You’ve seen these lists before. Best places to live in Indiana. Best sururbs in Indiana. Best counties in Indiana.
Etc., etc., etc.
But they all focus on major cities and towns in the Hoosier State, and no one pays attention to the little guy.
Well, that’s all about to change as we put together a list of the superb small towns in Indiana based on numbers–not opinions or hearsay.
We’ll dive right into our methodology in the next section, but first, we thought you might want to know which places in Indiana ranked the best based on Saturday Night Science.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 15 Best Small Towns To Live In Indiana For 2026
- Haubstadt
- Newburgh
- Meridian Hills
- Melody Hill
- Georg
- Leo-Cedarville
- Long Beach
- Edgewood
- Grabill
- Shorewood Forest
- Ogden Dunes
- Tri-Lakes
- Kouts
- Aberdeen
- Pittsboro
What’s the best small town in Indiana? Haubstadt is the best small town in Indiana based on the most recent Census data. If you live in one of these small towns like Haubstadt, chances are, you’re not surprised. After all, you know how great you have it.
But for the rest of you–keep reading, and we’ll get to just why these small towns made our list.
For more reading on the Hoosier State check out:
The 15 Best Small Towns In Indiana For 2026
1. Haubstadt
/10
Population: 1,905
Median Income: $74,940 (51st Best)
Median Home Value: $288,258 (53rd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.9%
2. Newburgh
/10
Population: 3,395
Median Income: $75,135 (48th Best)
Median Home Value: $317,776 (35th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.1%
3. Meridian Hills
/10
Population: 1,767
Median Income: $211,528 (1st Best)
Median Home Value: $770,634 (1st Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.6%
4. Melody Hill
/10
Population: 3,243
Median Income: $93,906 (20th Best)
Median Home Value: $234,789 (98th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.5%
5. Georg
/10
Population: 3,800
Median Income: $113,265 (11th Best)
Median Home Value: $352,067 (23rd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.4%
6. Leo-Cedarville
/10
Population: 3,695
Median Income: $116,375 (9th Best)
Median Home Value: $378,065 (13th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.3%
7. Long Beach
/10
Population: 1,111
Median Income: $121,827 (6th Best)
Median Home Value: $746,313 (2nd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.6%
8. Edgewood
/10
Population: 2,121
Median Income: $87,770 (23rd Best)
Median Home Value: $220,148 (119th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.8%
9. Grabill
/10
Population: 1,108
Median Income: $66,563 (85th Best)
Median Home Value: $363,088 (18th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.5%
10. Shorewood Forest
/10
Population: 3,263
Median Income: $165,972 (2nd Best)
Median Home Value: $557,973 (3rd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.3%
11. Ogden Dunes
/10
Population: 1,140
Median Income: $117,000 (8th Best)
Median Home Value: $478,165 (4th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.6%
12. Tri-Lakes
/10
Population: 1,025
Median Income: $115,250 (10th Best)
Median Home Value: $376,757 (14th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%
13. Kouts
/10
Population: 2,372
Median Income: $77,607 (40th Best)
Median Home Value: $313,626 (37th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.5%
14. Aberdeen
/10
Population: 1,490
Median Income: $94,926 (17th Best)
Median Home Value: $427,535 (5th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.6%
15. Pittsboro
/10
Population: 4,156
Median Income: $126,023 (5th Best)
Median Home Value: $365,626 (17th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.1%
Methodology: How We Determined The Coolest Towns In Indiana
We threw a lot of criteria at this report to get the best, most complete results of the best small towns in Indiana possible.
Using the most recent data from the Census’s 2020-2024 American Community Survey, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Saturday Night Science, this is the criteria we used:
- Population Density (Higher is better)
- Lowest Unemployment Rates
- Housing costs (Higher is better. More demand.)
- Adjusted Median Income (Higher is better)
- Highly Educated Adults (Higher is better)
- Insurance Rates (Higher is better)
- Commute Times (Lower is better)
We looked at places with populations lower than 5,000 people and greater than 1,000, of which there were many – 206 to be exact.
We then ranked each place in each category with scores from 1 to 206, averaged them out, and the lowest scores went to our Best Small Towns in Indiana. Top of that list — Haubstadt.
This is our eleventh time ranking the best small places to live in Indiana.
Summary: Science Can Tackle Any Issue, Even Small Ones
We said it once, and we’ll say it again — this list: it’s just science. We did the research, crunched the numbers, and it turns out these 15 small towns in Indiana are the best in which to live.
And who can argue with that?
