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City Housing Verdict

Indiana, PA

Manageable

Your dollar goes further in Indiana, PA — everyday costs run about 29% below the national average (Cost Index: 71). Housing is especially affordable: the median home is valued at $123,300, well under the $303,400 US median. The local median household income of $44,784 tends to stretch further here than in most parts of the country.

Indiana looks comparatively manageable for household relocation, with 22% rent burden, 2.8x home-price-to-income, and a housing index of 41. Use the assumptions below to test whether your own budget still stays in the safe range.Data Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 · BEA RPP 2023 · Zillow ZHVI

Data Updated: March 2026
Housing Feasibility Verdict
Safe

Based on your household income, housing mode, local rent, home value, property tax, and mortgage assumptions for Indiana.

Monthly Housing
$806/mo
Lower of rent or buy scenario
Housing Burden
22%
Healthy
Residual Cash
$2,426/mo
After housing and debt · $809/person
Rent vs Buy
Buying can be tested
Main pressure: property tax
Assumptions
Housing Mode
Confidence: MediumHome source: ACSRent source: ACSBEA proxy: nonmetroHousehold size: 3Down payment: 20%Fixed burden: 35%
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Cost Index
71
Very Affordable
Based on housing costs · See methodology
Median Home Value
$123,300
Source: Census ACS
National: $303,400
Median Rent
$806/mo
Source: Census ACS
National: $1,348/mo
Household Income
$44,784
National: $78,538
Population
14,170
Purchasing Power
80
100 = national baseline

Cost of Living Breakdown

Each index uses 100 as the US national average. A score of 150 means 50% more expensive; 80 means 20% cheaper.

Housing Cost Index
41 / 100
59% below average
Rent Index
60 / 100
40% below average
Goods & Groceries
96 / 100
About the same as most US cities
BEA State Nonmetro avg.
Utilities
88 / 100
12% lower utility bills
BEA State Nonmetro avg.
Healthcare & Services
98 / 100
In line with national average
BEA State Nonmetro avg.
Overall Index
71
Very Affordable · 29% below average

Indiana Mortgage Calculator

Pre-filled with the local median home value of $123,300 and Pennsylvania's property tax rate of 1.58%.

Household Housing Budget

Local median household income is shown only as a place-side affordability input. Personal salary, filing status, and take-home pay analysis belong in salary.city.

Local Household Income
$44,784
Census ACS place context
Rent Burden Estimate
22%
Typical annual rent / local household income
Home Price to Income
2.8x
Typical home value / local household income
Use this section to judge whether Indiana looks structurally manageable for a household budget. For a specific job offer, filing status, payroll taxes, or salary equivalence across cities, run the income-side decision in salary.city.

Property Tax in Indiana, PA

Est. Annual Property Tax
$1,948
Monthly Impact
$162
Added to your mortgage
Effective Rate
1.58%
National avg: ~1.00%

Pennsylvania Place Tax Context

Tax TypePennsylvaniaNational Avg
Property Tax Rate1.58%1.00%
Top Income Tax Rate3.07%~5.0%
State Sales Tax6.34%~5.0%

Compare Indiana to Another City

Compare place-side costs such as housing, rent, groceries, utilities, services, and tax context.

Cost of Living Comparison

Compare place-side housing, rent, goods, services, and utility pressure between cities.

Indiana, PA
71
60
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Cost Index Comparison (100 = National Avg)

Housing CostsNational Avg: 100
Indiana, PA: 41
Rent Prices
60

FAQ: Living in Indiana

Is Indiana, PA an affordable place to live?+

Yes — everyday expenses in Indiana run about 29% below the US average (Cost Index: 71). Housing is especially affordable: the median home is valued around $123,300, compared to the $303,400 national median. Monthly rent is typically around $806, versus $1,348 nationally.

How does Indiana fit a household housing budget?+

Start with housing. Typical monthly rent is $806, while local median household income is $44,784. That implies a rent-burden proxy of about 22% before utilities and other costs. For a specific job offer, filing status, or take-home pay scenario, use salary.city.

How much are taxes in Indiana, PA?+

Pennsylvania has a progressive state income tax with a top rate of 3.07%. The effective property tax rate is 1.58%. On a home worth $123,300, that translates to roughly $1,948 per year in property taxes. Sales tax (state + local) averages around 6.34% on everyday purchases.

How much does it cost to rent in Indiana, PA?+

The typical monthly rent in Indiana is around $806. That's roughly 40% lower than the $1,348 national median. For comparison, the median home value here is $123,300, so buyers should also factor in mortgage payments, property taxes, and insurance.

How much does a house cost in Indiana, PA?+

The median home in Indiana is valued at $123,300. With 20% down and a 6.5% mortgage rate, you'd be looking at roughly $623/month for principal and interest alone — before property taxes and insurance. About 45% of residents here own their homes.

Are groceries and utilities expensive in Indiana?+

Grocery prices in Indiana are about average compared to the rest of the US (index: 96, where 100 is the national average). Utility bills (electricity, gas, water) are below average (index: 88). Overall, these everyday costs shouldn't cause major surprises if you're moving from another similarly-sized US city.

What is Indiana, PA like to live in?+

Indiana is a small town with a population of about 14,170. The median age of residents is 22.5, skewing younger — often a sign of a college town or fast-growing area. The local poverty rate is 19.84%, above the national average of 12.4%.

Lower-Pressure Alternatives in Pennsylvania

If Indiana feels tight, start with these same-state cities that look easier on rent burden or buy-side pressure.

Higher-Pressure Comparisons in Pennsylvania

Use these city pages when you want to compare Indiana against tougher same-state markets before deciding whether the current city is already a stretch.

LC
Reviewed by LivabilityCalc Research Team
Financial Data Analysts · Census & Economic Data Specialists
Data Sources & Methodology
  • Real Estate & Housing: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI, Smoothed & Seasonally Adjusted) and Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI). Structural fallback utilizes U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates.
  • Goods, Utilities & Services: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Metropolitan Area Regional Price Parities (MARPP), incorporating verified State Nonmetropolitan averages.
  • Mortgage Rates: Freddie Mac 30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage Average in the United States (PMMS) via Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED).
  • Tax Context: State-level property, sales, and income-tax context used for place-side relocation planning. Personal take-home pay and offer analysis are handled by salary.city.
  • Index Methodology: Weighting matrix derived from Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Consumer Expenditure Surveys (CEX) distributional models. Baseline standardized at 100. (Read methodology details)
Last data update: March 2026 · Mortgage rates updated monthly