What are the schools like in Winona Lake, IN?

Winona Lake is served primarily by Warsaw Community Schools. The district operates 8 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.2:1.

What is the median household income in Winona Lake?

The median household income in Winona Lake, IN is $77,305 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.3%.

What is the weather like in Winona Lake, IN?

Winona Lake has an average high temperature of 33.0°F in January and 83.8°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 40.5 inches and annual snowfall averages 31.9 inches.

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

Q: Is Winona Lake, IN affordable or expensive?

Winona Lake's cost of living index is 96, where 100 represents the national average. This means Winona Lake is 4% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $211,100 and the median rent is $1,000 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Winona Lake, IN?

Winona Lake has a violent crime rate of 78.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 293.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Winona Lake, IN a Good Place to Live?

Winona Lake is a small town of 5,077 in Indiana, with a median household income of $77,305 and a 2.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 96 (US average = 100), which is 4% below the national average.

Strengths: Winona Lake stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Winona Lake is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Winona Lake 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: 96.5

Winona Lake's overall cost of living index is 96.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Winona Lake costs roughly 4% less than the average American city.

Metric	Winona Lake, IN	National Avg
Median Home Value	$211,100	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,000	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	64.7%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$77,305	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Winona Lake's violent crime rate is 78.2 per 100,000 residents — 79% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

78.2 /100k

Property Crime

293.4 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Winona Lake is served primarily by Warsaw Community Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.2:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Winona Lake, IN	National Avg
School District	Warsaw Community Schools	—
Elementary Schools	8	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.2:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	54.9%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	95.5%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Winona Lake sees average highs of 33.0°F in January and 83.8°F in July, with 40.5 inches of annual precipitation and 31.9 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Winona Lake, IN
Average High — January	33.0°F
Average High — July	83.8°F
Annual Precipitation	40.5"
Annual Snowfall	31.9"

Demographics

Metric	Winona Lake, IN	National Avg
Population	5,077	—
Median Age	28.9	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.3%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	13.3 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	83.8%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.6%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	11.7%	18.9%
Asian	0.8%	6.3%
Under 18	20.1%	22.2%
65 and over	13.8%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Warsaw, IN 3 mi Wooster, IN 4 mi Pierceton, IN 6 mi Claypool, IN 7 mi Barbee, IN 7 mi

ZIP Codes in Winona Lake

Winona Lake, IN is covered by 1 ZIP code:

46590

Winona Lake vs Other Cities

Winona Lake, IN vs Warsaw, IN Winona Lake, IN vs Wooster, IN Winona Lake, IN vs Pierceton, IN Winona Lake, IN vs Claypool, IN Winona Lake, IN vs Barbee, IN

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Winona Lake, IN affordable or expensive?

Winona Lake's cost of living index is 96, where 100 is the national average. That makes Winona Lake roughly 4% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $211,100 and median rent is $1,000/month.

What is the crime rate in Winona Lake, IN?

Winona Lake's violent crime rate is 78.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 293.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Winona Lake?

Public schools in Winona Lake are operated by Warsaw Community Schools. The district has 8 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.2:1. 54.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Winona Lake, IN a good place to live?

Winona Lake, IN has a population of 5,077, a median household income of $77,305, and an unemployment rate of 2.3%. 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 Winona Lake?

Winona Lake averages 33.0°F in January and 83.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 40.5 inches with about 31.9 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Winona Lake?

Winona Lake, IN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 46590.

What is the population of Winona Lake?

The population of Winona Lake, Indiana is 5,077 with a median age of 28.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Winona Lake?

Key numbers for living in Winona Lake: cost of living index 96 (100 = US average), median home $211,100, median household income $77,305, crime index 18 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Winona Lake side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.