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Cost & Benefits

Most affordable towns in Indiana, 2026

Yorktown is the most affordable ranked town in Indiana. Rent, the regional price level, taxes, and electricity are 22.5% each. Gasoline is 10%. A lower score is more affordable.

Summary

131
Towns ranked in Indiana.
Yorktown
Number 1 in Indiana. Rent is 13.6% of income. National rank 329.
18.8%
Median rent share among ranked towns in Indiana.
0
Ranked Indiana towns in the national top 100.
Gary
Least affordable ranked town in Indiana. Rent is 31.4% of income. National rank 4733.

Gasoline

$4.237

per gallon. EIA does not publish a Indiana price. This is the Midwest (PADD 2) price for the week of October 12, 2026. At 12,000 miles a year and 25 mpg, that is $2,033.76 a year for every ranked town in Indiana.

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Cost & Benefits. "2026 Most Affordable Towns Index: Indiana." October 16, 2026. https://costandbenefits.com/reports/most-affordable-towns-2026/indiana

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Top 25

  1. #1 in Indiana · National #329

    Yorktown

    Rent share 13.6% · Price level 88.1 · Score 0.237

    Median rent is $926 a month and median income is $81,674, so rent is 13.6% of income, under the 18.8% median for ranked towns in Indiana. The Muncie, IN metro price level is 88.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.73 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  2. #2 in Indiana · National #628

    Mount Vernon

    Rent share 15.1% · Price level 91.5 · Score 0.271

    Median rent is $783 a month and median income is $62,263, so rent is 15.1% of income, under the 18.8% median for ranked towns in Indiana. The Evansville, IN metro price level is 91.5 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.73 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  3. #3 in Indiana · National #647

    Nappanee

    Rent share 14.9% · Price level 90.3 · Score 0.273

    Median rent is $856 a month and median income is $68,892, so rent is 14.9% of income, under the 18.8% median for ranked towns in Indiana. The Elkhart-Goshen, IN metro price level is 90.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.73 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  4. #4 in Indiana · National #735

    Bluffton

    Rent share 15.3% · Price level 92.6 · Score 0.282

    Median rent is $732 a month and median income is $57,539, so rent is 15.3% of income, under the 18.8% median for ranked towns in Indiana. The Fort Wayne, IN metro price level is 92.6 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.73 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  5. #5 in Indiana · National #742

    Salem

    Rent share 14.6% · Price level 93.1 · Score 0.283

    Median rent is $690 a month and median income is $56,538, so rent is 14.6% of income, under the 18.8% median for ranked towns in Indiana. The Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro price level is 93.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.73 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  6. #6 in Indiana · National #783

    Ellettsville

    Rent share 11.4% · Price level 95.1 · Score 0.286

    Median rent is $855 a month and median income is $90,213, so rent is 11.4% of income, under the 18.8% median for ranked towns in Indiana. The Bloomington, IN metro price level is 95.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.73 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  7. #7 in Indiana · National #789

    Bright

    Rent share 9.6% · Price level 95.4 · Score 0.286

    Median rent is $869 a month and median income is $108,974, so rent is 9.6% of income, under the 18.8% median for ranked towns in Indiana. The Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro price level is 95.4 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.73 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  8. #8 in Indiana · National #802

    Tell City

    Rent share 14.9% · Price level 93.3 · Score 0.287

    Median rent is $657 a month and median income is $52,949, so rent is 14.9% of income, under the 18.8% median for ranked towns in Indiana. The Indiana state price level is 93.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.73 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  9. #9 in Indiana · National #807

    Boonville

    Rent share 16.5% · Price level 91.5 · Score 0.288

    Median rent is $873 a month and median income is $63,580, so rent is 16.5% of income, under the 18.8% median for ranked towns in Indiana. The Evansville, IN metro price level is 91.5 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.73 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  10. #10 in Indiana · National #838

    Jasper

    Rent share 14.1% · Price level 93.3 · Score 0.291

    Median rent is $810 a month and median income is $68,817, so rent is 14.1% of income, under the 18.8% median for ranked towns in Indiana. The Indiana state price level is 93.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.73 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  11. #11 in Indiana · National #860

    Auburn

    Rent share 15.1% · Price level 93.3 · Score 0.292

    Median rent is $865 a month and median income is $68,750, so rent is 15.1% of income, under the 18.8% median for ranked towns in Indiana. The Indiana state price level is 93.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.73 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  12. #12 in Indiana · National #939

    Garrett

    Rent share 16.0% · Price level 93.3 · Score 0.299

    Median rent is $858 a month and median income is $64,179, so rent is 16.0% of income, under the 18.8% median for ranked towns in Indiana. The Indiana state price level is 93.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.73 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  13. #13 in Indiana · National #958

    Dunlap

    Rent share 17.5% · Price level 90.3 · Score 0.300

    Median rent is $1,271 a month and median income is $87,039, so rent is 17.5% of income, under the 18.8% median for ranked towns in Indiana. The Elkhart-Goshen, IN metro price level is 90.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.73 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  14. #14 in Indiana · National #959