The best small towns in Indiana are Haubstadt, Newburgh, Meridian Hills, Melody Hill, Georg, Leo-Cedarville, Long Beach, Edgewood, Grabill, and Shorewood Forest.
If you’re curious, here are the worst small towns in Indiana:
- English
- Jasonville
- Country Squire Lakes
For more Indiana reading, check out:
Best Small Towns In Indiana
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Median Home Value | Unemployment Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Haubstadt, IN | 1,905 | $74,940 | 0.9% | |
| 2 | Newburgh, IN | 3,395 | $75,135 | 2.1% | |
| 3 | Meridian Hills, IN | 1,767 | $211,528 | 3.6% | |
| 4 | Melody Hill, IN | 3,243 | $93,906 | 1.5% | |
| 5 | Georg, IN | 3,800 | $113,265 | 1.4% | |
| 6 | Leo-Cedarville, IN | 3,695 | $116,375 | 2.3% | |
| 7 | Long Beach, IN | 1,111 | $121,827 | 2.6% | |
| 8 | Edgewood, IN | 2,121 | $87,770 | 1.8% | |
| 9 | Grabill, IN | 1,108 | $66,563 | 2.5% | |
| 10 | Shorewood Forest, IN | 3,263 | $165,972 | 1.3% | |
| 11 | Ogden Dunes, IN | 1,140 | $117,000 | 2.6% | |
| 12 | Tri-Lakes, IN | 1,025 | $115,250 | 0.0% | |
| 13 | Kouts, IN | 2,372 | $77,607 | 0.5% | |
| 14 | Aberdeen, IN | 1,490 | $94,926 | 1.6% | |
| 15 | Pittsboro, IN | 4,156 | $126,023 | 4.1% | |
| 16 | Battle Ground, IN | 1,969 | $110,568 | 4.2% | |
| 17 | Darmstadt, IN | 1,508 | $107,188 | 0.9% | |
| 18 | Simonton Lake, IN | 4,248 | $75,673 | 1.7% | |
| 19 | Syracuse, IN | 3,233 | $71,833 | 1.8% | |
| 20 | Clermont, IN | 1,468 | $82,083 | 1.9% | |
| 21 | Montgomery, IN | 1,111 | $83,500 | 0.6% | |
| 22 | Thor, IN | 1,212 | $73,750 | 1.4% | |
| 23 | Bristol, IN | 2,128 | $77,188 | 1.8% | |
| 24 | Howe, IN | 1,092 | $60,238 | 0.0% | |
| 25 | New Palestine, IN | 3,227 | $96,923 | 4.1% | |
| 26 | Burns Harbor, IN | 2,155 | $98,500 | 0.0% | |
| 27 | Santa Claus, IN | 2,793 | $89,659 | 1.8% | |
| 28 | Galena, IN | 1,549 | $127,738 | 4.8% | |
| 29 | Churubusco, IN | 1,757 | $65,086 | 1.8% | |
| 30 | Russiaville, IN | 1,445 | $84,457 | 3.0% | |
| 31 | Bourbon, IN | 1,760 | $73,510 | 4.3% | |
| 32 | Cordry Sweetwater Lakes, IN | 1,190 | $94,583 | 1.4% | |
| 33 | Utica, IN | 1,028 | $84,886 | 2.7% | |
| 34 | Smithville-Sanders, IN | 3,299 | $74,750 | 4.4% | |
| 35 | Dayton, IN | 1,168 | $78,289 | 2.2% | |
| 36 | Nashville, IN | 1,386 | $51,638 | 1.7% | |
| 37 | Greenville, IN | 1,575 | $134,934 | 4.1% | |
| 38 | New Carlisle, IN | 1,998 | $66,824 | 1.9% | |
| 39 | Upland, IN | 3,918 | $83,839 | 2.2% | |
| 40 | Trail Creek, IN | 2,351 | $77,635 | 6.8% | |
| 41 | Ferdinand, IN | 2,351 | $70,000 | 0.5% | |
| 42 | North Manchester, IN | 4,819 | $61,296 | 1.8% | |
| 43 | Southport, IN | 1,975 | $71,058 | 3.0% | |
| 44 | Avilla, IN | 2,878 | $78,880 | 2.9% | |
| 45 | Remington, IN | 1,623 | $75,875 | 1.6% | |
