The ‘Land of Indians,’ or Indiana as you may know it, is located in the midwest of the United States. With a population of around 6,732,219, Indiana has beautiful hills and plains, especially in the northern and central regions and lots of deep valleys near the Wabash Valley and Sugar Creek for you to explore. The hills and plains in the state will leave you astounded by their rivers with deep cut valleys. Just a glance at the Rolling Hills at the Hoosier National Forest is like a dream come true, as you get to discover the rich wildlife and thick forest.

If the state’s different activities and sights seem interesting to you, then you’re clearly considering relocation here. But there are more essential things to know about moving to Indiana to make a more informed decision. So keep on reading to discover more about what the state has to offer you.


What Should I Know Before Moving To Indiana?

Indiana has a total area of around 36,418 sq mi with Indianapolis as the largest city of the state. Michigan and Ohio border Indiana towards the north and the east while Illinios borders it towards the west. The state is separated from Kentucky by the Ohio River towards the south. The glorious Hoosier Hill in Wayne County is a treat to your eyes, especially if you admire high mountain peaks. Its height of around 1,257 feet above the sea level will take your breath away.

If you’ve enjoyed the songs ‘On the banks of the Wabash’, ‘The Wabash Cannonball’ and ‘Back Home Again in Indiana’, then you may remember the reference to the the Wabash River featured in the music video. You will be surprised to know that it is the longest and official river of Indiana with around 475 miles in length. Indiana also has several rivers and lakes that pass through the state like the Great Lakes, Lake Michigan and Lake Monroe which is considered to be the largest lake in Indiana.

One thing you should know, the wonders of Indiana are not just limited to its natural beauty. Of course, you can treat yourself with plenty of activities amidst nature like hiking and climbing. But Indiana is also home to many sports activity venues like the Lucas Oil Stadium, Bankers Life Fieldhouse and Ford Center. No wonder you may recognize the state by its popular nickname ’The Greatest Spectacle in Racing’, as it hosts several races like the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and NHRA Mac Tools USA Nationals.

If you want to explore the country’s historical treasure, you should definitely visit The Eiteljorg Museum of American Indian and Western Art in Indianapolis. You will discover various paintings and sculptures from the early 19th century in this treasure house historical exhibits and artifacts. You can also explore many other things in the state with your entire family by visiting the Indiana Zoo near the White River State Park where you get to see the rich wildlife like sea lions, cheetahs, bears and much more.

Also See: Why Should You Move to Midwest


Crime Rate In Indiana

Although the rivers, lakes, mountains and sports activities may seem really exciting to you, that much knowledge is not enough for you to decide whether you can move to a new state. You also need to see how much safe it’ll be for you if you decide to move to a new state. The crime rate for violent crimes in Indiana is 3.71 for 1000 people as per NeighborhoodScout. So your chance for being a victim of violent crimes is 1 in 270 people. The crime rate for property crimes in the state is 19.71 as per NeighborhoodScout. So your chance of being a victim of property crime is 1 in 51 people. Fortunately, both of these numbers are slightly below the national median, making Indiana a fairly safe place to live.

See Also: 7 Best Places to Raise a Family in the U.S.


Indiana Weather

Indiana is known to have a subtropical climate especially to the southern part of the state. The summers in the state are usually hot with the average temperature of around 84.2 degree Fahrenheit to 64.4 degree Fahrenheit in the north, while it increases to around 89.6 degree Fahrenheit to 69.8 degree Fahrenheit towards the south. The winters in the state are very cold with the average temperature of around 30 degree Fahrenheit to 14 degree Fahrenheit in the north, while the south has an average temperature of around 41 degree Fahrenheit to 24.8 degree Fahrenheit.

In the southern part of the state, the annual precipitation is around 1,150 mm to around 940 mm towards the north. The snowfall in the state is around 510 mm and is there at least for around six months in the state. However, if you move towards the northern border, you may witness snowfall upto 2,540mm. Winters are very cold especially in the months of January and March.

