Lapel is a small town of 2,517 in Indiana, with a median household income of $69,028
and a 3.2% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 95 (US average = 100), which is
5% below the national average.
Strengths:
Lapel stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B).
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Lapel is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Lapel 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
Lapel's overall cost of living index is 94.6,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Lapel costs roughly 5% less than the average American city.
Metric
Lapel, IN
National Avg
Median Home Value
$172,000
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,064
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
73.0%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$69,028
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Lapel's violent crime rate is 207.6 per 100,000 residents
— 45% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
207.6 /100k
Property Crime
1191.6 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Lapel is served primarily by Frankton-Lapel Community Schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.2:1
(slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Lapel, IN
National Avg
School District
Frankton-Lapel Community Schools
—
Elementary Schools
2
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
2
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.2:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
27.6%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
94.7%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Lapel sees average highs of 34.9°F in January
and 83.8°F in July,
with 42.1 inches of annual precipitation
and 17.6 inches of snow per year.
Lapel's cost of living index is 95, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Lapel roughly 5% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $172,000 and median rent is $1,064/month.
Lapel's violent crime rate is 207.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1191.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Lapel are operated by Frankton-Lapel Community Schools.
The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.2:1. 27.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Lapel, IN has a population of 2,517, a median household income of $69,028, and an unemployment rate of 3.2%.
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.
Lapel averages 34.9°F in January and 83.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 42.1 inches
with about 17.6 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Lapel, IN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 46051.
The population of Lapel, Indiana is 2,517 with a median age of 37.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Lapel: cost of living index 95 (100 = US average), median home $172,000, median household income $69,028, crime index 55 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Lapel side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
