What are the schools like in Elwood, IN?

Elwood is served primarily by Elwood Community School Corp. The district operates 2 elementary schools, several middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.5:1.

What is the median household income in Elwood?

The median household income in Elwood, IN is $52,139 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 6.5%.

What is the weather like in Elwood, IN?

Elwood has an average high temperature of 33.8°F in January and 83.9°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 42.5 inches and annual snowfall averages 20.8 inches.

Elwood, IN Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Elwood, IN affordable or expensive?

Elwood's cost of living index is 95, where 100 represents the national average. This means Elwood is 5% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $85,200 and the median rent is $782 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Elwood, IN?

Elwood has a violent crime rate of 94.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 462.6 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Elwood, IN a Good Place to Live?

Elwood is a small town of 8,339 in Indiana, with a median household income of $52,139 and a 6.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 95 (US average = 100), which is 5% below the national average.

Strengths: Elwood stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B).

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Elwood is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Elwood city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 94.6

Elwood's overall cost of living index is 94.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Elwood costs roughly 5% less than the average American city.

Metric	Elwood, IN	National Avg
Median Home Value	$85,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$782	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	63.4%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$52,139	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Elwood's violent crime rate is 94.9 per 100,000 residents — 75% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

94.9 /100k

Property Crime

462.6 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Elwood is served primarily by Elwood Community School Corp. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.5:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Elwood, IN	National Avg
School District	Elwood Community School Corp	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.5:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	8.2%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	90.7%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Elwood sees average highs of 33.8°F in January and 83.9°F in July, with 42.5 inches of annual precipitation and 20.8 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Elwood, IN
Average High — January	33.8°F
Average High — July	83.9°F
Annual Precipitation	42.5"
Annual Snowfall	20.8"

Demographics

Metric	Elwood, IN	National Avg
Population	8,339	—
Median Age	40.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	6.5%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	26.8 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	96.0%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.8%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.5%	18.9%
Asian	0.1%	6.3%
Under 18	23.0%	22.2%
65 and over	15.0%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Frankton, IN 5 mi Orestes, IN 6 mi Hobbs, IN 6 mi Alexandria, IN 9 mi Windfall City, IN 9 mi

ZIP Codes in Elwood

Elwood, IN is covered by 1 ZIP code:

46036

Elwood vs Other Cities

Elwood, IN vs Frankton, IN Elwood, IN vs Orestes, IN Elwood, IN vs Hobbs, IN Elwood, IN vs Alexandria, IN Elwood, IN vs Windfall City, IN

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Elwood, IN affordable or expensive?

Elwood's cost of living index is 95, where 100 is the national average. That makes Elwood roughly 5% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $85,200 and median rent is $782/month.

What is the crime rate in Elwood, IN?

Elwood's violent crime rate is 94.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 462.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Elwood?

Public schools in Elwood are operated by Elwood Community School Corp. The district has 2 elementary, several middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.5:1. 8.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Elwood, IN a good place to live?

Elwood, IN has a population of 8,339, a median household income of $52,139, and an unemployment rate of 6.5%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Elwood?

Elwood averages 33.8°F in January and 83.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 42.5 inches with about 20.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Elwood?

Elwood, IN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 46036.

What is the population of Elwood?

The population of Elwood, Indiana is 8,339 with a median age of 40.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Elwood?

Key numbers for living in Elwood: cost of living index 95 (100 = US average), median home $85,200, median household income $52,139, crime index 24 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Elwood side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.