Indianapolis city (balance), IN Local Data & Statistics

State: IN

Total population: 885,860 Household income: $66,219 Rent: $1,156

Overview

Total population

885,860

Rent

$1,156

Year built

1973

Household income

$66,219

Per capita income

$37,680

Poverty rate

15.8%

Unemployment rate

4.1%

Household size

2.4 persons

Rent over 30% of income

48.5%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Indiana

Total population

885,860

Adults over 25

581,149

Total households

362,961

Household size

2.4 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$66,219

Per capita income

$37,680

Poverty rate

15.8%

Unemployment rate

4.1%

Rent over 30% of income

48.5%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,156

Year built

1973

Households that rent

44%

Households that own

56%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.5

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

51.3%

Black

27.9%

Asian

4.2%

Two or more races

9.7%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

13.8%

Not Hispanic or Latino

86.2%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

86%

Commute time to work

25 mins

Work from home

14%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

29.1%

High school graduate or GED

26.7%

Some college or associate degree

9.3%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

34.9%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Indianapolis city (balance), IN with: Indiana United States

Indianapolis city (balance), IN

Total population885,860

Rent$1,156

Year built1973

Household income$66,219

Per capita income$37,680

Poverty rate15.8%

Unemployment rate4.1%

Indiana State

Total population6,851,073

Rent$1,062

Year built1976

Household income$71,957

Per capita income$38,351

Poverty rate12.3%

Unemployment rate4.2%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityIndianapolis city (balance), IN	StateIndiana	CountryUnited States
Total population	885,860	6,851,073	334,922,499
Rent	$1,156	$1,062	$1,413
Year built	1973	1976	1980
Household income	$66,219	$71,957	$80,734
Per capita income	$37,680	$38,351	$44,673
Poverty rate	15.8%	12.3%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	4.1%	4.2%	4%

View the complete comparison of Indianapolis city (balance), IN, Indiana and United States →

Summary for Indianapolis city (balance), IN

Indianapolis city (balance) is located in Indiana.

Rent & Income

In Indianapolis city (balance), the typical monthly rent is $1,156 and the typical household income is $66,219. Rent here is higher than Indiana and lower than the U.S., and household income is lower than both Indiana and the U.S. The estimated poverty rate is 15.8%, which is higher than in both Indiana and national.

Housing & Affordability

This area is primarily owner-occupied, with renters accounting for about 44% of households. About 48.5% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is moderate, with about 34.9% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 4.1%, which is similar to both Indiana and the national rate.

Indianapolis city (balance), IN — Rent vs Household Income

How Indianapolis city (balance), IN compares in Indiana (21 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$1,156	14 / 21	from lower rent	$904 – $1,712
Household income	$66,219	8 / 21	from higher income	$38,731 – $141,505
Poverty rate	15.8%	8 / 21	from lower poverty	3.6% – 33.1%
Unemployment rate	4.1%	12 / 21	from lower unemployment	3% – 9.2%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in Indiana with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for Indianapolis city (balance), IN

Rent

In rent comparisons, Indianapolis city (balance) comes in 14th out of 21 large places. Across Indiana, rents vary from $904 in Muncie, IN to $1,712 in Carmel, IN.

Household income

Looking at household income, Indianapolis city (balance) places 8th out of 21 significant areas. Incomes across Indiana range between $38,731 in Gary, IN and $141,505 in Carmel, IN.

Poverty rate

In poverty comparisons, Indianapolis city (balance) ranks 8th out of 21 large places. Statewide rates vary from 3.6% in Westfield, IN to 33.1% in Gary, IN.

Unemployment rate

For joblessness, Indianapolis city (balance) ranks 12th out of 21 significant areas. Across Indiana, unemployment varies from 3% in Fishers, IN to 9.2% in Gary, IN.

💰 Rent in Indianapolis city (balance), IN (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,156 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Indianapolis city (balance), IN

Annual Household Income: $66,219

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Indianapolis city (balance), IN

Estimated Rate: 15.8%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Indianapolis city (balance), IN

In Indianapolis city (balance), IN, households that rent: 159,622 (44%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	159,622	44%
Owner-Occupied	203,339	56%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Indianapolis city (balance), IN

In Indianapolis city (balance), IN, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 77,453 (48.5%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	77,453	48.5%
Other renter households	82,169	51.5%
Total renter households	159,622	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Indianapolis city (balance), IN

Less than High School: 169,252 people (29.1%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 155,079 people (26.7%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 54,212 people (9.3%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 202,606 people (34.9%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 581,149

📊 Unemployment Rate in Indianapolis city (balance), IN

Estimated Rate: 4.1%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

Charlotte, NC886,283 Columbus, OH906,480 San Francisco, CA836,321 Fort Worth, TX941,311 Jacksonville, FL961,739 Austin, TX967,862 San Jose, CA990,054 Seattle, WA741,440 Denver, CO713,734

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.