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 2026.
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 66 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 2026
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 2026.
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 2026
/10
Population: 17,367
Median Income: $51,606
Median Home Price: $164,335
Median Rent: $781
Distance to Closest Airport: 50 miles
More on New Castle: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 11,073
Median Income: $84,024
Median Home Price: $329,211
Median Rent: $1,123
Distance to Closest Airport: 38 miles
More on Lowell: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 16,491
Median Income: $55,033
Median Home Price: $219,772
Median Rent: $857
Distance to Closest Airport: 39 miles
More on Crawfordsville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 15,991
Median Income: $68,817
Median Home Price: $266,264
Median Rent: $810
Distance to Closest Airport: 75 miles
More on Jasper: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 13,837
Median Income: $49,553
Median Home Price: $207,924
Median Rent: $828
Distance to Closest Airport: 59 miles
More on Bedford: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 10,529
Median Income: $57,539
Median Home Price: $183,602
Median Rent: $732
Distance to Closest Airport: 76 miles
More on Bluffton: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 11,714
Median Income: $97,083
Median Home Price: $337,029
Median Rent: $1,151
Distance to Closest Airport: 11 miles
More on Danville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 22,567
Median Income: $131,467
Median Home Price: $450,805
Median Rent: $989
Distance to Closest Airport: 27 miles
More on St. John: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 12,367
Median Income: $50,331
Median Home Price: $147,888
Median Rent: $858
Distance to Closest Airport: 55 miles
More on Washington: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 26,022
Median Income: $42,125
Median Home Price: $128,170
Median Rent: $854
Distance to Closest Airport: 18 miles
More on East Chicago: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the Hoosier State for 2026
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 66 places from across the state.
For these 66, 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 66, 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 2026. This list reflects our eleventh 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, Lowell, Crawfordsville, Jasper, Bedford, Bluffton, Danville, St. John, Washington, and East Chicago.
If you’re not ready to hang up your office apparel yet, then these places might be up your alley:
- Goshen
- Mishawaka
- Warsaw
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 | 17,367 | $51,606 | $164,335 | $781 |
| 2 | Lowell | 11,073 | $84,024 | $329,211 | $1,123 |
| 3 | Crawfordsville | 16,491 | $55,033 | $219,772 | $857 |
| 4 | Jasper | 15,991 | $68,817 | $266,264 | $810 |
| 5 | Bedford | 13,837 | $49,553 | $207,924 | $828 |
| 6 | Bluffton | 10,529 | $57,539 | $183,602 | $732 |
| 7 | Danville | 11,714 | $97,083 | $337,029 | $1,151 |
| 8 | St. John | 22,567 | $131,467 | $450,805 | $989 |
| 9 | Washington | 12,367 | $50,331 | $147,888 | $858 |
| 10 | East Chicago | 26,022 | $42,125 | $128,170 | $854 |