Best counties to retire to in Indiana
Best counties to retire to in Indiana
Buyers and sellers of real estate alike—when asked what the three most essential considerations about a property are—will nearly always reply "location, location, location." While this answer is sometimes tongue-in-cheek, it is often quite accurate, and this reply perhaps applies to retirees more than any other demographic. Settling down after a lifetime of working and possibly raising a family calls for the perfect location: a spot where you can enjoy life with as few concerns as possible.
When seniors aged 65 or older decide where they want to live out their golden years, they consider particular factors, such as the cost of living, government services, health care facilities, weather and overall climate, crime rate, outdoor recreational activities, eating establishments, cultural and entertainment opportunities, and more.
To find the best counties to retire to in Indiana based on these criteria, Stacker compiled a list using 2025 rankings from Niche, which ranks counties based on cost of living, health care access, recreation, weather, and more. You can read more about Niche's methodology here.
While location is critical as retirees determine where to spend their senior years enjoying favorite activities, it's a unique decision based on many preferences and needs. Whether it be bustling downtowns or access to parks, affordable home prices or cultural amenities like museums, retirees seeking to settle in a permanent spot are sure to find a private paradise in any of these counties recommended by Niche because, in the end, there is no place like home—no matter the location.
Read on to discover the best counties to retire to in Indiana.
#25. White County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (A-), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 24,709
- Median household income: $66,143
- Median home value: $163,000
- Top places to live: Monticello (B-), Prairie Township (B+), Princeton Township (B+)
#24. Dubois County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), 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)
#23. Bartholomew County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), 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-)
#22. Boone County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), 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)
#21. Blackford County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (A), weather (B-), outdoor activities (C)
- Population: 12,007
- Median household income: $47,560
- Median home value: $96,700
- Top places to live: Hartford City (C+), Harrison Township (B-), Washington Township (B-)
#20. Howard County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (B+), weather (C), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 83,610
- Median household income: $62,496
- Median home value: $151,500
- Top places to live: Greentown (B-), Kokomo (B-), Monroe Township (A-)
#19. Wayne County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (A-), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 66,377
- Median household income: $56,652
- Median home value: $126,100
- Top places to live: Richmond (B), Centerville (B-), Cambridge City (B-)
#18. Perry County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (A-), weather (B), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 19,218
- Median household income: $61,099
- Median home value: $146,000
- Top places to live: Tell City (B+), Cannelton (C), Anderson Township (B+)
#17. Hamilton County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), 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+)
#16. Hancock County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), 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. Randolph County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 24,425
- Median household income: $61,121
- Median home value: $106,000
- Top places to live: Winchester (B), Union City (B-), Parker City (B-)
#14. Whitley County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B+), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 34,388
- Median household income: $75,790
- Median home value: $205,200
- Top places to live: Columbia City (B+), Larwill (B+), Tri-Lakes (B+)
#13. Henry County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 48,896
- Median household income: $60,144
- Median home value: $140,200
- Top places to live: Middletown (B), New Castle (B-), Knightstown (C+)
#12. Ohio County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B+), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 5,993
- Median household income: $67,942
- Median home value: $193,500
- Top places to live: Rising Sun (B-), Randolph Township (B-), Cass Township (C+)
#11. Spencer County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), 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+)
#10. Pike County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 12,187
- Median household income: $66,250
- Median home value: $128,400
- Top places to live: Jefferson Township (B), Madison Township (B), Monroe Township (B-)
#9. Steuben County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B+), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 34,648
- Median household income: $71,483
- Median home value: $204,300
- Top places to live: Angola (A-), Pleasant Township (B+), Jamestown Township (B+)
#8. Posey County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (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-)
#7. Floyd County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), 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. Brown County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 15,543
- Median household income: $72,644
- Median home value: $242,500
- Top places to live: Van Buren Township (B), Hamblen Township (B), Washington Township (B)
#5. Delaware County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (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-)
#4. Tipton County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A-), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 15,329
- Median household income: $78,309
- Median home value: $166,000
- Top places to live: Tipton (B+), Cicero Township (B+), Prairie Township (B+)
#3. Vanderburgh County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (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+)
#2. Wabash County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 30,901
- Median household income: $68,414
- Median home value: $143,600
- Top places to live: North Manchester (A-), Wabash (B+), Chester Township (A-)
#1. Warrick County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (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+)
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.
