
Best counties to raise a family in Indiana
Best counties to raise a family in Indiana
Known in other parts of the world as shires, provinces, or territories, the United States’ counties (also known in certain states as boroughs or parishes) date back to the 1600s, when settlers first came to find freedom from British rule. Today, those counties remain, with the 50 states divided into several, each with its own unique makeup.
For people looking to find a home to raise a family in, choosing a county is an important decision. Most families place affordable homes, safe neighborhoods, a quality school system, and family-friendly activities at the top of their wishlists.
Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to raise a family in Indiana using data from Niche. Niche ranks counties based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, healthcare, recreation and weather. Listings and images are from realtor.com.
The list features counties that boast some of the top schools and fun, family-friendly activities for every season. Keep reading to explore the best counties to raise a family. Maybe you’ll find one that suits your brood.

#25. Clay County
- Median home value: $101,400 (78% own)
- Median rent: $670 (22% rent)
- Median household income: $55,637
- Top public schools: Staunton Elementary School (A-), Jackson Township Elementary School (A-), Meridian Street Elementary School (A-)
- Top private schools: Cornerstone Christian Academy (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Brazil (B-), Jackson Township (B+), Sugar Ridge Township (B)
- Pictured: 4800 Staunton, Brazil ($2.7 million, 6 bedrooms)

#24. Delaware County
- Median home value: $93,600 (63% own)
- Median rent: $727 (37% rent)
- Median household income: $43,512
- Top public schools: Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics, and Humanities (A+), Burris Laboratory School (A-), Royerton Elementary School (A-)
- Top private schools: Heritage Hall Christian School (B), St. Mary School (unavailable), St. Lawrence Elementary School (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Yorktown (A-), Muncie (B), Daleville (B)
- Pictured: 7601 W York Prairie Way, Muncie ($1.3 million, 6 bedrooms)

#23. Howard County
- Median home value: $109,500 (70% own)
- Median rent: $700 (30% rent)
- Median household income: $52,373
- Top public schools: Western Middle School (A-), Northwestern Senior High School (A-), Western Intermediate School (A-)
- Top private schools: Sts. Joan of Arc & Patrick School (unavailable), Redeemer Lutheran School (unavailable), Acacia Academy (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Greentown (B), Kokomo (B), Harrison Township (A-)
- Pictured: 1191 S 1300 Rd E, Greentown ($319,900, 5 bedrooms)

#22. Posey County
- Median home value: $144,200 (82% own)
- Median rent: $688 (18% rent)
- Median household income: $64,196
- Top public schools: Marrs Elementary School (A-), South Terrace Elementary School (A-), Farmersville Elementary School (B+)
- Top private schools: St. Philip School (unavailable), St. Wendel School (unavailable), St. Matthew Elementary School (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Mount Vernon (B), Bethel Township (A-), Marrs Township (B+)
- Pictured: 5110 Alysia St, Mount Vernon ($369,900, 4 bedrooms)

#21. Spencer County
- Median home value: $127,700 (82% own)
- Median rent: $708 (18% rent)
- Median household income: $57,305
- Top public schools: David Turnham Educational Center (A), Lincoln Trail Elementary School (A), Chrisney Elementary School (A)
- Top private schools: St. Bernard School (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Santa Claus (A), Clay Township (A-), Carter Township (A-)
- Pictured: 7505 E County Road 1450 Rd N, Santa Claus ($439,900, 4 bedrooms)

#20. Kosciusko County
- Median home value: $150,000 (75% own)
- Median rent: $788 (25% rent)
- Median household income: $61,366
- Top public schools: Edgewood Middle School (A-), Eisenhower Elementary School (B+), Warsaw Community High School (B+)
- Top private schools: Lakeland Christian Academy (A-), Sacred Heart Elementary School (unavailable), Warsaw Christian School (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Winona Lake (A), Warsaw (A-), Syracuse (B-)
- Pictured: 1920 E Legacy Ln, Winona Lake ($749,000, 4 bedrooms)

#19. Vanderburgh County
- Median home value: $129,000 (65% own)
- Median rent: $789 (35% rent)
- Median household income: $49,708
- Top public schools: Signature School (A+), North High School (B+), Oak Hill Elementary School (B+)
- Top private schools: Evansville Day School (A), Reitz Memorial High School (A), Mater Dei High School (A-)
- Top places to live: Melody Hill (B+), Darmstadt (B+), Highland (B+)
- Pictured: 2206 Swinging Way, Evansville ($145,000, 3 bedrooms)

