Best counties to raise a family in Indiana
Best counties to raise a family in Indiana
For people looking to find a home to raise a family in, choosing a county is an important decision. Most families place affordable homes, safe neighborhoods, a quality school system, and family-friendly activities at the top of their wish lists.
Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to raise a family in Indiana using 2025 data from Niche. Niche ranks counties based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather.
The list features counties that boast some of the top schools and fun, family-friendly activities for every season. Keep reading to explore the best counties to raise a family. Maybe you'll find one that suits your brood.
#25. Dearborn County
- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B+), cost of living (B+), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 50,828
- Median household income: $82,693
- Median home value: $227,100
- Top places to live: Bright (B+), Greendale (B+), Hidden Valley (B+)
#24. Clark County
- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B), cost of living (B), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 122,800
- Median household income: $72,298
- Median home value: $212,400
- Top places to live: Utica (A-), Sellersburg (A-), Jeffersonville (B+)
#23. Delaware County
- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 112,109
- Median household income: $56,932
- Median home value: $127,600
- Top places to live: Yorktown (A), Muncie (B), Daleville (B-)
#22. LaPorte County
- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B), cost of living (B+), weather (C), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 112,141
- Median household income: $70,452
- Median home value: $180,700
- Top places to live: Long Beach (B+), Hudson Lake (B+), La Porte (B)
#21. Spencer County
- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (A), cost of living (A-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 19,871
- Median household income: $70,890
- Median home value: $180,200
- Top places to live: Clay Township (A), Santa Claus (A), Carter Township (B+)
#20. Posey County
- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (B), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 25,163
- Median household income: $79,124
- Median home value: $218,000
- Top places to live: Mount Vernon (B), Bethel Township (A), Griffin (A-)
#19. Kosciusko County
- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (B+), cost of living (B+), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 80,357
- Median household income: $73,922
- Median home value: $200,300
- Top places to live: Winona Lake (A+), Warsaw (A-), Syracuse (B)
#18. Elkhart County
- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (B+), cost of living (B), weather (C+), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 206,868
- Median household income: $65,617
- Median home value: $194,400
- Top places to live: Dunlap (B+), Nappanee (B+), Goshen (B+)
#17. Vanderburgh County
- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (A-), cost of living (B+), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 179,908
- Median household income: $60,938
- Median home value: $172,300
- Top places to live: Melody Hill (A-), Highland (B+), Darmstadt (B+)
#16. Hancock County
- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (A-), cost of living (B), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 82,013
- Median household income: $91,326
- Median home value: $258,100
- Top places to live: McCordsville (A+), New Palestine (A-), Greenfield (B+)
#15. Marion County
- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (B), cost of living (B-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 971,822
- Median household income: $63,450
- Median home value: $207,000
- Top places to live: Wynnedale - Spring Hill (A+), North Central (A+), Delaware Trails (A+)
#14. Dubois County
- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (A), cost of living (B+), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 43,563
- Median household income: $71,918
- Median home value: $212,500
- Top places to live: Jasper (A), Huntingburg (A-), Patoka Township (A)
#13. Warrick County
- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (A), cost of living (B+), weather (B-), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 64,650
- Median household income: $95,027
- Median home value: $228,900
- Top places to live: Newburgh (A-), Boonville (B+), Chandler (B+)
#12. Lake County
- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (B+), cost of living (B), weather (C+), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 498,990
- Median household income: $68,985
- Median home value: $214,700
- Top places to live: Munster (A+), St. John (A), Dyer (A)
#11. Porter County
- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (A), cost of living (B), weather (C+), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 174,150
- Median household income: $85,828
- Median home value: $261,900
- Top places to live: Chesterton (A), Valparaiso (A), Ogden Dunes (A)
#10. Johnson County
- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (A-), cost of living (B), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 163,983
- Median household income: $87,227
- Median home value: $260,400
- Top places to live: Bargersville (A), Greenwood (A-), New Whiteland (A-)
#9. Tippecanoe County
- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (A), cost of living (B-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 187,399
- Median household income: $58,622
- Median home value: $217,600
- Top places to live: Battle Ground (A), West Lafayette (A), Lafayette (A-)
#8. Allen County
- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (A-), cost of living (B+), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 388,791
- Median household income: $68,839
- Median home value: $194,300
- Top places to live: Huntertown (A), Leo-Cedarville (A-), Fort Wayne (A-)
#7. Floyd County
- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (A), cost of living (B), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 80,512
- Median household income: $78,179
- Median home value: $235,100
- Top places to live: Georgetown (A-), New Albany (B+), Galena (B+)
#6. Bartholomew County
- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (A), cost of living (B), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 82,881
- Median household income: $80,365
- Median home value: $221,100
- Top places to live: Columbus (A), Harrison Township (A), Ohio Township (A-)
#5. St. Joseph County
- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (A), cost of living (B), weather (C-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 272,574
- Median household income: $64,885
- Median home value: $179,800
- Top places to live: Granger (A+), Osceola (A), Mishawaka (A-)
#4. Boone County
- Niche grades: good for families (A+), public schools (A), cost of living (B-), weather (C+), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 72,827
- Median household income: $104,865
- Median home value: $341,800
- Top places to live: Zionsville (A+), Whitestown (A), Lebanon (B)
#3. Monroe County
- Niche grades: good for families (A+), public schools (A+), cost of living (B-), weather (C+), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 139,822
- Median household income: $63,372
- Median home value: $261,700
- Top places to live: Bloomington (A), Ellettsville (A), Perry Township (A+)
#2. Hendricks County
- Niche grades: good for families (A+), public schools (A+), cost of living (B-), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 179,379
- Median household income: $99,988
- Median home value: $281,500
- Top places to live: Brownsburg (A+), Pittsboro (A), Avon (A)
#1. Hamilton County
- Niche grades: good for families (A+), public schools (A+), cost of living (B-), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 357,176
- Median household income: $117,957
- Median home value: $379,100
- Top places to live: Carmel (A+), Fishers (A+), Westfield (A+)
