Best small towns to live in Indiana

1. 1
   Brownstown, IN Score 76/100

   3,040 people · typical home $147k · household income $63k · 36 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 33% of IN · 2.0% unemployment · 9 mi to a hospital

2. 2
   Waterloo, IN Score 75/100

   2,073 people · typical home $105k · household income $67k · 48 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 24% of IN · 6.0% unemployment · 7 mi to a hospital

3. 3
   Montpelier, IN Score 74/100

   1,533 people · typical home $86k · household income $45k · schools in the top 21% of IN · 3.0% unemployment · 13 mi to a hospital

4. 4
   French Lick, IN Score 72/100

   1,828 people · typical home $85k · household income $55k · schools in the top 43% of IN · 1.0% unemployment · 9 mi to a hospital

5. 5
   Gosport, IN Score 70/100

   1,303 people · typical home $108k · household income $60k · schools in the top 36% of IN · 3.0% unemployment · 19 mi to a hospital

6. 6
   Dale, IN Score 69/100

   1,542 people · typical home $127k · household income $62k · schools in the top 3% of IN · 3.0% unemployment · 16 mi to a hospital

7. 7
   Bicknell, IN Score 65/100

   3,017 people · typical home $66k · household income $52k · 131 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 45% of IN · 3.0% unemployment · 11 mi to a hospital

8. 8
   Portland, IN Score 65/100

   6,416 people · typical home $97k · household income $52k · schools in the top 41% of IN · 5.0% unemployment · 2 mi to a hospital

9. 9
   Bourbon, IN Score 65/100

   1,760 people · typical home $164k · household income $74k · 86 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 15% of IN · 4.0% unemployment · 12 mi to a hospital

10. 10
    Topeka, IN Score 64/100

    1,137 people · typical home $142k · household income $63k · 72 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 14% of IN · 10.0% unemployment · 11 mi to a hospital

11. 11
    Wolcott, IN Score 64/100

    1,033 people · typical home $114k · household income $67k · schools in the top 39% of IN · 3.0% unemployment · 15 mi to a hospital

12. 12
    Ashley, IN Score 64/100

    1,230 people · typical home $132k · household income $49k · 48 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 26% of IN · 3.0% unemployment · 10 mi to a hospital

13. 13
    Butler, IN Score 64/100

    2,660 people · typical home $108k · household income $55k · 42 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 57% of IN · 2.0% unemployment · 10 mi to a hospital

14. 14
    Oolitic, IN Score 63/100

    1,522 people · typical home $138k · household income $59k · 7 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 49% of IN · 4.0% unemployment · 4 mi to a hospital

15. 15
    Peru, IN Score 62/100

    10,901 people · typical home $93k · household income $46k · 61 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 47% of IN · 9.0% unemployment · 0 mi to a hospital

16. 16
    Gas City, IN Score 62/100

    6,076 people · typical home $119k · household income $56k · 31 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 75% of IN · 2.0% unemployment · 3 mi to a hospital

17. 17
    Remington, IN Score 62/100

    1,623 people · typical home $146k · household income $76k · schools in the top 39% of IN · 2.0% unemployment · 15 mi to a hospital

18. 18
    Santa Claus, IN Score 62/100

    2,793 people · typical home $259k · household income $90k · schools in the top 3% of IN · 2.0% unemployment · 14 mi to a hospital

19. 19
    Sweetser, IN Score 62/100

    1,061 people · typical home $153k · household income $81k · 75 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 53% of IN · 3.0% unemployment · 7 mi to a hospital

20. 20
    Bedford, IN Score 61/100

    13,837 people · typical home $152k · household income $50k · 7 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 45% of IN · 2.0% unemployment · 2 mi to a hospital

21. 21
    North Manchester, IN Score 61/100

    4,819 people · typical home $138k · household income $61k · schools in the top 32% of IN · 2.0% unemployment · 15 mi to a hospital

22. 22
    Brookville, IN Score 60/100

    2,643 people · typical home $181k · household income $56k · 17 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 38% of IN · 1.0% unemployment · 14 mi to a hospital

23. 23
    Upland, IN Score 60/100

    3,918 people · typical home $203k · household income $84k · 75 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 41% of IN · 3.0% unemployment · 9 mi to a hospital

24. 24
    Veedersburg, IN Score 60/100

    1,990 people · typical home $104k · household income $58k · schools in the top 43% of IN · 5.0% unemployment · 16 mi to a hospital

25. 25
    Orleans, IN Score 60/100

    2,235 people · typical home $118k · household income $65k · schools in the top 53% of IN · 4.0% unemployment · 10 mi to a hospital

How we ranked them

Every small town in Indiana with 1,000–15,000 people that stands on its own (not part of a big metro core, by USDA rural-urban codes) and has solid Census data. Each town is scored against the others in Indiana on: affordability (household income vs. home prices), safety (violent crime, FBI), schools (reading proficiency vs. other Indiana districts), jobs (unemployment, half weight) and everyday access (distance to a hospital and a grocery store, quarter weight each). Missing numbers count as average.

The "best" town is different for everyone — weather, size, politics, things to do and more all matter too.

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