Simple residential community southwest of central Gary
Once a sand mining town in the late 1800s, Tolleston became part of the city of Gary, Indiana in 1910. The neighborhood's population grew midcentury, as evidenced by its housing stock and the establishment of historic St. Augustine’s Church, built to serve the Black congregation of Gary's Episcopal church. Today the neighborhood, located blocks from downtown Gary, is home to a blend of newcomers commuting to Chicago and established residents. “Tolleston remains one of the more favorable areas outside Gary as home values increased due to higher income owners and buyers with increased pre-approval odds navigating toward the area,” says Thomasina Wilson, a Realtor and broker at Coldwell Banker Realty. Wilson was raised in Northwest Indiana and has sold homes in Gary and Lake County since 2017.
Renovated split-levels and ranch fixer-uppers
While residential development began 1910s, most of Tolleston's current houses were built from the late 1940s into the 1960s. Ranch-style and minimal traditional small architecture are present, along with split-level homes and a few Craftsman bungalows. Homes needing renovation and as-is purchases range from about $15,000 to $80,000. Updated properties and move-in-ready homes start at about $90,000 and top out near $300,000.
Multi-family properties are rare and include dedicated condo developments and converted single-family houses. Values generally range from $29,000 to $125,000.
A row of single-story ranch-style homes in Tolleston.
Split-level style homes in Tolleston.
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Grocery shopping at Fresh County Market and local soul food
Shopping and dining options are mostly south of the neighborhood. Fresh County Market is near 25th Street, Fresh County Market with a large selection of groceries while Dollar General and Dollar Tree are near Grant Street. Local convenience markets such as Westside Foods and Grant Gas & Mini Food Mart are nearby for snacks and light groceries. Popcorn World has more than 90 flavors of popcorn, including standard butter, kettle corn and white cheddar as well as novelty options like root beer float or jerk-flavored popcorn.
BJ’s Cafe Comfort Food & Catering serves a Sunday afternoon dinner with baked chicken, collard greens, candied yams and other soulful selections. Harold’s Chicken Shack specializes in fried chicken, but also serves catfish, shrimp and “Oooh Wee Tea.” Chains like Sharks Fish & Chicken and Little Caesars provide takeout options.
Head to the County Market for all of your grocery needs.
Tolleston residents can sample a variety of caribbean foods at Lo Shells.
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The unique silhouette of St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church
St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church at the corner of West 19th Street and Ellsworth Street was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2013. Originally built in 1958, the church’s distinctive modern design garnered praise from the American Institute of Architects and the Church Architectural Guild in 1960. The historically Black congregation held Sunday mass services for more than 65 years.
Several popular destinations along the south shore of Lake Michigan are a short drive out from Tolleston. Miller Woods Beach is a go-to summer hangout 6 miles north of the neighborhood, with three national parks along the shore and a prime view of the Chicago skyline on clear days.
The beautiful silhouette of St. Augustine's Episcopal Church in Tolleston.
Indiana Dunes National Park features amazing beaches for Tolleston residents.
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Transportation around Tolleston
Interstate 94 connects residents to the Chicago Loop, 31 miles to the northwest, and Chicago Midway International Airport. Downtown Gary is 2 miles southwest. Methodist Northlake Hospital is north of the neighborhood on Grant Street.
Youth enrichment programs and pickup games near Tolleston Park
Tolleston Park is the neighborhood’s main spot for outdoor recreation. Two basketball courts are available for pickup games, and a playground, picnic area and running track are also on the grounds. Just south of the neighborhood, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest Indiana has a tech center with a recording studio, professional video equipment and mentors to help kids learn new skills. There are plans to expand the facility into the Tolleston Opportunity Campus, with additional services from the Crossroads YMCA and Methodist Hospitals. Construction is slated to begin on the facility in early 2025.
A few blocks west of the namesake park, volunteers grow peanuts, roses, corn and other edible plant life at Oases Botanic Gardens. Established on the parking lot of a former Army Reserve building, the entrance to the garden has a flag made with flowers to pay tribute to the site’s origins.
Education at Lake County Schools
Gary is served by the Gary Community School Corporation. Due to financial troubles, the school district was placed under direct state control from 2017 to 2024. Beveridge Elementary School holds a D grade on Niche, while Gary Middle School for the Performing Arts earns a D-plus. West Side Leadership Academy students can earn college credit with Advanced Placement courses or learn technical skills through the Gary Area Career Center. The school earns a C-minus grade on Niche.
Additional educational options in the area include Steel City Academy, a charter school serving students from kindergarten through twelfth grade. The school holds a C grade on Niche.
Beveridge Elementary School offers a rigorous curriculum for students in Grades K-6.
Westside Leadership Academy is a common choice for Tolleston residents.
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Important to know
Tolleston’s CAP Index scores for some categories of violent crime run higher than the national average. Project Outreach and Prevention is one of the local organizations started to curtail youth violence in the city of Gary and northwest Indiana, with clubs and social services offered in the area to support teens and young adults.
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
On average, homes in Tolleston, Gary sell after 52 days on the market compared to the national average of 52 days. The median sale price for homes in Tolleston, Gary over the last 12 months is $125,000, up 9% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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