Best Counties to Live in Indiana

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Best counties to live in Indiana

More counties in the United States experienced population growth in the last year, according to the latest Census data, even as pandemic-related moving trends begin to normalize.

Counties in the South continued to experience growth, particularly in Florida, where 96% of its 67 counties gained new residents. Polk County, Florida, a suburb of Orlando, added the most, with 26,000 people moving there in 2023.

Meanwhile, counties in the Midwest and Northeast continued to lose population, but at slower rates than the year before. Some of the biggest losses were in counties home to large cities, including Cook County, Illinois (home of Chicago) and the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens in New York.

Many counties are experiencing growth due to their job opportunities, education, or relatively affordable housing costs. Others are favored for their historic or well-designed downtowns or access to cultural opportunities.

Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to live in Indiana using rankings from Niche. Niche ranks counties by various factors including public schools, educational attainment, cost of living, and housing.

Keep reading to see if your county made the list.

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#30. Marshall County, Indiana

- Overall Rank: 873
- Population: 46,208
- Median household income: $66,016
- Median home value: $170,800 (76% own)
- Median rent: $882 (24% rent)
- Top public schools: Jefferson Elementary School (grade B+), Plymouth High School (grade B+), Triton Junior/Senior High School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Culver Academies (grade A+), St. Michael School (grade unavailable), St. Paul's Lutheran School and Preschool (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Bremen (grade A), Plymouth (grade B+), Bourbon (grade A minus)

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#29. Wabash County, Indiana

- Overall Rank: 859
- Population: 31,032
- Median household income: $66,194
- Median home value: $135,800 (79% own)
- Median rent: $731 (21% rent)
- Top public schools: Manchester Elementary School (grade A), Sharp Creek Elementary School (grade B+), Southwood Elementary School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Emmanuel Christian School (grade C+), St. Bernard Elementary School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: North Manchester (grade A), Wabash (grade B+), Chester Township (grade A minus)

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#28. Clark County, Indiana

- Overall Rank: 808
- Population: 121,484
- Median household income: $69,005
- Median home value: $195,100 (74% own)
- Median rent: $1,002 (26% rent)
- Top public schools: Pleasant Ridge Elementary School (grade A minus), Utica Elementary School (grade A minus), Silver Creek High School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Our Lady of Providence Junior/Senior High School (grade B+), St. John Paul II Catholic School (grade unavailable), St. Anthony Elementary School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Jeffersonville (grade A minus), Sellersburg (grade B+), Clarksville (grade B+)

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#27. Montgomery County, Indiana

- Overall Rank: 802
- Population: 38,018
- Median household income: $62,937
- Median home value: $156,400 (75% own)
- Median rent: $787 (25% rent)
- Top public schools: Ladoga Elementary School (grade A minus), New Market Elementary School (grade A minus), Sugar Creek Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Crawfordsville (grade B), Brown Township (grade A minus), Lake Holiday (grade A minus)

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#26. Spencer County, Indiana

- Overall Rank: 786
- Population: 19,935
- Median household income: $66,168
- Median home value: $168,200 (80% own)
- Median rent: $715 (20% rent)
- Top public schools: Heritage Hills Middle School (grade A), Nancy Hanks Elementary School (grade A), Chrisney Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: St. Bernard School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Clay Township (grade A), Santa Claus (grade A), Huff Township (grade A minus)

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#25. LaPorte County, Indiana

- Overall Rank: 781
- Population: 112,215
- Median household income: $66,854
- Median home value: $166,200 (74% own)
- Median rent: $860 (26% rent)
- Top public schools: Prairie View Elementary School (grade A minus), Rolling Prairie Elementary School (grade A minus), F. Willard Crichfield Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: La Lumiere School (grade A+), Marquette Catholic High School (grade A+), Sacred Heart Apostolic School (grade A)
- Top places: Long Beach (grade B+), Michigan City (grade B+), La Porte (grade B)