Indiana doesn’t receive the same amount of rainfall in all the areas, which means that you may experience droughts in most parts of the state. You will witness snowfall for a long period of around six months and it varies within the state. Towards the northwest of Lake Michigan, you will witness an average snowfall of around 200 cm, whereas it is upto 30 cm in the south. If you are visiting the state during the spring season, you need to be careful as there are incidences of frequent tornadoes especially during spring.


How Expensive Is It To Live In Indiana?

The first thing that you need to check is the different kinds of expenses you have to meet if at all you’re planning to move to a new state. You need to have a budget and see if all of the important things like living expenses, food and other necessities are within your budget. So go ahead and make a list of how much you can spend for your basic necessities. We are here to help you figure out the estimated expenses for your basic needs.

Cost Of Living In Indiana

If you are considering moving to Indiana, you would have to pay the state tax of around $1,415 as per SmartAsset. You will be charged around $9,298 as your income tax, whereas your sales tax would be around $870 as per SmartAsset. Apart from that, your property tax would be around $2,415 while your fuel tax would be around $279. So, your overall tax burden would be around $12,861.

Buying A House

According to Zillow, you will have to pay an average of around $174,901 as your median home value in Indiana. An important thing to note is that the housing prices have risen up to 10.0% over the past year as stated by Zillow.

Renting A House

For an apartment with an average size of around 1,286 square feet, you will be charged around $0.816 per square foot. According to Homesnacks, your average house rent in Indiana will be around $1,050 per month, which is definitely lower than the US national average.

Utility Bills

Let’s not forget the other essentials that you need on a day to day basis. Don’t forget that your health is also a priority and so keep aside a budget for that as you will have to pay around $3,836 annually for your healthcare expenses which are less than the U.S national average of around $4,266 every year. If you’re wondering about the healthcare expenses for your entire family, you’ll have to keep aside around $11,676 every year which is relatively less than the U.S national average of around $12,950 as stated by 24/7 wallst. A gallon of gas will cost you around $2.96. Your energy bill on a monthly basis would come up to around $163.80 whereas you will have to pay around $174.61 per month for your phone bill.

Also Read: Top 10 Cheap States to Move to


Indiana Economy And Employment Opportunities

The Manufacturing industry constitutes for around one fourth of the state’s gross product with a large number of people engaged in the industry. You will see many automotive industries in the northwestern part of the state. Indiana is also home to several manufacturing industries that produce pharmaceuticals, furniture and electrical products.

Zippia has determined several jobs in Indiana that will pay you really well. Healthcare is one of the highest paying professions in Indiana. If you are an Anaestsiologist, your average salary will be around $272,630, whereas the average salary of an Obstetrician and a Gynecologist is around $268,430. As a Physician, you would earn up to $264,260, whereas surgeons can earn an average salary of around $216,040. People engaged in Manufacturing and Sales industries can earn an average salary of around $96,580. So in essence, you can explore different careers in the state and earn a good amount of money, especially if you are working in the healthcare or manufacturing sectors.


Education

Indiana has various public and private schools, colleges and universities to choose from as there are educational institutions spread within the state. If you’re looking for a large university to explore not just the culture but also the different new mentors in education, then you should definitely consider the Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana. Just so you know, it is accredited to the state-wise community college system.

There is also the Indiana University in Bloomington, which is one of the most prestigious universities in the state with a huge campus for you to explore. If you are a person that wants to pursue sports activities along with your academics, then the University of Notre Dame should definitely be on your list, as it has various sports activities and teams along with academics. Clearly then, you have a number of educational institutions to explore if you want to study here or are seeking a good institution for your child.


Getting Around Indiana

Buses

There are around 53 cities in Indiana and your average cost for a bus ticket for the top most routes would be around $52.00 as per Wanderu. The cheapest ticket available for you will be around $10, whereas the most expensive bus ticket will cost you around $147.00 as stated by Wanderu. If at all you want to explore various cities and places within Indiana, the Miller Transportation will be your best option as it will connect you to around 28 cities within the state. If you want to travel to Indiana from various other states or cities, then the Jefferson Lines will connect you to Indiana from around 148 places outside the state. The Barons Bus Lines also will offer you good transportation services connecting you to around 19 cities within the state. Apart from that you also have the Tornado Bus that will connect you to around 2 cities within the state.

