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City Housing Verdict

Winona Lake, IN

Manageable

Your dollar goes further in Winona Lake, IN — everyday costs run about 12% below the national average (Cost Index: 88). Housing is especially affordable: the median home is valued at $242,400, well under the $303,400 US median. The local median household income of $97,813 tends to stretch further here than in most parts of the country.

Winona Lake looks comparatively manageable for household relocation, with 13% rent burden, 2.5x home-price-to-income, and a housing index of 80. 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 Winona Lake.

Monthly Housing
$1,074/mo
Lower of rent or buy scenario
Housing Burden
13%
Healthy
Residual Cash
$6,577/mo
After housing and debt · $2,192/person
Rent vs Buy
Buying can be tested
Main pressure: home prices
Assumptions
Housing Mode
Confidence: MediumHome source: ACSRent source: ACSBEA proxy: nonmetroHousehold size: 3Down payment: 20%Fixed burden: 19%
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Cost Index
88
Affordable
Based on housing costs · See methodology
Median Home Value
$242,400
Source: Census ACS
National: $303,400
Median Rent
$1,074/mo
Source: Census ACS
National: $1,348/mo
Household Income
$97,813
National: $78,538
Population
5,073
Purchasing Power
142
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
80 / 100
20% below average
Rent Index
80 / 100
20% 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
88
Affordable · 12% below average

Winona Lake Mortgage Calculator

Pre-filled with the local median home value of $242,400 and Indiana's property tax rate of 0.83%.

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
$97,813
Census ACS place context
Rent Burden Estimate
13%
Typical annual rent / local household income
Home Price to Income
2.5x
Typical home value / local household income
Use this section to judge whether Winona Lake 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 Winona Lake, IN

Est. Annual Property Tax
$2,012
Monthly Impact
$168
Added to your mortgage
Effective Rate
0.83%
National avg: ~1.00%

Indiana Place Tax Context

Tax TypeIndianaNational Avg
Property Tax Rate0.83%1.00%
Top Income Tax Rate3.05%~5.0%
State Sales Tax7%~5.0%

Compare Winona Lake 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.

Winona Lake, IN
88
80
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Cost Index Comparison (100 = National Avg)

Housing CostsNational Avg: 100
Winona Lake, IN: 80
Rent Prices
80

FAQ: Living in Winona Lake

Is Winona Lake, IN an affordable place to live?+

Yes — everyday expenses in Winona Lake run about 12% below the US average (Cost Index: 88). Housing is especially affordable: the median home is valued around $242,400, compared to the $303,400 national median. Monthly rent is typically around $1,074, versus $1,348 nationally.

How does Winona Lake fit a household housing budget?+

Start with housing. Typical monthly rent is $1,074, while local median household income is $97,813. That implies a rent-burden proxy of about 13% 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 Winona Lake, IN?+

Indiana has a progressive state income tax with a top rate of 3.05%. The effective property tax rate is 0.83%. On a home worth $242,400, that translates to roughly $2,012 per year in property taxes. Sales tax (state + local) averages around 7% on everyday purchases.

How much does it cost to rent in Winona Lake, IN?+

The typical monthly rent in Winona Lake is around $1,074. That's roughly 20% lower than the $1,348 national median. For comparison, the median home value here is $242,400, so buyers should also factor in mortgage payments, property taxes, and insurance.

How much does a house cost in Winona Lake, IN?+

The median home in Winona Lake is valued at $242,400. With 20% down and a 6.5% mortgage rate, you'd be looking at roughly $1,226/month for principal and interest alone — before property taxes and insurance. About 66% of residents here own their homes.

Are groceries and utilities expensive in Winona Lake?+

Grocery prices in Winona Lake 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 Winona Lake, IN like to live in?+

Winona Lake is a small town with a population of about 5,073. The median age of residents is 28, skewing younger — often a sign of a college town or fast-growing area. The local poverty rate is 6.86%, well below the national average of 12.4%.

Lower-Pressure Alternatives in Indiana

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

Higher-Pressure Comparisons in Indiana

Use these city pages when you want to compare Winona Lake 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