If you are nearing 65, you don’t have time to explore Indiana. You need to know the location of the best places to retire in The Hoosier State now.
So, let’s get down to it.
We did the research and created a list of the top ten best places in Indiana to retire for 2025.
How’d we determine the best places to retire in Indiana? We looked at important factors like cost of living, crime, amenities, rent,
and distance to the closest national airport for every place with over 10,000 residents. In total, we analyzed 65 cities.
We discovered that Indiana looks out for the best interest of their retirees. The state is one of thirty that does not tax Social Security benefits, and they do not have an estate or inheritance tax.
That’s a win for every retiree!
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Best Places To Retire In Indiana For 2025
Many of the best places to retire in are also Indiana’s safest places. The two usually go together, and that’s how it should be. And while most of Indiana’s best places to retire are centered around Indianapolis and Fort Wayne, the number one best place to retire is not.
Where is the best place to retire in Indiana? According to the latest data, New Castle is the best place to retire in Indiana for 2025.
To learn more about the top ten on our list, read on.
Why did New Castle take the top spot? And where are Indianapolis and Fort Wayne?
For more Indiana state reading:
- Best Places To Live In Indiana
- Cheapest Places To Live In Indiana
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Indiana
- Best Places To Retire In America
The 10 Best Places To Retire In Indiana For 2025
/10
Population: 17,356
Median Income: $48,977
Median Home Price: $95,100
Median Rent: $797
Distance to Closest Airport: 50 miles
More on New Castle: Data
/10
Population: 16,421
Median Income: $65,283
Median Home Price: $203,300
Median Rent: $741
Distance to Closest Airport: 75 miles
More on Jasper: Data
/10
Population: 16,408
Median Income: $49,327
Median Home Price: $134,100
Median Rent: $831
Distance to Closest Airport: 39 miles
More on Crawfordsville: Data
/10
Population: 10,094
Median Income: $60,909
Median Home Price: $130,600
Median Rent: $696
Distance to Closest Airport: 100 miles
More on Kendallville: Data
/10
Population: 13,824
Median Income: $50,253
Median Home Price: $136,900
Median Rent: $819
Distance to Closest Airport: 59 miles
More on Bedford: Data
/10
Population: 11,585
Median Income: $63,235
Median Home Price: $181,000
Median Rent: $820
Distance to Closest Airport: 49 miles
More on Greensburg: Data
/10
Population: 10,539
Median Income: $57,929
Median Home Price: $136,800
Median Rent: $816
Distance to Closest Airport: 76 miles
More on Bluffton: Data
/10
Population: 10,911
Median Income: $83,125
Median Home Price: $236,900
Median Rent: $1,222
Distance to Closest Airport: 38 miles
More on Lowell: Data
/10
Population: 26,158
Median Income: $41,071
Median Home Price: $92,400
Median Rent: $820
Distance to Closest Airport: 18 miles
More on East Chicago: Data
/10
Population: 21,639
Median Income: $127,449
Median Home Price: $370,800
Median Rent: $971
Distance to Closest Airport: 27 miles
More on St. John: Data
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the Hoosier State for 2025
To create our ranking of the best places in Indiana to retire, we used Saturday Night Science. We analyzed Census data to find all places in the Hoosier State — 680 cities and towns.
We then narrowed it down to places with at least 10,000 people that weren’t townships. This left us with 65 places from across the state.
For these 65, we looked at the following criteria taken from the Census, the FBI’s Crime Report, National Weather Service, and OpenFlights:
- Low cost of living as measured by rent
- Low crime
- Things to do (Museums, Colleges, and Libraries in town)
- Nice weather
- Distance to the closest international airport
- Other retirees (High median age)
We then ranked each of these places for each criterion from one to 65, with the lowest number being the best.
Finally, we took the average rank across these criteria. The place, in this case New Castle, with the lowest average rank, was crowned the best of the best, a place for you to start your second career.
The report has been updated for 2025. This list reflects our tenth time ranking the best places to retire in Indiana.
Summary: Maybe You’re Not Ready To Retire In Indiana Yet…
So there you have it, the best place to retire in Indiana goes to New Castle.
The best places to retire in Indiana are New Castle, Jasper, Crawfordsville, Kendallville, Bedford, Greensburg, Bluffton, Lowell, East Chicago, and St. John.
If you’re not ready to hang up your office apparel yet, then these places might be up your alley:
- Mishawaka
- Bloomington
- South Bend
For more Indiana reading, check out:
Best Places To Retire In Indiana
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Prices | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Castle | 17,356 | $48,977 | $95,100 | $797 |
| 2 | Jasper | 16,421 | $65,283 | $203,300 | $741 |
| 3 | Crawfordsville | 16,408 | $49,327 | $134,100 | $831 |
| 4 | Kendallville | 10,094 | $60,909 | $130,600 | $696 |
| 5 | Bedford | 13,824 | $50,253 | $136,900 | $819 |
| 6 | Greensburg | 11,585 | $63,235 | $181,000 | $820 |
| 7 | Bluffton | 10,539 | $57,929 | $136,800 | $816 |
| 8 | Lowell | 10,911 | $83,125 | $236,900 | $1,222 |
| 9 | East Chicago | 26,158 | $41,071 | $92,400 | $820 |
| 10 | St. John | 21,639 | $127,449 | $370,800 | $971 |