#18. Marshall County
- Median home value: $138,700 (75% own)
- Median rent: $754 (25% rent)
- Median household income: $52,658
- Top public schools: Riverside Intermediate School (A-), Triton Elementary School (B+), Argos Community Junior/Senior High School (B+)
- Top private schools: Culver Academies (A+), St. Michael School (unavailable), St. Paul's Lutheran School (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Bremen (A-), Plymouth (B), Center Township (B+)
- Pictured: 2806 SR 331, Bremen ($875,000, 4 bedrooms)

#17. Hancock County
- Median home value: $169,300 (79% own)
- Median rent: $895 (21% rent)
- Median household income: $74,072
- Top public schools: Eastern Hancock Middle School (A), McCordsville Elementary School (A), Mt. Comfort Elementary School (A-)
- Top private schools: St. Michael's Catholic School (unavailable)
- Top places to live: McCordsville (A), Fortville (B+), New Palestine (B+)
- Pictured: 10088 Springstone Rd, McCordsville ($975,000, 7 bedrooms)

#16. Warrick County
- Median home value: $168,200 (79% own)
- Median rent: $865 (21% rent)
- Median household income: $73,482
- Top public schools: Sharon Elementary School (A), Castle South Middle School (A), Castle North Middle School (A)
- Top private schools: St. John the Baptist School (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Newburgh (A), Boonville (B+), Chandler (B-)
- Pictured: 1079 Jefferson Ct, Newburgh ($809,900, 5 bedrooms)

#15. Lake County
- Median home value: $149,500 (70% own)
- Median rent: $886 (30% rent)
- Median household income: $56,128
- Top public schools: Munster High School (A+), Dwight D. Eisenhower Elementary School (A), Frank H. Hammond Elementary School (A)
- Top private schools: Andrean High School (A), Bishop Noll Institute (A-), Illiana Christian High School (B+)
- Top places to live: Munster (A+), Dyer (A), Crown Point (A)
- Pictured: 1517 Park West Cir, Munster ($1.7 million, 6 bedrooms)

#14. Elkhart County
- Median home value: $144,300 (70% own)
- Median rent: $810 (30% rent)
- Median household income: $57,021
- Top public schools: Wakarusa Elementary School (A-), North Wood Middle School (A-), Nappanee Elementary School (A-)
- Top private schools: Elkhart Christian Academy (A-), Bethany Christian Schools (B+), Clinton Christian School (B-)
- Top places to live: Goshen (A-), Middlebury (B+), Nappanee (B+)
- Pictured: 60760 Creekstone Dr, Goshen ($700,000, 5 bedrooms)

#13. Dubois County
- Median home value: $156,500 (78% own)
- Median rent: $660 (22% rent)
- Median household income: $60,666
- Top public schools: Ferdinand Elementary School (A), Cedar Crest Intermediate School (A), Ireland Elementary School (A)
- Top private schools: Precious Blood School (unavailable), Holy Family School (unavailable), Jasper Christian Academy (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Jasper (A), Huntingburg (B), Boone Township (A)
- Pictured: 13 Keystone Ct, Jasper ($724,700, 5 bedrooms)

#12. Tippecanoe County
- Median home value: $153,000 (55% own)
- Median rent: $851 (45% rent)
- Median household income: $53,130
- Top public schools: West Lafayette Junior/Senior High School (A+), West Lafayette Elementary School (A+), West Lafayette Intermediate School (A+)
- Top private schools: Faith Christian School (A-), Central Catholic Junior/Senior High School (A-), Lafayette Christian School (unavailable)
- Top places to live: West Lafayette (A+), Battle Ground (A), Lafayette (B+)
- Pictured: 4727 N 140 W, West Lafayette ($960,000, 2 bedrooms)

#11. Marion County
- Median home value: $136,700 (54% own)
- Median rent: $889 (46% rent)
- Median household income: $48,316
- Top public schools: Herron High School (A+), Paramount Schools of Excellence - Brookside (A), Speedway Junior High School (A)
- Top private schools: Park Tudor School (A+), International School of Indiana (A+), Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School (A+)
- Top places to live: Broad Ripple (A+), Meridian Hills (A+), Castleton (A+)
- Pictured: 3612 N Hawthorne Ln, Indianapolis ($49,900, 3 bedrooms)

#10. Floyd County
- Median home value: $171,400 (73% own)
- Median rent: $796 (27% rent)
- Median household income: $64,468
- Top public schools: Floyd Central High School (A), Greenville Elementary School (A), Floyds Knobs Elementary School (A-)
- Top private schools: Christian Academy of Indiana (A-), Our Lady of Perpetual Help School (unavailable), Holy Family School (unavailable)
- Top places to live: New Albany (A-), Georgetown (A-), Galena (B)
- Pictured: 1016 Canyon Rd, New Albany ($950,000, 5 bedrooms)

