Best places to live in Indiana

The top 3 in Indiana

1. 

   1

   Muncie

   Score 78 of 100

   Median home

   $181,500

   Per month

   $997

   Prices

   12% cheaper

   • Prices 12% below the US average
   • Homes list 57% below the US median
   • Nonstop flights to New York

   Trade-offReal winters. January lows average 21.3°F with 25.4 inches of snow a year.

   Live and Work Remote in Muncie: $5,000 cash

   Cost of living in Muncie

   The numbers behind it↓

   • Prices 12% below the US average. Everyday prices, rent included, index at 88.1 against a US average of 100. (BEA regional price parities, 2024)
   • Homes list 57% below the US median. $181,500 median listing against $419,250 nationally. (Realtor.com via FRED, September 2026)
   • Nonstop flights to New York. From IND to JFK, LGA, EWR. (Airport route page, August 31, 2026)
   • Real winters. January lows average 21.3°F with 25.4 inches of snow a year. (NOAA 1991-2020 normals)

   Price level 88.1 (US average = 100).

   Home price: Realtor.com via FRED, September 2026. Price level: BEA, 2024.

2. bubba73 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

   2

   Terre Haute

   Score 74 of 100

   Median home

   $189,625

   Per month

   $1,042

   Prices

   12% cheaper

   • Prices 12% below the US average
   • Homes list 55% below the US median
   • Nonstop flights to New York

   Work Remote in Terre Haute: $7,500 cash

   Cost of living in Terre Haute

   The numbers behind it↓

   • Prices 12% below the US average. Everyday prices, rent included, index at 87.8 against a US average of 100. (BEA regional price parities, 2024)
   • Homes list 55% below the US median. $189,625 median listing against $419,250 nationally. (Realtor.com via FRED, September 2026)
   • Nonstop flights to New York. From IND to JFK, LGA, EWR. (Airport route page, August 31, 2026)

   Price level 87.8 (US average = 100).

   Home price: Realtor.com via FRED, September 2026. Price level: BEA, 2024.

3. 

   3

   Evansville

   Score 55 of 100

   Median home

   $259,225

   Per month

   $1,425

   Prices

   8% cheaper

   • Prices 8% below the US average
   • Homes list 38% below the US median
   • Pays you to move

   Trade-offNo nonstop flights to New York. Trips home mean a connection or a drive to a bigger airport.

   Belong & Work Remotely in the Evansville Region: $3,000 cash

   Cost of living in Evansville

   The numbers behind it↓

   • Prices 8% below the US average. Everyday prices, rent included, index at 91.5 against a US average of 100. (BEA regional price parities, 2024)
   • Homes list 38% below the US median. $259,225 median listing against $419,250 nationally. (Realtor.com via FRED, September 2026)
   • Pays you to move. Belong & Work Remotely in the Evansville Region: $3,000 cash. (Program page, accessed 2026-10-30; site (C) 2026)
   • No nonstop flights to New York. Trips home mean a connection or a drive to a bigger airport. (Airport route page, October 14, 2026)

   Price level 91.5 (US average = 100).

   Home price: Realtor.com via FRED, September 2026. Price level: BEA, 2024.

Ranks 4 to 6

1. 

   4

   Indianapolis

   Score 35 of 100

   Median home

   $310,000

   Per month

   $1,704

   Prices

   4% cheaper

   Trade-offReal winters. January lows average 20.9°F with 25.5 inches of snow a year.

   Why it ranks here ↓

   • Prices 4% below the US average
   • Homes list 26% below the US median
   • Nonstop flights to New York

   • Prices 4% below the US average. Everyday prices, rent included, index at 95.7 against a US average of 100. (BEA regional price parities, 2024)
   • Homes list 26% below the US median. $310,000 median listing against $419,250 nationally. (Realtor.com via FRED, September 2026)
   • Nonstop flights to New York. From IND to JFK, LGA, EWR. (Airport route page, accessed October 14, 2026)

   Step Into Life in the Indy Region: $7,500 in benefits

   Cost of living in IndianapolisIndianapolis vs Columbus

   Price level 95.7 (US average = 100).

   Home price: Realtor.com via FRED, September 2026. Price level: BEA, 2024.

2. 

   5

   Fort Wayne

   Score 19 of 100

   Median home

   $309,450

   Per month

   $1,701

   Prices

   7% cheaper

   Trade-offReal winters. January lows average 18.4°F with 33.6 inches of snow a year.

   Why it ranks here ↓

   • Prices 7% below the US average
   • Homes list 26% below the US median
   • Pays you to move

   • Prices 7% below the US average. Everyday prices, rent included, index at 92.6 against a US average of 100. (BEA regional price parities, 2024)
   • Homes list 26% below the US median. $309,450 median listing against $419,250 nationally. (Realtor.com via FRED, September 2026)
   • Pays you to move. Move to the Northeast Indiana Region: $11,700 in benefits. (Program page, accessed 2026-10-30; site (C) 2026)

   Move to the Northeast Indiana Region: $11,700 in benefits

   Cost of living in Fort Wayne

   Price level 92.6 (US average = 100).

   Home price: Realtor.com via FRED, September 2026. Price level: BEA, 2024.

3. 

   6

   Bloomington

   Score 16 of 100

   Median home

   $359,675

   Per month

   $1,977

   Prices

   5% cheaper

   Why it ranks here ↓

   • Prices 5% below the US average
   • Homes list 14% below the US median
   • Nonstop flights to New York

   • Prices 5% below the US average. Everyday prices, rent included, index at 95.1 against a US average of 100. (BEA regional price parities, 2024)
   • Homes list 14% below the US median. $359,675 median listing against $419,250 nationally. (Realtor.com via FRED, September 2026)
   • Nonstop flights to New York. From IND to JFK, LGA, EWR. (Airport route page, August 31, 2026)

   Bloomington Remote Worker Program: $8,500 in benefits

   Cost of living in Bloomington

   Price level 95.1 (US average = 100).

   Home price: Realtor.com via FRED, September 2026. Price level: BEA, 2024.

How we ranked them

1. Lower home prices40%Lowest median listing in the state gets full points, the highest gets none. Source: Realtor.com via FRED.
2. More space for the money (price per square foot)20%Lowest price per square foot gets full points, the highest gets none. Source: Realtor.com via FRED.
3. Milder winters (January low)20%Warmest January low gets full points, the coldest gets none. Source: NOAA 1991-2020 normals.
4. Nonstop flights to New York10%Full points for a year-round nonstop to New York. Seasonal, none or no figure scores zero. Source: Airport route pages.
5. More people moving in than leaving10%Full points if more people moved in from other US metros than left, July 2024 to July 2025. Source: US Census Bureau, Vintage 2025.

Points on each measure run from none to full, then the weights above add up to a score out of 100. A city with no figure for home price, price per square foot or January low gets half points on that measure. No flight or migration figure scores zero.

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