Best places to live in Indiana
CityLedger tracks 8 Indiana metros, led by Indianapolis. Cost of living runs from about 88 to 96 against a U.S. average of 100. Every figure below is computed from public U.S. government data and links to a full profile.
CityLedger tracks 8 metros in Indiana, the largest being the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN Metro Area (around 2,173,288 people). Across the state, median household income runs from $59,209 in Terre Haute to $80,239 in Indianapolis, and typical rent from $893 a month in Terre Haute upward — a reminder that "Indiana" is really several different housing and job markets, not one.
Terre Haute has the lowest overall price level in the state (about 88 versus a U.S. average of 100), but the cheapest metro isn't always where money goes furthest. Adjusting income for local prices, Indianapolis delivers the best real buying power — a cost-adjusted median of about $83,848.
Taxes shift the picture in ways a cost-of-living index alone misses: Indiana levies a state income tax, so take-home pay is lower here than in no-income-tax states at the same salary, and combined state and local sales tax averages about 7.0% (Tax Foundation). Our salary calculator folds federal, FICA, and Indiana state tax into a single take-home figure for any metro here.
Indianapolis earns the state's highest CityLedger livability score, 58/100; Fort Wayne is the fastest-growing, up 12% over the latest population estimate; Elkhart carries the lowest natural-hazard loss rate, about $6 per $10,000 of property (FEMA). Open any metro below for the full, sourced breakdown behind these figures.
| Metro | Livability | Cost of living | Median income | Median rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis, IN | 58 | 96 | $80,239 | $1,273/mo |
| Bloomington, IN | 51 | 95 | $67,243 | $1,153/mo |
| Fort Wayne, IN | 50 | 93 | $71,251 | $1,056/mo |
| Lafayette, IN | 48 | 93 | $67,515 | $1,126/mo |
| Evansville, IN | 47 | 92 | $67,459 | $1,007/mo |
| Elkhart, IN | 40 | 90 | $69,872 | $1,047/mo |
| South Bend, IN | 33 | 93 | $63,894 | $1,101/mo |
| Terre Haute, IN | 32 | 88 | $59,209 | $893/mo |
Browse every metro on the cities index or the rankings.
Living in Indiana — frequently asked
- What is the most affordable metro in Indiana?
- By overall price level, Terre Haute is the most affordable metro in Indiana, at about 88 against a U.S. average of 100 (BEA Regional Price Parities). Affordability also depends on local pay — see where a paycheck stretches furthest below.
- Where does a paycheck go furthest in Indiana?
- Indianapolis has the highest cost-adjusted income in Indiana — a median of about $83,848 once local prices are factored in, meaning typical pay buys the most there.
- Does Indiana have a state income tax?
- Yes. Indiana levies a state income tax, which lowers take-home pay relative to no-income-tax states; combined state and local sales tax also averages about 7.0%. Our salary calculator estimates the exact take-home for each metro.
- Which Indiana metro has the highest livability score?
- Indianapolis, at 58/100 on CityLedger's livability score — a transparent blend of affordability, jobs, income, education, and commute, all from public data.