Best places to raise a family in Indiana

Choosing a place to raise children can be a daunting task for any family. If it takes a village to raise a child, that may just extend all the way to your next-door neighbor, fifth-grade teacher, or volunteer soccer coach. While all parents are looking for a great place to raise their kids, oftentimes this decision means balancing—and prioritizing—certain community resources and costs.

Stacker compiled a list of the best places to raise a family in Indiana using data from Niche. Niche ranks places to live based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather. Keep reading to see if where you grew up or currently live made the list.

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#25. Hidden Valley

- Population: 5,531
- Median home value: $195,500 (95% own)
- Median rent: $1,380 (5% rent)
- Median household income: $107,000
- Top public schools: North Dearborn Elementary School (A-), East Central High School (A-), Greendale Middle School (A-)

- Pictured: 467 Hidden Valley Dr, Lawrenceburg ($389,900, 4 bedrooms)

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#24. St. John

- Population: 17,426
- Median home value: $290,200 (97% own)
- Median rent: $908 (3% rent)
- Median household income: $105,852
- Top public schools: George Bibich Elementary School (A), Lake Street Elementary School (A), Timothy Ball Elementary School (A)
- Top private schools: St. John the Evangelist School (unavailable)

- Pictured: 13410 W 93rd Ave, Saint John ($699,000, 4 bedrooms)

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#23. Valparaiso

- Population: 33,355
- Median home value: $185,800 (56% own)
- Median rent: $925 (44% rent)
- Median household income: $59,533
- Top public schools: Northview Elementary School (A), Washington Township Elementary School (A), Ben Franklin Middle School (A)
- Top private schools: Victory Christian Academy (A-), St. Paul Catholic School (unavailable), Immanuel Lutheran School (unavailable)

- Pictured: 211 Regency Ct, Valparaiso ($1.4 million, 6 bedrooms)

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#22. Battle Ground

- Population: 1,857
- Median home value: $180,000 (90% own)
- Median rent: $969 (10% rent)
- Median household income: $87,813
- Top public schools: William Henry Harrison High School (A), Battle Ground Elementary School (B+), Battle Ground Middle School (B)

- Pictured: 6106 Flintlock Dr, West Lafayette ($269,900, 3 bedrooms)

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#21. Chesterton

- Population: 14,119
- Median home value: $190,400 (68% own)
- Median rent: $933 (32% rent)
- Median household income: $73,977
- Top public schools: Liberty Intermediate School (A), Brummitt Elementary School (A), Jackson Elementary School (A)
- Top private schools: St. Patrick Elementary School (unavailable), Duneland Montessori Academy (unavailable), La Petite Academy of Chesterton (unavailable)

- Pictured: 1059 N 100 E, Chesterton ($1.1 million, 4 bedrooms)

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#20. Crown Point

- Population: 29,850
- Median home value: $194,600 (82% own)
- Median rent: $1,046 (18% rent)
- Median household income: $76,927
- Top public schools: Dwight D. Eisenhower Elementary School (A), Solon Robinson Elementary School (A), Jerry Ross Elementary School (A)
- Top private schools: Crown Point Christian School (unavailable), St. Mary Catholic Community School (unavailable), Trinity Lutheran School (unavailable)

- Pictured: 1030 Foy Ct, Crown Point ($1.3 million, 4 bedrooms)

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#19. Huntertown

- Population: 6,789
- Median home value: $168,700 (94% own)
- Median rent: $1,125 (6% rent)
- Median household income: $79,375
- Top public schools: Arcola School (A), Carroll High School (A), Carroll Middle School (A)

- Pictured: 1110 Brewster Ct, Huntertown ($409,900, 4 bedrooms)

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#18. Osceola

- Population: 2,707
- Median home value: $111,600 (90% own)
- Median rent: $945 (10% rent)
- Median household income: $54,847
- Top public schools: Penn High School (A), Moran Elementary School (A-), Elm Road Elementary School (A-)

- Pictured: 54689 Salem Farms Ct Unit 264, Osceola ($614,900, 4 bedrooms)