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#24. Tipton County, Indiana

- Overall Rank: 776
- Population: 15,328
- Median household income: $71,947
- Median home value: $150,700 (81% own)
- Median rent: $842 (19% rent)
- Top public schools: Tipton Elementary School (grade B+), Tipton Middle School (grade B), Tri Central Middle/High School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools: St. John the Baptist School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Tipton (grade B+), Jefferson Township (grade A minus), Prairie Township (grade A minus)

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#23. Vigo County, Indiana

- Overall Rank: 712
- Population: 106,355
- Median household income: $52,789
- Median home value: $130,300 (63% own)
- Median rent: $853 (37% rent)
- Top public schools: Terre Haute South Vigo High School (grade B+), Fayette Elementary School (grade B+), Adelaide DeVaney Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: St. Patrick Elementary School (grade unavailable), Holy Cross School (grade unavailable), Bible Baptist Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places: North Terre Haute (grade B), Terre Haute (grade B), West Terre Haute (grade C+)

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#22. Howard County, Indiana

- Overall Rank: 697
- Population: 83,452
- Median household income: $62,014
- Median home value: $143,100 (72% own)
- Median rent: $855 (28% rent)
- Top public schools: Western Middle School (grade A minus), Northwestern Middle School (grade A minus), Northwestern Senior High School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Sts. Joan of Arc & Patrick School (grade unavailable), Redeemer Lutheran School (grade unavailable), Acacia Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Greentown (grade B), Kokomo (grade B minus), Clay Township (grade A minus)

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#21. Elkhart County, Indiana

- Overall Rank: 642
- Population: 206,841
- Median household income: $63,978
- Median home value: $181,800 (71% own)
- Median rent: $945 (29% rent)
- Top public schools: Wakarusa Elementary School (grade A), North Wood Middle School (grade A), Woodview Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Bethany Christian Schools (grade A minus), Elkhart Christian Academy (grade B+), Clinton Christian School (grade C+)
- Top places: Nappanee (grade A minus), Goshen (grade A minus), Dunlap (grade B+)

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#20. Posey County, Indiana

- Overall Rank: 566
- Population: 25,226
- Median household income: $75,594
- Median home value: $200,900 (81% own)
- Median rent: $735 (19% rent)
- Top public schools: South Terrace Elementary School (grade A), Marrs Elementary School (grade A minus), North Posey Junior High School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: St. Wendel School (grade unavailable), St. Philip School (grade unavailable), St. Matthew Elementary School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Mount Vernon (grade B), Bethel Township (grade A+), Marrs Township (grade A minus)

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#19. Kosciusko County, Indiana

- Overall Rank: 462
- Population: 80,442
- Median household income: $70,945
- Median home value: $183,300 (76% own)
- Median rent: $946 (24% rent)
- Top public schools: Lincoln Elementary School (grade A), Edgewood Middle School (grade A), Eisenhower Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Lakeland Christian Academy (grade B+), Sacred Heart Elementary School (grade unavailable), Pierceton Woods Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Winona Lake (grade A+), Warsaw (grade A), Syracuse (grade B+)

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#18. Delaware County, Indiana

- Overall Rank: 450
- Population: 112,156
- Median household income: $53,377
- Median home value: $120,500 (66% own)
- Median rent: $841 (34% rent)
- Top public schools: Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics, and Humanities (grade A+), Yorktown High School (grade A), Delta High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Heritage Hall Christian School (grade B minus), St. Michael Catholic School (grade unavailable), Huffer Memorial Children's Center (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Yorktown (grade A), Muncie (grade B), Daleville (grade B)

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#17. Hancock County, Indiana

- Overall Rank: 424
- Population: 80,170
- Median household income: $85,262
- Median home value: $235,500 (80% own)
- Median rent: $1,058 (20% rent)
- Top public schools: New Palestine Intermediate School (grade A), New Palestine Junior High (grade A), Brandywine Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Zion Lutheran School (grade unavailable), St. Michael's Catholic School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: McCordsville (grade A+), New Palestine (grade B+), Greenfield (grade B+)

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#16. Lake County, Indiana

- Overall Rank: 344
- Population: 497,682
- Median household income: $66,375
- Median home value: $195,100 (71% own)
- Median rent: $1,039 (29% rent)
- Top public schools: Munster High School (grade A+), Wilbur Wright Middle School (grade A+), Frank H. Hammond Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Andrean High School (grade A), Bishop Noll Institute (grade A), Illiana Christian High School (grade B+)
- Top places: Munster (grade A+), Dyer (grade A), St. John (grade A)