    Charlestown

    Rent share 16.0% · Price level 93.1 · Score 0.300

    Median rent is $1,033 a month and median income is $77,288, so rent is 16.0% of income, under the 18.8% median for ranked towns in Indiana. The Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro price level is 93.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.73 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  15. #15 in Indiana · National #962

    Granger

    Rent share 16.1% · Price level 92.9 · Score 0.301

    Median rent is $1,656 a month and median income is $123,318, so rent is 16.1% of income, under the 18.8% median for ranked towns in Indiana. The South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI metro price level is 92.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.73 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  16. #16 in Indiana · National #999

    New Haven

    Rent share 16.9% · Price level 92.6 · Score 0.303

    Median rent is $998 a month and median income is $70,970, so rent is 16.9% of income, under the 18.8% median for ranked towns in Indiana. The Fort Wayne, IN metro price level is 92.6 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.73 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  17. #17 in Indiana · National #1019

    Wabash

    Rent share 16.6% · Price level 93.3 · Score 0.305

    Median rent is $739 a month and median income is $53,410, so rent is 16.6% of income, under the 18.8% median for ranked towns in Indiana. The Indiana state price level is 93.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.73 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  18. #18 in Indiana · National #1043

    Alexandria

    Rent share 14.9% · Price level 95.7 · Score 0.306

    Median rent is $801 a month and median income is $64,317, so rent is 14.9% of income, under the 18.8% median for ranked towns in Indiana. The Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro price level is 95.7 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.73 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  19. #19 in Indiana · National #1059

    Kendallville

    Rent share 16.7% · Price level 93.3 · Score 0.308

    Median rent is $821 a month and median income is $58,939, so rent is 16.7% of income, under the 18.8% median for ranked towns in Indiana. The Indiana state price level is 93.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.73 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  20. #20 in Indiana · National #1073

    Zionsville

    Rent share 12.5% · Price level 95.7 · Score 0.309

    Median rent is $1,792 a month and median income is $172,024, so rent is 12.5% of income, under the 18.8% median for ranked towns in Indiana. The Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro price level is 95.7 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.73 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  21. #21 in Indiana · National #1081

    Columbia City

    Rent share 17.0% · Price level 92.6 · Score 0.309

    Median rent is $963 a month and median income is $68,089, so rent is 17.0% of income, under the 18.8% median for ranked towns in Indiana. The Fort Wayne, IN metro price level is 92.6 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.73 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  22. #22 in Indiana · National #1087

    Madison

    Rent share 16.1% · Price level 93.3 · Score 0.310

    Median rent is $820 a month and median income is $61,183, so rent is 16.1% of income, under the 18.8% median for ranked towns in Indiana. The Indiana state price level is 93.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.73 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  23. #23 in Indiana · National #1090

    Decatur

    Rent share 16.8% · Price level 93.3 · Score 0.310

    Median rent is $820 a month and median income is $58,646, so rent is 16.8% of income, under the 18.8% median for ranked towns in Indiana. The Indiana state price level is 93.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.73 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  24. #24 in Indiana · National #1095

    Huntertown

    Rent share 17.0% · Price level 92.6 · Score 0.310

    Median rent is $1,550 a month and median income is $109,432, so rent is 17.0% of income, under the 18.8% median for ranked towns in Indiana. The Fort Wayne, IN metro price level is 92.6 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.73 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  25. #25 in Indiana · National #1130

    Greensburg

    Rent share 16.5% · Price level 93.3 · Score 0.312

    Median rent is $859 a month and median income is $62,655, so rent is 16.5% of income, under the 18.8% median for ranked towns in Indiana. The Indiana state price level is 93.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.73 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

Least affordable 10

  1. #131 in Indiana · National #4733

    Gary

    Rent share 31.4% · Price level 103.6 · Score 0.578

    Median rent is $1,012 a month and median income is $38,731, so rent is 31.4% of income, over the 18.8% median for ranked towns in Indiana. The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro price level is 103.6 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.73 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  2. #130 in Indiana · National #4378

    West Lafayette

    Rent share 42.1% · Price level 93.4 · Score 0.552

    Median rent is $1,225 a month and median income is $34,891, so rent is 42.1% of income, over the 18.8% median for ranked towns in Indiana. The Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN metro price level is 93.4 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.73 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  3. #129 in Indiana · National #4269

    Hammond

    Rent share 24.5% · Price level 103.6 · Score 0.543

    Median rent is $1,134 a month and median income is $55,504, so rent is 24.5% of income, over the 18.8% median for ranked towns in Indiana. The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro price level is 103.6 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.73 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  4. #128 in Indiana · National #4182

    East Chicago

    Rent share 24.3% · Price level 103.6 · Score 0.535

    Median rent is $854 a month and median income is $42,125, so rent is 24.3% of income, over the 18.8% median for ranked towns in Indiana. The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro price level is 103.6 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.73 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  5. #127 in Indiana · National #4172

    Bloomington

    Rent share 28.5% · Price level 95.1 · Score 0.535

    Median rent is $1,200 a month and median income is $50,465, so rent is 28.5% of income, over the 18.8% median for ranked towns in Indiana. The Bloomington, IN metro price level is 95.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.73 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  6. #126 in Indiana · National #4156

