Black Oak
Suburban Neighborhood in Gary, Indiana
Lake County 46404, 46406, 46408
New renovations and fixer uppers in Black Oak
“The community itself is on the rise with the Hard Rock Casino and is a very big flip community,” says Jennifer Parham, Managing Broker and Owner of Lighthouse Realty. “House prices have gone up quite a bit.” Ranch-style homes, Cape Cods and mobile homes—some with up to four bedrooms—are the predominant styles available in Black Oak. They’re surrounded by foliage cover and plenty of space on all sides. The most recently renovated options are priced as high as $225,000, with fixer-uppers available as low as $33,000.Afternoons at Lake Etta County Park
Late Etta County Park sits off West 29th Avenue as the only park located fully within Gary and a tranquil spot for families and friends. The park features 112 acres of hiking trails, a fishing pier and a canoe launch on the Little Calumet River, as well as a banquet hall and wedding pergola. Spring Park located on Chase Street is a small park featuring an artesian well where neighbors can come and fill up their jugs with fresh spring water. Kids run off steam on the playground at Seberger Park.Schools for Black Oak Students
Some students in Black Oak are zoned for Steel City Academy, a public charter school for students in grades K-12 that earns a C-plus from Niche. The school is hailed for its small class sizes and strong student-teacher bonds, as well as its college visit opportunities and college readiness focus. Others start at Aspire Charter Academy before moving on to Calumet High School; these options receive a C-minus and a C-plus, respectively. For parents looking to enroll their kids in private school, Ambassador Christian Academy is just to the east of the neighborhood and provides a faith-based private education for K-8 students. Indiana University Northwest is also just to the east of Black Oak and boasts a strong dental program.The arrival of Hard Rock Casino
Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana also has five restaurants and is conveniently located in the northwest corner of the neighborhood near Interstate 94. Opened in May of 2021, the casino features a large gaming floor and concert venue where visitors catch national comedy and music acts. The casino also features Joe Jackson’s original guitar, Michael’s famous glove, the red leather jacket from the “Beat It” music video and other memorabilia from Gary’s most famous family.Getting to Chicagoland and the South Shore
Interstate 94 West takes Black Oak residents on a straight shot to downtown Chicago in about 34 miles. They head in the opposite direction for quick medical care at Methodist Hospitals Midlake Campus, as well as the campus for Indiana University Northwest, which sits about 5 miles from the community. Methodist Hospitals is a four-mile drive away, down the street from the Gary stop on the South Shore Line into Chicagoland, which takes about an hour. For commercial flights, Chicago-Midway International Airport is about 30 miles away.Shopping and dining near Black Oak
For groceries, locals can head to Fresh County Market on the northeast side of the neighborhood. There is also an Aldi on the east end of the neighborhood and the southwest corner. They can find fast-food favorites southeast of the neighborhood on West Ridge Road or stop in at Phillys Steak & Lemonade while headed down Interstate 94.Environmental remediation in Black Oak
Because the Little Calumet River contains hazardous contaminants like PCBs from illegal waste dumping, residents should have caution when using the waters for recreational purposes, such as fishing and swimming. Black Oak is also the site of Lake Sandy Jo, a now-closed landfill located at 3615 West 25th Avenue. This site is under the Environmental Protection Agency’s Superfund National Priority List, and the agency continues to monitor the site’s groundwater and other factors after remediations completed in 1994.
Written By
Emma Downes
Photography Contributed By
Jace Hirosky
Video By
Kyo Nguyen
Was this overview helpful?
Agents Specializing in this Area
-
Steve Monsma
Steve Monsma
(219) 500-6953
125 Total Sales
1 in Black Oak
$130,000 Price
-
LaDonna Davidson
LaDonna Davidson
Responds QuicklyThe Real Estate Shoppe, LLC
(888) 507-4359
73 Total Sales
1 in Black Oak
$198,000 Price
-
Jeff McCormick
Jeff McCormick
McCormick Real Estate, Inc.
(219) 491-2854
730 Total Sales
4 in Black Oak
$1K - $135K Price Range
-
Michelle Zupan
Michelle Zupan
Key Realty Indiana, LLC
(219) 500-8408
217 Total Sales
1 in Black Oak
$16,500 Price
-
Nicholas Smith
Nicholas Smith
Responds QuicklyColdwell Banker Realty
(219) 777-3726
78 Total Sales
2 in Black Oak
$100K - $130K Price Range
-
Nicole Luscombe
Nicole Luscombe
Responds Quickly(219) 248-2557
50 Total Sales
1 in Black Oak
$200,000 Price
Schools
Source:
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
- 9th to 12th
- Public
- K to 5th
- Public
- K to 5th
- Public
Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to , an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Lake Etta County Park
- Fishing
- Lake
- Picnic Area
Tolleston Park
- Baseball/Softball
- Basketball
- Picnic Area
Patcher Park
- Basketball
- Pool
- Parking Lot
Indiana Dunes National Park
- Bike Trails
- Camping
- Fishing
Seberger Park
- Basketball
- Grills
- Picnic Area
Spring Park
- Parking Lot
Crime and Safety
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Black Oak | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 7 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 5 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 6 | 4 |
| Robbery | 4 | 4 |
| Burglary | 5 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 4 | 4 |
| Larceny | 4 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 5 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Black Oak Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Black Oak, Gary sell after 104 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Black Oak, Gary over the last 12 months is $54,500, down 43% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$84,900
Median Sale Price
$54,500
Median Single Family Sale Price
$84,950
Median Townhouse Sale Price
$35,000
Median Change From 1st List Price
12%
Last 12 months Home Sales
11
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
-43%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$84
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
718
Number of Homes for Sale
4
Median Year Built
1948
Months of Supply
4.40
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,177
Significantly below the national average
1,933
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
1,838
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
12,632
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to , an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
3,263
Median Age
39
Population Density
1 person/acre
Population under 18
25.4%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
16.5%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$32,628
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$41,593
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
87.3%
College Graduates
4.6%
Significantly below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
2%
% Population in Labor Force
48.9%
Below the national average
65.1%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
41''
Average Winter Low Temperature
16°F
Average Summer High Temperature
83°F
Annual Snowfall
42''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
48
/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
5
/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Nearby Neighborhoods
Tolleston
Quiet community with a history of great industry and soul food
Ross
Suburban, commuter community with rural characteristics
Westside
A thriving neighborhood in the great housing stock
Ambridge-Mann
Renovated older homes convenient to river access and the city’s only hospital
Brunswick
Revamped 20th-century homes near I-90 and Gary/Chicago International Airport
Reviews
Are you familiar with the Black Oak neighborhood? to let others know what life in this neighborhood is like.
Was this page helpful?