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Roberto Galan // Shutterstock

#15. Dubois County, Indiana

- Overall Rank: 308
- Population: 43,584
- Median household income: $68,945
- Median home value: $187,000 (77% own)
- Median rent: $771 (23% rent)
- Top public schools: Ireland Elementary School (grade A), Pine Ridge Elementary School (grade A), Ferdinand Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Precious Blood School (grade unavailable), Holy Family School (grade unavailable), Jasper Christian Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Jasper (grade A), Huntingburg (grade A minus), Patoka Township (grade A minus)

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#14. Vanderburgh County, Indiana

- Overall Rank: 305
- Population: 179,900
- Median household income: $58,839
- Median home value: $162,800 (65% own)
- Median rent: $930 (35% rent)
- Top public schools: Signature School (grade A+), North High School (grade A minus), McCutchanville Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Evansville Day School (grade A), Reitz Memorial High School (grade A minus), Mater Dei High School (grade B+)
- Top places: Melody Hill (grade A), Evansville (grade B+), Highland (grade B+)

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Roberto Galan // Shutterstock

#13. Johnson County, Indiana

- Overall Rank: 239
- Population: 161,952
- Median household income: $82,730
- Median home value: $240,700 (74% own)
- Median rent: $1,155 (26% rent)
- Top public schools: Center Grove Middle School Central (grade A), Maple Grove Elementary School (grade A), Center Grove Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Greenwood Christian Academy (grade B+), Ss. Francis & Clare Catholic School (grade unavailable), Our Lady of Greenwood School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Bargersville (grade A), Greenwood (grade A minus), New Whiteland (grade A minus)

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#12. Porter County, Indiana

- Overall Rank: 236
- Population: 173,355
- Median household income: $82,915
- Median home value: $242,300 (77% own)
- Median rent: $1,092 (23% rent)
- Top public schools: Heavilin Elementary School (grade A), Ben Franklin Middle School (grade A), Thomas Jefferson Middle School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Victory Christian Academy (grade B+), Portage Christian School (grade B+), Immanuel Lutheran School (grade A)
- Top places: Chesterton (grade A), Valparaiso (grade A), Ogden Dunes (grade A)

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#11. Marion County, Indiana

- Overall Rank: 219
- Population: 971,737
- Median household income: $59,504
- Median home value: $184,100 (55% own)
- Median rent: $1,042 (45% rent)
- Top public schools: Herron High School (grade A+), Arthur C. Newby Elementary School (grade A), Speedway Senior High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: International School of Indiana (grade A+), Park Tudor School (grade A+), Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School (grade A+)
- Top places: Devon (grade A+), North Central (grade A+), Delaware Trails (grade A+)

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#10. Warrick County, Indiana

- Overall Rank: 153
- Population: 64,065
- Median household income: $91,105
- Median home value: $215,600 (82% own)
- Median rent: $964 (18% rent)
- Top public schools: Lynnville Elementary School (grade A), Castle High School (grade A), Sharon Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Newburgh Christian Academy (grade B+), St. John the Baptist School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Newburgh (grade A minus), Boonville (grade A minus), Chandler (grade B+)

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#9. Floyd County, Indiana

- Overall Rank: 149
- Population: 80,191
- Median household income: $75,686
- Median home value: $214,800 (74% own)
- Median rent: $943 (26% rent)
- Top public schools: Floyds Knobs Elementary School (grade A), Greenville Elementary School (grade A), Highland Hills Middle School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Christian Academy of Indiana (grade B+), Our Lady of Perpetual Help School (grade unavailable), St. Mary of the Knobs Catholic School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Georgetown (grade A minus), New Albany (grade A minus), Galena (grade B+)

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#8. Bartholomew County, Indiana