Taxis

Your basic taxi fare in Indiana would be around $3.00 with around $1.25 charged per km. You will be charged around $24 per hour for your standing and waiting time. You can also book an Uber and go around exploring the city. Your basic cost for an Uber ride for an UberX would be around $8, whereas your minimum fare for an UberXL would be around $10.5. If you book an UberSUV your minimum fare would be around $25.

Trains

Your average cost for the top most routes in Indiana via train would be around $101 as per Wanderu. The cheapest train ticket available for you would be around $10, whereas the most expensive train ticket will cost you around $234. According to Wanderu, you can reach around 13 destinations in Indiana via train. Amtrak will provide you the best services connecting you to around 5 cities within the state. There’s also the Amtrak Cardinal that will connect you to around 6 cities within the state. Apart from that, the Amtrak Lake Shore Limited will connect you to around 2 cities within the state.

See Also: Indiana DMV Change Of Address


Best Cities To Live In Indiana

1. Carmel

Located towards the north of Indianapolis, the city of Carmel has a population of around 101,068. Bordered by the White River, this place has lots of interesting activities and amazing sights for you to explore. If you’re looking for a fun outing with your family, then you should definitely visit the Carmel Monon Community Center and enjoy rock climbing and different water slides in the pool. The city is also home to various historically significant places like the Carmel Arts and Design District. You will get to see the Carmel Clay Public Library where you will get to explore various art galleries, sculptures and streets of the city. You can enjoy shopping at the Carmel City Center and take a walk around the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts that has a concert hall and a theater. One of the best things about living in Carmel is that the average median household income is around $320,400.

  • Median Home value: $304,400
  • Median Home rent: $1,222
  • Unemployment rate: 2.4%

2. Fishers

Located in the Fall Creeks and Delaware townships, Fishers has a population of around 95,310. If you are interested in lots of recreational activities, then Fishers is just the right place for you! You will enjoy fishing and water-skiing at one of the most popular places in Fishers called the Geist Reservoir, which is around 8km from the Hamilton Town Center. If you love golfing, then you’re sure to fall in love with the city as it has many courses for you to explore. Apart from that, the city has many baseball fields for you to see at the Billericay Park. If you don’t enjoy sports, you can just take a walk around the Billericay Woods. You can see the beautiful nature at the Cheeney Creek Greenway at the Cheeney Creek Natural Area and enjoy being amidst the wonderful nature around you. If you live in Fishers, your average household income would be around $91,646.

  • Median Home value: 312,481
  • Median Home rent: 1,199
  • Unemployment rate: 2.6%

3. Munster

Known to many as ‘Town on the Ridge’, Munster is situated at the north township, Lake County and has a population of around 23,603. The city gets its nickname from the Ridge Road in the city. You will surely get attracted towards the Centennial Park once you visit the city as there are a variety of things to explore. You can either enjoy golfing or driving or just take a walk around the different botanical gardens or go fishing. If you are more of a sports enthusiast, then you will definitely enjoy the amenities offered at the Community Park in Munster, where you can enjoy different sports like baseball and basketball. If you reside in Munster, your average household income would be around $70,503.

  • Median Home value: 207,500
  • Median Home rent: $817
  • Unemployment rate: 7.6%


Is Indiana A Good Place To Live?

The state will definitely charm you with its popular attractions and above all, some amazing sports activities across cities. But you also need to consider other important things before you plan your move. First of all, you need to be prepared to face the droughts and the snowfall in the state as it may vary in different parts of the state. However, the cost of living and especially utility prices seem affordable compared to the other states. We advise you to check your budget, location and see if the state meets not just your budget but also your comfort in terms of weather, education and other amenities offered by the state.

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