    Ross

    Rent share 24.2% · Price level 103.6 · Score 0.533

    Median rent is $1,101 a month and median income is $54,563, so rent is 24.2% of income, over the 18.8% median for ranked towns in Indiana. The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro price level is 103.6 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.73 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is tax burden and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  7. #125 in Indiana · National #4054

    Merrillville

    Rent share 22.8% · Price level 103.6 · Score 0.524

    Median rent is $1,282 a month and median income is $67,587, so rent is 22.8% of income, over the 18.8% median for ranked towns in Indiana. The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro price level is 103.6 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.73 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  8. #124 in Indiana · National #3916

    Lake Station

    Rent share 22.6% · Price level 103.6 · Score 0.512

    Median rent is $1,124 a month and median income is $59,591, so rent is 22.6% of income, over the 18.8% median for ranked towns in Indiana. The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro price level is 103.6 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.73 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  9. #123 in Indiana · National #3797

    Valparaiso

    Rent share 21.0% · Price level 103.6 · Score 0.503

    Median rent is $1,224 a month and median income is $69,872, so rent is 21.0% of income, over the 18.8% median for ranked towns in Indiana. The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro price level is 103.6 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.73 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is regional price level.

  10. #122 in Indiana · National #3725

    Beech Grove

    Rent share 26.2% · Price level 95.7 · Score 0.496

    Median rent is $1,091 a month and median income is $49,973, so rent is 26.2% of income, over the 18.8% median for ranked towns in Indiana. The Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro price level is 95.7 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.73 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is rent share.

The formula

A lower score is more affordable. Rent share, the regional price level, taxes, and electricity each count 22.5%. Gasoline counts 10%. Those weights are our choice. Gasoline stays at 10% because the miles figure is one national standard, not a measured town commute. This is not a government standard.

A percentile is the share of ranked towns with a strictly lower number, divided by the number of ranked towns minus one. The lowest number scores 0. Tied numbers share a percentile.

  1. Rent share = (median monthly rent × 12) / median household income. Both figures are the Census 2020–2024 medians for that place.
  2. RPP-adjusted cost is the BEA 2024 all-items regional price parity. A basket priced at 100 for the U.S. average costs this many dollars in the town's area. We use the metro index when the county is in a metro BEA publishes. Otherwise we use the state index and say so. This index includes housing, so housing also shows up in the rent share.
  3. Tax burden is the average of three percentiles. Income-tax share is state income tax plus the stored 2023 local AGI add-on, divided by the town's median household income, on a joint return. Property share is the state's median effective property-tax rate times the town's median home value, divided by income. Sales rate is the combined state and average local sales-tax rate. We do not turn the sales rate into dollars, because that would require a shopping basket we do not have.
  4. Electricity is the state residential price in cents per kilowatt-hour. Every town in a state shares it. We do not guess how many kilowatt-hours a home uses.
  5. Gasoline is the EIA retail price for all grades and all formulations, in dollars per gallon. Where EIA publishes a state series, we use that state. Every other state uses the PADD region EIA assigns to it. Census does not publish commuting miles for these towns, so annual gas spend is 12,000 miles a year divided by 25 miles per gallon, times the price. That is 480 gallons, the same for every town. Those miles are our standard, not an ACS figure and not a government mileage rule. Because the gallons do not change, the gas percentile is the percentile of the price.

    Weekly prices are for the week of October 12, 2026, from the EIA workbook released October 14, 2026. File: https://www.eia.gov/petroleum/gasdiesel/xls/pswrgvwall.xls. Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, and Oregon use West Coast (PADD 5) Except California. That series is not in the weekly workbook, so those five use the monthly price dated September 15, 2026. File: https://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/pet_pri_gnd_a_epm0_pte_dpgal_m.htm.

    • State series, week of October 12, 2026: California, Colorado, Florida, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Texas, Washington.
    • Central Atlantic (PADD 1B), week of October 12, 2026: Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania.
    • Gulf Coast (PADD 3), week of October 12, 2026: Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico.
    • Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C), week of October 12, 2026: Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia.
    • Midwest (PADD 2), week of October 12, 2026: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Wisconsin.
    • New England (PADD 1A), week of October 12, 2026: Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont.
    • Rocky Mountain (PADD 4), week of October 12, 2026: Idaho, Montana, Utah, Wyoming.
    • West Coast (PADD 5) Except California, September 15, 2026: Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon.

Score = 0.225 × rent percentile + 0.225 × price-level percentile + 0.225 × tax score + 0.225 × electricity percentile + 0.10 × gasoline percentile. Rank 1 is the lowest score. If scores tie, the lower rent share wins, then the lower price level, then the place slug in A-to-Z order.

Questions

What is the most affordable town in Indiana in this index?

Yorktown is number 1 of 131 ranked towns in Indiana. Median rent is 13.6% of median income. Its national rank is 329.

How many towns in Indiana were ranked?

131 towns in Indiana have at least 5,000 people and published Census rent, income, and home value. Places missing one of those figures are left out.

Does this ranking approve benefits in Indiana?

No. Cost & Benefits does not approve or deny benefits. The score is a cost comparison only.