Should I Move To
Indianapolis city (balance), Indiana is home to about 882,006 people. On cost of living, it lands in the affordable band — 7% below the national average. The median renter pays around $1,046 a month against a typical household income of $59,110. Our composite UrbRank Score lands at 47 out of 100 (grade D), putting it at #616 nationally.
UrbRank Score · General
Each dimension scored 0-100 against every other US city.
Based on overall cost of living vs. other US cities.
Inverse of violent + property crime rate per 100,000 residents.
Temperate summers & winters, moderate precipitation.
Walk Score — how feasible daily errands are on foot.
Unemployment rate plus household income vs. national median.
Air quality index (EPA AQS data).
Share of residents 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
Indianapolis city (balance)'s composite cost-of-living index lands at 93 (100 = US average), which puts it in the affordable band. At $1,046/mo against $59,110 in median household income, the typical renter spends about 21% of income on housing — right inside the standard 30%-of-income guideline. Median home value sits around $184,600.
Full cost-of-living breakdown →Climate is four-season — summer averages around 85°F, winter averages around 26°F. Precipitation totals about 45 inches a year. Walkability is exceptional — most residents can live without a car if they want to. Crime statistics are on the rougher end of the US distribution; the citywide aggregate hides safer pockets but the headline number isn't great. Air quality is moderate (AQI 53).
Verdict by lifestyle profile — same data, different priorities.
Indianapolis city (balance) doesn't obviously fit families. It earns 51/100 (grade C-) on the families profile. Strongest on walkability (95/100); weakest on environmental quality (11/100).
Indianapolis city (balance) reads as a moderate fit for retirees. It earns 56/100 (grade C) on the retirees profile. Strongest on walkability (95/100); weakest on environmental quality (11/100).
Indianapolis city (balance) reads as a moderate fit for remote workers. It earns 56/100 (grade C) on the remote workers profile. Strongest on walkability (95/100); weakest on environmental quality (11/100).
Indianapolis city (balance) reads as a moderate fit for young professionals. It earns 57/100 (grade C) on the young professionals profile. Strongest on walkability (95/100); weakest on environmental quality (11/100).
Indianapolis city (balance), Indiana pulls a 47/100 overall on the UrbRank Score (grade D), currently ranked #616 nationally. The composite weights seven lifestyle dimensions: affordability, safety, climate, walkability, jobs, environment, and education.
Indianapolis city (balance)'s cost-of-living index is 93 (with 100 as the US average), which lands in the affordable band — 7% below the national average. Median rent runs about $1,046/mo.
Four-season — summer averages around 85°F, winter averages around 26°F, with about 45 inches of precipitation a year.
Walk Score: 95/100. Walkability is exceptional — most residents can live without a car if they want to.
Indianapolis city (balance) has about 882,006 residents, 33% of adults 25+ holding a bachelor's degree or higher with a median age of 34.
Use UrbRank's comparison tool to put Indianapolis city (balance) head-to-head against any other US city — housing, salaries, demographics, and quality-of-life metrics side by side. The leaderboard pages also show how Indianapolis city (balance) stacks up for families, retirees, remote workers, and young professionals specifically.
Every US city is scored 0-100 on seven dimensions using public data from the US Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, FBI Crime Data Explorer, EPA Air Quality System, NOAA NCEI, and Walk Score. Each dimension is a percentile rank against every other city — so a score of 80 means the city is in the top 20% nationally on that dimension.
The overall score is a weighted average. Five lifestyle profiles — general, families, retirees, remote workers, young professionals — weight the dimensions differently to reflect what each cares about. Families get more weight on safety and schools; young professionals get more weight on jobs and walkability; retirees get more weight on climate.
Compare Indianapolis city (balance) with other Indiana cities scored on UrbRank.
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