48% of Indiana renters already spend 30 percent or more of income on rent, against a median household income of $71,957, so size any loan payment carefully. Compare written offers on total cost, confirm the lender's license and refuse any fee demanded before funding.
On this page
- Indiana by the numbers
- What the numbers mean for Indiana borrowers
- Largest places in Indiana
- Other sizable places in Indiana
- Counties with the most residents
- How Indiana earns a living
- More context for Indiana budgets
- Checking a lender in Indiana
- Can Indiana residents use the questionnaire?
- Local guides in Indiana
- Frequently asked questions
Indiana by the numbers
Here is Indiana next to the U.S. on income, housing, work and commuting, with a rank among the 50 states plus DC for each line. Source: ACS five-year estimates for 2020 to 2024.
| Measure | Indiana | United States | Place among 51 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $71,957 | $80,734 | 39th |
| Working from home | 11% | 15% | 39th |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 29% | 36% | 43rd |
| Median age | 38.1 | 38.9 | 37th |
| Income inequality (Gini index) | 0.452 | 0.483 | 42nd |
| Share of households under $35,000 | 23% | 21% | 15th |
| Share of households at $100,000+ | 34% | 41% | 40th |
| People below the poverty line | 12.3% | 12.5% | 22nd |
| Unemployment rate (ACS) | 4.3% | 5.2% | 35th |
| Median gross rent per month | $1,062 | $1,413 | 38th |
| Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent | 48% | 51% | 32nd |
| Home value, median | $218,200 | $332,700 | 41st |
| Homeownership rate | 71% | 65% | 12th |
| Mortgaged owners paying 30%+ on housing | 20% | 28% | 50th |
| Home value to income ratio | 3.0x | 4.1x | 46th |
| Commutes of 45 minutes or longer | 13% | 17% | 31st |
What the numbers mean for Indiana borrowers
Long commutes of 45 minutes or more affect 13% of Indiana workers, which ranks 31st of 51. A long drive also means more wear, so a repair fund of even a few hundred dollars can keep a breakdown from becoming a loan.
Poverty affects 12.3% of Indiana residents (U.S. 12.5%), and the five-year average unemployment rate was 4.3%. If your job is seasonal or hourly, lenders may ask for more months of statements to see a steady pattern.
Indiana's median household income is $71,957, 39th of 51 and 11% below the U.S. figure of $80,734. Use it as a yardstick: if your income sits well below the median, keep the loan smaller and the term shorter.
Homeownership stands at 71% in Indiana and the median owner-occupied home is worth $218,200, which ranks 41st among the 51 jurisdictions. Among owners with a mortgage, 20% spend 30 percent or more of income on housing (U.S.: 28%). Before using equity, read how a HELOC compares with a personal loan: the line is secured by the home, the loan usually is not.
Largest places in Indiana
Population, income and housing costs for the 12 largest places in Indiana (ACS 2020 to 2024); linked names open a local guide.
| Community | County | Residents | Household income (median) | Median rent | Home value (median) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis | Marion County | 885,860 | $66,219 | $1,156 | $224,800 |
| Fort Wayne | Allen County | 268,589 | $61,422 | $999 | $188,900 |
| Evansville | Vanderburgh County | 116,116 | $53,387 | $975 | $143,100 |
| South Bend | St. Joseph County | 103,085 | $55,786 | $1,033 | $140,400 |
| Fishers | Hamilton County | 102,337 | $130,203 | $1,611 | $391,000 |
| Carmel | Hamilton County | 101,651 | $141,505 | $1,712 | $486,800 |
| Bloomington | Monroe County | 80,049 | $50,465 | $1,200 | $321,400 |
| Hammond | Lake County | 76,768 | $55,504 | $1,134 | $159,900 |
| Noblesville | Hamilton County | 73,362 | $104,047 | $1,389 | $349,700 |
| Lafayette | Tippecanoe County | 71,159 | $53,716 | $1,079 | $172,800 |
| Gary | Lake County | 68,113 | $38,731 | $1,012 | $94,700 |
| Greenwood | Johnson County | 66,029 | $83,608 | $1,312 | $276,100 |
Of the places the Census Bureau tracks in Indiana, 86 have 10,000 or more people and 21 have 50,000 or more. The income gap between towns is wide: among places over 20,000, Zionsville has the highest median at $172,024 and West Lafayette the lowest at $34,891. Rents differ just as much, from a median $805 a month in Marion to $1,792 in Zionsville.