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#17. Porter

- Population: 4,817
- Median home value: $189,900 (79% own)
- Median rent: $1,299 (21% rent)
- Median household income: $91,667
- Top public schools: Discovery Charter School (A), Brummitt Elementary School (A), Chesterton Senior High School (A)

- Pictured: 800 Park Ave, Porter ($291,200, 3 bedrooms)

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#16. Schererville

- Population: 28,590
- Median home value: $222,400 (80% own)
- Median rent: $973 (20% rent)
- Median household income: $72,035
- Top public schools: George Bibich Elementary School (A), Peifer Elementary School (A), Timothy Ball Elementary School (A)
- Top private schools: Hammond Baptist High School (B), St. Michael School (unavailable), Forest Ridge Academy (unavailable)

- Pictured: 1429 W US Highway 30, Schererville ($1.4 million, 3 bedrooms)

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#15. West Lafayette

- Population: 48,551
- Median home value: $224,000 (35% own)
- Median rent: $912 (65% rent)
- Median household income: $34,650
- Top public schools: West Lafayette Junior/Senior High School (A+), West Lafayette Elementary School (A+), West Lafayette Intermediate School (A+)
- Top private schools: Montessori School of Greater Lafayette (unavailable)

- Pictured: 10 Brynteg Ests, West Lafayette ($649,000, 4 bedrooms)

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#14. Aberdeen

- Population: 1,591
- Median home value: $345,000 (67% own)
- Median rent: $1,327 (33% rent)
- Median household income: $119,676
- Top public schools: Union Center Elementary School (A), Union Township Middle School (A), Ben Franklin Middle School (A)

- Pictured: 75 Larwick Cir, Valparaiso ($408,800, 3 bedrooms)

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#13. Whitestown

- Population: 8,312
- Median home value: $225,000 (71% own)
- Median rent: $1,317 (29% rent)
- Median household income: $85,000
- Top public schools: Reagan Elementary School (A+), Brownsburg East Middle School (A+), Zionsville Community High School (A+)
- Top private schools: Traders Point Christian Schools (B+), Primrose School at Anson - Zionsville (unavailable), Zionsville KinderCare (unavailable)

- Pictured: 5681 Primrose Dr, Whitestown ($449,900, 4 bedrooms)

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#12. Bargersville

- Population: 7,085
- Median home value: $219,100 (78% own)
- Median rent: $983 (22% rent)
- Median household income: $87,763
- Top public schools: Center Grove Middle School Central (A), Center Grove Elementary School (A), Center Grove High School (A)
- Top private schools: Risen Lord Montessori School (unavailable)

- Pictured: 4861 Krestridge Ct W, Bargersville ($1.2 million, 4 bedrooms)

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#11. Avon

- Population: 17,453
- Median home value: $210,600 (84% own)
- Median rent: $1,149 (16% rent)
- Median household income: $94,213
- Top public schools: Brownsburg East Middle School (A+), White Lick Elementary School (A+), Plainfield Community Middle School (A)
- Top private schools: Kingsway Christian School (unavailable), Our Shepherd Lutheran School (unavailable), Avon Trails KinderCare (unavailable)

- Pictured: 415 Foxboro Dr, Avon ($695,000, 4 bedrooms)

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#10. Noblesville

- Population: 63,071
- Median home value: $209,100 (71% own)
- Median rent: $1,039 (29% rent)
- Median household income: $82,218
- Top public schools: Hamilton Southeastern Intermediate / Junior High (A+), Fishers Junior High School (A+), Durbin Elementary School (A+)
- Top private schools: Noblesville Kindercare (unavailable), Primrose School of Noblesville (unavailable), The Goddard School - Noblesville (Union Chapel Road) (unavailable)

- Pictured: 4960 E 216th St, Noblesville ($1.3 million, 4 bedrooms)

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#9. Brownsburg

- Population: 26,046
- Median home value: $195,700 (73% own)
- Median rent: $1,135 (27% rent)
- Median household income: $78,877
- Top public schools: Brownsburg West Middle School (A+), Reagan Elementary School (A+), Brownsburg East Middle School (A+)
- Top private schools: Brownsburg Academy (unavailable), Brownsburg KinderCare (unavailable), The Children's Courtyard of Brownsburg (unavailable)

