks against the citywide average

% of income on rent

44.6% +23%

Gary: 36.4%

Average gross rent

$1,053 +4%

Gary: $1,012

Average HH income

$35,151 -6%

Gary: $37,380

Poverty rate

37.5% +14%

Gary: 32.9%

Renter share

55.2% +8%

Gary: 51.0%

Peer neighborhoods

Neighborhoods with similar eviction risk

Same county, closest by Eviction Risk Score.

Geographic context

Risk heat across University Park and the region

Click any tract to drill in · 4 tracts span score 4.7–6.1

Why University Park scores 5.8

9 axes · pop-weighted · 1 = landlord-friendly

State political climate

legislature & governorship · Range 2.0–2.0 across tracts

2.0

Regional political climate

County-level mix · 2024 presidential margin · Range 5.8–5.8 across tracts

5.8

Local political climate

Parent city governance · Range 6.2–6.2 across tracts

6.2

Rent control risk

45% of income on rent · Range 8.2–8.2 across tracts

8.2

Eviction process difficulty

State notice requirements & court backlog · Range 2.3–2.3 across tracts

2.3

Tenant organizing strength

55% renter households · Range 9.3–9.3 across tracts

9.3

Housing court bias

County bench composition · Range 8.7–8.7 across tracts

8.7

Economic stress

37.5% below poverty line · Range 4.6–10.0 across tracts

8.5

Supply constraint

Rent-to-FMR gap & zoning friction · Range 1.5–5.0 across tracts

3.8

Risk score comparison

University Park vs. parent city, state, U.S.

Eviction Risk Score (0–10 scale).

Variance across tracts

How uniformly does eviction risk play out in University Park?

Left: distribution of constituent tract scores. Right: every tract as a heat square. Click any square to drill in.

Score distribution

0246810

Spread of 1.4 points from 4.7 to 6.1. Moderate variation across constituent tracts.

Tracts as heat grid

6.1 5.8 4.9 4.7

Each square = one census tract. Color tracks the same green→red ramp as the chloropleth map above.

Census tracts

4 tracts in University Park

Ranked highest-risk first. Click for per-tract detail.

Tract↕	Score↕	Pop↕	% over 30% on rent↕	Average rent↕
18089012400	6.1	3,945	36%	$975
18089012300	5.8	2,431	55%	$1,171
18089012000	4.9	888	37%	$1,201
18089012100	4.7	408	82%	$777

Social Vulnerability Index

CDC SVI percentile: 88

Pop-weighted across 4 tracts. Higher = more vulnerable to disaster, displacement, and rent shocks. Source: CDC/ATSDR SVI 2022.

Socioeconomic status 92%ile

Poverty, unemployment, no-HS-diploma, housing cost burden

Household characteristics 86%ile

Single-parent HH, disability, language barriers, age 17- / 65+

Racial/ethnic minority 93%ile

Hispanic + non-white share of population

Housing & transport 52%ile

Multi-unit structures, mobile homes, crowding, no vehicle

CDC PLACES 2023 · pop-weighted

Eviction-adjacent indicators in University Park

Average across all constituent tracts, population-weighted. Source: CDC PLACES (cwsq-ngmh) crude prevalence.

32.2%Housing insecurity
30.0%Utility shutoff threat
48.0%Food insecurity
42.8%SNAP enrollment
14.3%No health insurance
45.6%Any disability

Frequently asked

About University Park

What is the eviction-risk score for University Park?

University Park scores 5.8/10 (Moderate tier) across 4 census tracts. The pop-weighted Eviction Risk Score blends state law, county filing rates, parent-city politics, and tract-specific rent-to-income and poverty signals.

How does University Park compare to Gary overall?

University Park scores 2.7 points higher than Gary overall (3.1/10). Renters spend 45% of income on rent vs 36% citywide. Average rent: $1,053 vs $1,012.

What is the average rent in University Park?

Average gross rent in University Park is $1,053/month (pop-weighted across 4 census tracts, ACS 5-year 2023). 45% of renter households are cost-burdened.

What percentage of University Park residents are renters?

55% of University Park households are renter-occupied (vs 51% in Gary). The neighborhood has 7,672 residents.

Is University Park a high social-vulnerability area?

University Park sits in the 88th percentile nationally on the CDC Social Vulnerability Index (highly vulnerable). The index combines poverty, unemployment, household composition, racial/ethnic minority share, and housing/transportation factors across all US census tracts.

Which tracts in University Park have the highest eviction risk?

The highest-risk constituent tract in University Park is census tract 18089012400 (score 6.1/10). Across the 4 tracts in this neighborhood the score ranges from 4.7 to 6.1, a spread of 1.4 points.

How safe is University Park for landlords?

University Park carries a moderate-tier eviction-risk profile for landlords (5.8/10). Pop-weighted across 4 constituent tracts, the score blends parent-city rent-control posture, county eviction-process timelines, and tract-specific rent-to-income / poverty signals. Compared to Gary as a whole (3.1/10), this neighborhood is higher-risk.

What is the demographic breakdown of University Park?

University Park has 7,687 residents (Black (non-Hispanic) Neighborhood). Top groups: Black (non-Hispanic) (63.1%), Hispanic / Latino (26.7%), White (non-Hispanic) (8.3%). Source: ACS 5-year 2023, table B03002.

Nearby

Other neighborhoods near University Park

5.7 Marshalltown 4 tracts · pop 5,881 5.6 Downtown Gary 4 tracts · pop 4,035 5.6 Horace Mann 5 tracts · pop 8,710 5.5 Morningside 4 tracts · pop 10,788 5.5 Tarrytown 3 tracts · pop 11,604 4.9 Liverpool 2 tracts · pop 11,340

Sibling neighborhoods

Other neighborhoods inside Gary

Same parent city, ranked by score similarity to University Park.

5.8 Ivanhoe 1 tracts · pop 3,604 5.8 Leshwood 1 tracts · pop 2,285 5.7 Marshalltown 4 tracts · pop 5,881 5.7 Midtown 1 tracts · pop 1,192 5.7 Downtown Gary 4 tracts · pop 4,035 5.9 Van Loon 1 tracts · pop 1,907

Zoom out