Other sizable places in Indiana
From Muncie (64,751 residents) down to Zionsville (32,095).
| Community | Population | Median household income | Rent (median) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Muncie | 64,751 | $44,471 | $904 |
| Kokomo | 59,122 | $55,360 | $939 |
| Terre Haute | 58,427 | $43,126 | $922 |
| Anderson | 55,367 | $46,909 | $925 |
| Westfield | 54,677 | $122,789 | $1,667 |
| Elkhart | 53,733 | $51,028 | $998 |
| Columbus | 51,824 | $77,456 | $1,157 |
| Jeffersonville | 51,043 | $70,930 | $1,148 |
| Mishawaka | 51,021 | $54,291 | $1,070 |
| Lawrence | 49,517 | $74,022 | $1,178 |
| West Lafayette | 45,159 | $34,891 | $1,225 |
| Portage | 38,082 | $76,276 | $1,231 |
| New Albany | 37,581 | $54,710 | $1,026 |
| Merrillville | 36,476 | $67,587 | $1,282 |
| Plainfield | 36,369 | $87,272 | $1,499 |
| Richmond | 35,581 | $45,399 | $822 |
| Valparaiso | 34,733 | $69,872 | $1,224 |
| Goshen | 34,420 | $59,184 | $1,093 |
| Crown Point | 34,393 | $101,686 | $1,485 |
| Zionsville | 32,095 | $172,024 | $1,792 |
Measured as a year of median rent against median household income, housing weighs most in West Lafayette (42%) and least in Zionsville (13%) among these 20 places.
Counties with the most residents
Indiana county data, largest first (16 shown of 92).
| County | Population | Median income | Median rent | Median home value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marion County | 975,809 | $66,346 | $1,153 | $224,000 |
| Lake County | 500,379 | $71,493 | $1,131 | $230,600 |
| Allen County | 392,378 | $70,737 | $1,021 | $214,900 |
| Hamilton County | 365,056 | $121,530 | $1,574 | $405,500 |
| St. Joseph County | 273,040 | $66,868 | $1,062 | $192,800 |
| Elkhart County | 207,132 | $68,561 | $1,047 | $210,400 |
| Tippecanoe County | 189,071 | $60,636 | $1,124 | $239,300 |
| Hendricks County | 183,344 | $101,144 | $1,436 | $307,600 |
| Vanderburgh County | 180,117 | $61,648 | $985 | $184,000 |
| Porter County | 174,818 | $87,972 | $1,219 | $281,500 |
| Johnson County | 166,315 | $90,454 | $1,271 | $284,600 |
| Monroe County | 140,965 | $65,868 | $1,193 | $285,200 |
| Madison County | 131,900 | $63,037 | $939 | $161,300 |
| Clark County | 124,354 | $74,214 | $1,129 | $222,900 |
| Delaware County | 112,280 | $58,127 | $906 | $139,400 |
| LaPorte County | 111,917 | $71,055 | $976 | $195,500 |
The richest county by median income is Hamilton County ($121,530); the lowest is Crawford County ($49,640). Lenders price your own file, not your county, but local costs decide how much payment your budget can carry.
How Indiana earns a living
Four industries employ the largest shares of working Indiana residents; the national shares are shown for comparison.
| Industry | Share of Indiana workers | National share | Gap vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education, health care and social assistance | 23% | 24% | -0.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 18% | 10% | +8.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 11% | 11% | -0.1 pts |
| Professional, scientific and administrative services | 9% | 13% | -3.3 pts |
Indiana's signature sector, measured against the U.S., is manufacturing at 18% of employed residents. Hourly workers with variable schedules should average several months of pay when sizing a payment.
More context for Indiana budgets
Roughly one in 3 Indiana households earns six figures (34%), and 8% clear $200,000, while 23% live on less than $35,000. Households at the lower end often do better with a smaller loan, or with a hardship plan from the creditor they already owe.
The rent burden rate in Indiana is 48% of renter households (U.S. 51%), on a median rent of $1,062. A moving or deposit loan is common among renters; compare it with a payment plan from the landlord or utility first.
Indiana's Gini index of income inequality is 0.452 (U.S.: 0.483; higher means more unequal), 29% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree, and the median resident is 38.1 years old.
Checking a lender in Indiana
Any lender offering loans in Indiana should be able to show a license or a bank charter. For state-level questions, the CSBS directory points to the Indiana Department of Financial Institutions.
- NMLS Consumer Access shows many lenders' licenses state by state.
- Report fee-first offers at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
- If a lender stops answering, the CFPB complaint form usually gets a response within weeks.
Can Indiana residents use the questionnaire?
Partner coverage varies by state. If no lending partner is accepting Indiana matches yet, the questionnaire says so on the location step and offers an email waitlist instead of asking for anything else. The guides and calculators work for everyone.
Local guides in Indiana
City-level guides for Indiana (6 so far):
Frequently asked questions
Who regulates personal lenders in Indiana?
In Indiana, the Indiana Department of Financial Institutions is the banking agency named by the Conference of State Bank Supervisors. NMLS Consumer Access lists many lenders' licenses, and the CFPB accepts complaints from every state.
What is the median household income in Indiana?
About $71,957. Half of Indiana households earn more and half less; nationally the midpoint is $80,734.
Is rent high in Indiana?
$1,062 a month at the median, 38th of 51. 48% of Indiana renters are cost-burdened, against 51% nationwide.
How common are long commutes in Indiana?
13% of Indiana workers travel 45 minutes or more to work, against 17% nationally (ACS 2020 to 2024). Long drives raise fuel and repair costs, so build them into any loan budget.