What are the schools like in Riley, IN?

Riley is served primarily by Vigo County School Corp. The district operates 16 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, and 4 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.2:1.

What is the median household income in Riley?

The median household income in Riley, IN is $55,125 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 19.2%.

What is the weather like in Riley, IN?

Riley has an average high temperature of 37.5°F in January and 85.6°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 41.8 inches and annual snowfall averages 15.1 inches.

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

Q: Is Riley, IN affordable or expensive?

Riley's cost of living index is 88, where 100 represents the national average. This means Riley is 12% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $94,500 and the median rent is $935 per month.

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

Riley has a violent crime rate of 389.6 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2516.9 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Riley, IN a Good Place to Live?

Riley is a small town of 511 in Indiana, with a median household income of $55,125 and a 19.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is 12% below the national average.

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

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

All Riley 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: 88.2

Riley's overall cost of living index is 88.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Riley costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.

Metric	Riley, IN	National Avg
Median Home Value	$94,500	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$935	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	71.7%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$55,125	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Riley's violent crime rate is 389.6 per 100,000 residents — 3% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

389.6 /100k

Property Crime

2516.9 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Riley is served primarily by Vigo County School Corp. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.2:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Riley, IN	National Avg
School District	Vigo County School Corp	—
Elementary Schools	16	—
Middle Schools	5	—
High Schools	4	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.2:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	12.4%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	94.4%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Riley sees average highs of 37.5°F in January and 85.6°F in July, with 41.8 inches of annual precipitation and 15.1 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Riley, IN
Average High — January	37.5°F
Average High — July	85.6°F
Annual Precipitation	41.8"
Annual Snowfall	15.1"

Demographics

Metric	Riley, IN	National Avg
Population	511	—
Median Age	40.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	19.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	20.2 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	97.7%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.0%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	28.8%	22.2%
65 and over	18.8%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Lakewood, IN 0 mi Cory, IN 5 mi Terre Haute, IN 7 mi Seelyville, IN 7 mi Dresser, IN 8 mi

ZIP Codes in Riley

Riley, IN is covered by 1 ZIP code:

47871

Riley vs Other Cities

Riley, IN vs Lakewood, IN Riley, IN vs Cory, IN Riley, IN vs Terre Haute, IN Riley, IN vs Seelyville, IN Riley, IN vs Dresser, IN

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Riley, IN affordable or expensive?

Riley's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average. That makes Riley roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $94,500 and median rent is $935/month.

What is the crime rate in Riley, IN?

Riley's violent crime rate is 389.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2516.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Riley?

Public schools in Riley are operated by Vigo County School Corp. The district has 16 elementary, 5 middle, and 4 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.2:1. 12.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Riley, IN a good place to live?

Riley, IN has a population of 511, a median household income of $55,125, and an unemployment rate of 19.2%. 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.

What is the weather like in Riley?

Riley averages 37.5°F in January and 85.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 41.8 inches with about 15.1 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Riley?

Riley, IN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 47871.

What is the population of Riley?

The population of Riley, Indiana is 511 with a median age of 40.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Riley?

Key numbers for living in Riley: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $94,500, median household income $55,125, crime index 109 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Riley side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.