- Pictured: 2960 Sage Ct, Brownsburg ($535,000, 5 bedrooms)

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#8. McCordsville

- Population: 6,857
- Median home value: $230,000 (93% own)
- Median rent: $1,228 (7% rent)
- Median household income: $99,497
- Top public schools: McCordsville Elementary School (A), Mt. Vernon Middle School (A-), Mt. Vernon High School (B+)

- Pictured: 6735 W May Apple Dr, McCordsville ($619,000, 4 bedrooms)

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#7. Munster

- Population: 22,689
- Median home value: $228,400 (88% own)
- Median rent: $1,149 (12% rent)
- Median household income: $84,254
- Top public schools: Munster High School (A+), Frank H. Hammond Elementary School (A), Wilbur Wright Middle School (A)
- Top private schools: St. Thomas More School (unavailable), St. Paul's Lutheran School (unavailable), Kiddie Academy of Munster (unavailable)

- Pictured: 8718 Northcote Ave, Munster ($589,000, 5 bedrooms)

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#6. Meridian Hills

- Population: 1,741
- Median home value: $515,600 (98% own)
- Median rent: $2,667 (2% rent)
- Median household income: $186,750
- Top public schools: North Central High School (A-), Shortridge High School (B+), Merle Sidener Gifted Academy School No. 359 (B+)
- Top private schools: Park Tudor School (A+)

- Pictured: 202 E 71st St, Indianapolis ($1.3 million, 5 bedrooms)

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#5. Westfield

- Population: 39,610
- Median home value: $254,800 (81% own)
- Median rent: $1,207 (19% rent)
- Median household income: $98,376
- Top public schools: Carmel High School (A+), Carmel Middle School (A+), Cherry Tree Elementary School (A)
- Top private schools: Union Bible College Academy (A-), St. Maria Goretti School (unavailable), Montessori School of Westfield (unavailable)

- Pictured: 15538 Hidden Oaks Ln, Carmel ($1.7 million, 4 bedrooms)

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#4. Granger

- Population: 30,776
- Median home value: $219,900 (95% own)
- Median rent: $1,491 (5% rent)
- Median household income: $101,904
- Top public schools: Northpoint Elementary School (A), Prairie Vista Elementary School (A), Discovery Middle School (A)
- Top private schools: Granger Christian School (B), St. Pius X. Catholic School (unavailable), Peace Lutheran School (unavailable)

- Pictured: 51614 Copper Forest Ln, Granger ($1.3 million, 4 bedrooms)

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#3. Zionsville

- Population: 27,463
- Median home value: $385,700 (83% own)
- Median rent: $1,305 (17% rent)
- Median household income: $137,377
- Top public schools: Carmel High School (A+), Reagan Elementary School (A+), Brownsburg East Middle School (A+)
- Top private schools: Children's Learning Program (unavailable), Interactive Academy (unavailable), The Goddard School (unavailable)

- Pictured: 13 Lost Run Ln, Zionsville ($2.9 million, 5 bedrooms)

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#2. Fishers

- Population: 90,332
- Median home value: $264,200 (78% own)
- Median rent: $1,250 (22% rent)
- Median household income: $109,454
- Top public schools: Hamilton Southeastern Intermediate / Junior High (A+), Fishers Junior High School (A+), Hoosier Road Elementary School (A)
- Top private schools: East Fishers KinderCare (unavailable), Fishers Landing KinderCare (unavailable), Fishers Roberts Drive KinderCare (unavailable)

- Pictured: 320 Breakwater Dr, Fishers ($2.2 million, 5 bedrooms)

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#1. Carmel

- Population: 97,464
- Median home value: $333,200 (76% own)
- Median rent: $1,207 (24% rent)
- Median household income: $112,765
- Top public schools: Carmel High School (A+), Creekside Middle School (A+), Smoky Row Elementary School (A+)
- Top private schools: University High School of Indiana (A+), Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School (unavailable), Midwest Academy (unavailable)

- Pictured: 10596 Jumper Ln, Carmel ($2.5 million, 6 bedrooms)

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