Median Income
$59,110
household / year
Median Home Value
$184,600
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$1,046
gross / month
Cost of Living
95
national avg = 100

Is Indianapolis, IN a Good Place to Live?

Indianapolis is a large city of 882,006 in Indiana, with a median household income of $59,110 and a 5.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 95 (US average = 100), which is 5% below the national average.

Strengths: Indianapolis stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Indianapolis is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Indianapolis 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

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

Metric Indianapolis, IN National Avg
Median Home Value $184,600 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $1,046 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 54.9% 65.9%
Median Household Income $59,110 $74,755

Crime & Safety

High Crime

Indianapolis's violent crime rate is 877.9 per 100,000 residents — 131% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
877.9 /100k
Property Crime
3336.1 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Indianapolis is served primarily by Indianapolis Public Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.3:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric Indianapolis, IN National Avg
School District Indianapolis Public Schools —
Elementary Schools 35 —
Middle Schools 7 —
High Schools 5 —
Student/Teacher Ratio 12.3:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 33.4% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 87.2% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Indianapolis sees average highs of 34.2°F in January and 83.7°F in July, with 41.2 inches of annual precipitation and 25.5 inches of snow per year.

MetricIndianapolis, IN
Average High — January34.2°F
Average High — July83.7°F
Annual Precipitation41.2"
Annual Snowfall25.5"

Demographics

MetricIndianapolis, INNational Avg
Population882,006—
Median Age34.338.9
Unemployment Rate5.6%3.7%
Avg Commute Time24.0 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)55.7%59.3%
Black or African American28.8%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino7.2%18.9%
Asian4.2%6.3%
Under 1824.5%22.2%
65 and over12.8%16.8%

Nearby Cities

Spring Hill, IN 5 mi Wynnedale, IN 5 mi Warren Park, IN 5 mi Rocky Ripple, IN 5 mi Beech Grove, IN 5 mi

ZIP Codes in Indianapolis

Indianapolis, IN is covered by 36 ZIP codes:

46239 46241 46217 46221 46227 46259 46237 46203 46278 46219 46254 46268 46220 46226 46256 46222 46218 46260 46229 46240 46250 46214 46228 46208 46205 46113 46201 46231 46235 46234 46202 46225 46224 46204 46183 46206

Indianapolis vs Other Cities

Indianapolis, IN vs Spring Hill, IN Indianapolis, IN vs Wynnedale, IN Indianapolis, IN vs Warren Park, IN Indianapolis, IN vs Rocky Ripple, IN Indianapolis, IN vs Beech Grove, IN

Frequently Asked Questions

Indianapolis's cost of living index is 95, where 100 is the national average. That makes Indianapolis roughly 5% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $184,600 and median rent is $1,046/month.
Indianapolis's violent crime rate is 877.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3336.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Indianapolis are operated by Indianapolis Public Schools. The district has 35 elementary, 7 middle, and 5 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.3:1. 33.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Indianapolis, IN has a population of 882,006, a median household income of $59,110, and an unemployment rate of 5.6%. 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.
Indianapolis averages 34.2°F in January and 83.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 41.2 inches with about 25.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Indianapolis, IN is covered by 36 ZIP codes: 46239, 46241, 46217, 46221, 46227, 46259, 46237, 46203, 46278, 46219, 46254, 46268, 46220, 46226, 46256, 46222, 46218, 46260, 46229, 46240, 46250, 46214, 46228, 46208, 46205, 46113, 46201, 46231, 46235, 46234, 46202, 46225, 46224, 46204, 46183, 46206.
The population of Indianapolis, Indiana is 882,006 with a median age of 34.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Indianapolis: cost of living index 95 (100 = US average), median home $184,600, median household income $59,110, crime index 202 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Indianapolis side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.