- Overall Rank: 148
- Population: 82,371
- Median household income: $76,912
- Median home value: $197,500 (70% own)
- Median rent: $1,063 (30% rent)
- Top public schools: Southside Elementary School (grade A), Columbus North High School (grade A), Columbus Signature Academy (CSA) - Lincoln Campus (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Columbus Christian School (grade B), St. Peter's Lutheran School (grade unavailable), St. Bartholomew Catholic School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Columbus (grade A), Harrison Township (grade A), German Township (grade A minus)

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#7. Tippecanoe County, Indiana

- Overall Rank: 129
- Population: 186,955
- Median household income: $55,728
- Median home value: $199,300 (53% own)
- Median rent: $1,020 (47% rent)
- Top public schools: West Lafayette Junior/Senior High School (grade A+), West Lafayette Intermediate School (grade A+), West Lafayette Elementary School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Central Catholic Jr. - Sr. High School (grade A), Faith Christian School (grade B+), St. James Lutheran Elementary School (grade A)
- Top places: West Lafayette (grade A+), Battle Ground (grade A), Lafayette (grade A minus)

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#6. Allen County, Indiana

- Overall Rank: 118
- Population: 385,456
- Median household income: $66,222
- Median home value: $173,600 (69% own)
- Median rent: $924 (31% rent)
- Top public schools: Arcola School (grade A), East Allen University (grade A), Aboite Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Canterbury School (grade A+), Bishop Luers High School (grade A), Concordia Lutheran High School (grade A minus)
- Top places: Huntertown (grade A), Leo-Cedarville (grade A minus), Fort Wayne (grade A minus)

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#5. St. Joseph County, Indiana

- Overall Rank: 106
- Population: 272,388
- Median household income: $61,877
- Median home value: $165,700 (68% own)
- Median rent: $969 (32% rent)
- Top public schools: Northpoint Elementary School (grade A), Discovery Middle School (grade A), Prairie Vista Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Trinity School at Greenlawn (grade A+), Saint Joseph High School (grade A), Marian High School (grade A)
- Top places: Granger (grade A+), Osceola (grade A), Mishawaka (grade A minus)

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#4. Hendricks County, Indiana

- Overall Rank: 72
- Population: 175,639
- Median household income: $95,261
- Median home value: $257,700 (78% own)
- Median rent: $1,271 (22% rent)
- Top public schools: Brownsburg East Middle School (grade A+), Eagle Elementary School (grade A+), Reagan Elementary School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Bethesda Christian Schools (grade B+), St. Malachy Catholic School (grade unavailable), St. Susanna School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Brownsburg (grade A+), Pittsboro (grade A+), Avon (grade A)

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#3. Boone County, Indiana

- Overall Rank: 38
- Population: 71,235
- Median household income: $103,038
- Median home value: $320,000 (80% own)
- Median rent: $1,190 (20% rent)
- Top public schools: Zionsville Community High School (grade A+), Boone Meadow (grade A+), Zionsville Pleasant View Elementary School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Traders Point Christian Schools (grade A minus), James E. Davis School (grade B), Children's Learning Program (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Zionsville (grade A+), Whitestown (grade A), Lebanon (grade B+)

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#2. Monroe County, Indiana

- Overall Rank: 22
- Population: 140,065
- Median household income: $60,308
- Median home value: $240,600 (55% own)
- Median rent: $1,105 (45% rent)
- Top public schools: The Academy of Science and Entrepreneurship (grade A+), Bloomington High School South (grade A), Childs Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Lighthouse Christian Academy (grade A), Harmony School (grade A minus), Clear Creek Christian School (grade A+)
- Top places: Bloomington (grade A), Ellettsville (grade A), Perry Township (grade A+)

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#1. Hamilton County, Indiana

- Overall Rank: 5
- Population: 349,527
- Median household income: $114,866
- Median home value: $350,900 (76% own)
- Median rent: $1,412 (24% rent)
- Top public schools: Carmel High School (grade A+), Creekside Middle School (grade A+), West Clay Elementary School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Eman Schools (grade A+), University High School of Indiana (grade A), St. Theodore Guerin High School (grade A)
- Top places: Carmel (grade A+), Fishers (grade A+), Westfield (grade A+)

This story features data reporting and writing by Elena Cox and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.

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