Median Income
$57,250
household / year
Median Home Value
$91,300
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$874
gross / month
Cost of Living
95
national avg = 100

Is Paragon, IN a Good Place to Live?

Paragon is a small town of 541 in Indiana, with a median household income of $57,250 and a 18.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 95 (US average = 100), which is 5% below the national average.

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

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

All Paragon 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

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

Metric Paragon, IN National Avg
Median Home Value $91,300 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $874 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 66.0% 65.9%
Median Household Income $57,250 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Crime data for Paragon is not currently available from the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program. Not all local agencies report to the UCR each year.

Schools & Education

Paragon is served primarily by MSD Martinsville Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.2:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric Paragon, IN National Avg
School District MSD Martinsville Schools
Elementary Schools 7
Middle Schools 2
High Schools 1
Student/Teacher Ratio 13.2:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 2.4% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 77.4% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Paragon sees average highs of 36.3°F in January and 83.9°F in July, with 48.3 inches of annual precipitation and 16.7 inches of snow per year.

MetricParagon, IN
Average High — January36.3°F
Average High — July83.9°F
Annual Precipitation48.3"
Annual Snowfall16.7"

Demographics

MetricParagon, INNational Avg
Population541
Median Age42.438.9
Unemployment Rate18.5%3.7%
Avg Commute Time33.9 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)96.9%59.3%
Black or African American0.0%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino2.8%18.9%
Asian0.0%6.3%
Under 1815.9%22.2%
65 and over15.9%16.8%

Nearby Cities

ZIP Codes in Paragon

Paragon, IN is covered by 1 ZIP code:

Paragon vs Other Cities

Frequently Asked Questions

Paragon's cost of living index is 95, where 100 is the national average. That makes Paragon roughly 5% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $91,300 and median rent is $874/month.
Crime data for Paragon is not available in the current FBI UCR reporting year. Not all jurisdictions submit data annually.
Public schools in Paragon are operated by MSD Martinsville Schools. The district has 7 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.2:1. 2.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Paragon, IN has a population of 541, a median household income of $57,250, and an unemployment rate of 18.5%. 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.
Paragon averages 36.3°F in January and 83.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 48.3 inches with about 16.7 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Paragon, IN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 46166.
The population of Paragon, Indiana is 541 with a median age of 42.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Paragon: cost of living index 95 (100 = US average), median home $91,300, median household income $57,250, schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Paragon side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.