| 46 | Brown, IN | 3,040 | $62,756 | 1.6% | |
| 47 | Berne, IN | 3,965 | $62,159 | 4.0% | |
| 48 | Brookston, IN | 1,530 | $63,182 | 0.6% | |
| 49 | Lake Dalecarlia, IN | 1,169 | $118,472 | 4.6% | |
| 50 | Hudson Lake, IN | 1,347 | $98,253 | 0.0% | |
| 51 | Salt Creek Commons, IN | 1,843 | $94,167 | 5.8% | |
| 52 | Monrovia, IN | 2,055 | $92,344 | 2.4% | |
| 53 | North Liberty, IN | 1,775 | $75,047 | 6.4% | |
| 54 | Ossian, IN | 3,384 | $71,563 | 4.8% | |
| 55 | Fortville, IN | 4,976 | $84,000 | 3.8% | |
| 56 | Roanoke, IN | 1,940 | $71,488 | 3.9% | |
| 57 | Shadeland, IN | 1,921 | $82,708 | 2.2% | |
| 58 | Rossville, IN | 1,565 | $71,473 | 6.2% | |
| 59 | Arcadia, IN | 1,556 | $66,901 | 3.1% | |
| 60 | Hamilton, IN | 1,939 | $69,761 | 3.5% | |
| 61 | Hope, IN | 2,029 | $76,188 | 1.9% | |
| 62 | Sunman, IN | 1,247 | $73,413 | 2.8% | |
| 63 | Gree, IN | 2,094 | $60,521 | 2.3% | |
| 64 | Fort Branch, IN | 3,021 | $58,707 | 2.5% | |
| 65 | New Paris, IN | 1,549 | $74,663 | 0.0% | |
| 66 | Bremen, IN | 4,642 | $68,429 | 0.5% | |
| 67 | Osceola, IN | 2,593 | $66,503 | 3.0% | |
| 68 | Middlebury, IN | 3,700 | $75,236 | 4.0% | |
| 69 | Corydon, IN | 3,157 | $56,513 | 2.3% | |
| 70 | Owensville, IN | 1,156 | $56,635 | 5.2% | |
| 71 | Oolitic, IN | 1,522 | $59,018 | 4.0% | |
| 72 | Wolcott, IN | 1,033 | $66,875 | 2.4% | |
| 73 | Fremont, IN | 2,112 | $66,304 | 11.4% | |
| 74 | Brookville, IN | 2,643 | $55,938 | 0.0% | |
| 75 | Greendale, IN | 3,986 | $74,980 | 0.4% | |
| 76 | Sweetser, IN | 1,061 | $80,625 | 0.7% | |
| 77 | Trafalgar, IN | 1,469 | $77,885 | 4.3% | |
| 78 | Pierceton, IN | 1,451 | $80,625 | 1.0% | |
| 79 | Rising Sun, IN | 2,474 | $58,843 | 2.2% | |
| 80 | Woodburn, IN | 1,263 | $65,938 | 4.1% | |
| 81 | Lapel, IN | 2,668 | $79,778 | 6.3% | |
| 82 | Millersburg, IN | 1,077 | $65,833 | 3.8% | |
| 83 | Heritage Lake, IN | 3,227 | $87,568 | 3.5% | |
| 84 | Otterbein, IN | 1,576 | $63,698 | 3.3% | |
| 85 | Sheridan, IN | 3,205 | $66,534 | 5.9% | |
| 86 | North Terre Haute, IN | 4,534 | $54,640 | 2.1% | |
| 87 | Walkerton, IN | 2,115 | $65,340 | 2.5% | |
| 88 | Rome City, IN | 1,182 | $71,016 | 4.9% | |
| 89 | Henryville, IN | 1,691 | $71,667 | 1.7% | |
| 90 | Wanatah, IN | 1,178 | $68,409 | 2.3% | |
| 91 | Covington, IN | 3,069 | $52,466 | 4.3% | |
| 92 | French Lick, IN | 1,828 | $54,519 | 0.5% | |
| 93 | Williamsport, IN | 1,867 | $65,550 | 1.9% | |
| 94 | Flora, IN | 2,114 | $51,429 | 4.7% | |
| 95 | Monroeville, IN | 1,122 | $56,302 | 2.7% | |
| 96 | Spencer, IN | 2,481 | $48,378 | 4.3% | |
| 97 | Jame, IN | 1,107 | $71,048 | 4.1% | |
| 98 | Warren, IN | 1,274 | $67,885 | 5.6% | |
| 99 | Harlan, IN | 1,254 | $75,313 | 5.9% | |
| 100 | Hebron, IN | 3,976 | $73,812 | 5.8% |