#9. Bartholomew County
- Median home value: $153,500 (71% own)
- Median rent: $937 (29% rent)
- Median household income: $63,431
- Top public schools: Columbus North High School (A), Columbus Signature Academy (CSA) - Lincoln Campus (A-), Columbus East High School (A-)
- Top private schools: Columbus Christian School (B), St. Peter's Lutheran School (unavailable), St. Bartholomew School (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Columbus (A), Harrison Township (A), German Township (B+)
- Pictured: 8588 John Butler Rd, Columbus ($1.1 million, 3 bedrooms)

#8. Porter County
- Median home value: $185,400 (75% own)
- Median rent: $933 (25% rent)
- Median household income: $71,152
- Top public schools: Morgan Township Elementary School (A), Northview Elementary School (A), Discovery Charter School (A)
- Top private schools: Victory Christian Academy (A-), Portage Christian School (B), St. Paul Catholic School (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Porter (A), Valparaiso (A), Chesterton (A)
- Pictured: 3001 Duneland Dr, Porter ($1.2 million, 2 bedrooms)

#7. Johnson County
- Median home value: $164,600 (73% own)
- Median rent: $955 (27% rent)
- Median household income: $72,440
- Top public schools: Center Grove Middle School Central (A), Center Grove Elementary School (A), Sugar Grove Elementary School (A)
- Top private schools: Greenwood Christian Academy (B), Ss. Francis & Clare Catholic School (unavailable), Our Lady of Greenwood School (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Bargersville (A), Greenwood (A), New Whiteland (A-)
- Pictured: 5347 N 400 W, Bargersville ($1.8 million, 5 bedrooms)

#6. Allen County
- Median home value: $129,300 (68% own)
- Median rent: $773 (32% rent)
- Median household income: $54,857
- Top public schools: Homestead Senior High School (A), Woodside Middle School (A), Oak View Elementary School (A)
- Top private schools: Canterbury School (A+), Concordia Lutheran High School (A-), Bishop Dwenger High School (A-)
- Top places to live: Huntertown (A-), Fort Wayne (A-), Grabill (B+)
- Pictured: 16561 Chilton Cove Cor, Huntertown ($649,900, 3 bedrooms)

#5. St. Joseph County
- Median home value: $129,000 (68% own)
- Median rent: $793 (32% rent)
- Median household income: $52,769
- Top public schools: Northpoint Elementary School (A), Prairie Vista Elementary School (A), Discovery Middle School (A)
- Top private schools: Trinity School at Greenlawn (A+), Saint Joseph High School (A), Marian High School (A)
- Top places to live: Granger (A+), Osceola (A-), Mishawaka (A-)
- Pictured: 17640 Dannybrook Dr, Granger ($2.4 million, 5 bedrooms)

#4. Boone County
- Median home value: $233,700 (77% own)
- Median rent: $1,011 (23% rent)
- Median household income: $83,077
- Top public schools: Zionsville Community High School (A+), Boone Meadow (A+), Zionsville Middle School (A+)
- Top private schools: Traders Point Christian Schools (B+), James E. Davis School (A-), Children's Learning Program (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Zionsville (A+), Whitestown (A), Lebanon (B+)
- Pictured: 4141 W 116th St, Zionsville ($6.3 million, 5 bedrooms)

#3. Monroe County
- Median home value: $175,600 (56% own)
- Median rent: $920 (44% rent)
- Median household income: $49,839
- Top public schools: Bloomington High School South (A+), Childs Elementary School (A), University Elementary School (A)
- Top private schools: Lighthouse Christian Academy (A), Harmony School (A-), St. Charles Borromeo Catholic School (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Bloomington (A), Ellettsville (B+), Perry Township (A+)
- Pictured: 2100 E Guinness Ct, Bloomington ($1.9 million, 4 bedrooms)

#2. Hendricks County
- Median home value: $191,700 (78% own)
- Median rent: $1,076 (22% rent)
- Median household income: $81,933
- Top public schools: Brownsburg West Middle School (A+), Reagan Elementary School (A+), Brownsburg East Middle School (A+)
- Top private schools: Bethesda Christian Schools (B), Kingsway Christian School (unavailable), St. Malachy Catholic School (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Avon (A), Brownsburg (A), Plainfield (A)
- Pictured: 1937 N County Road 425 E, Avon ($1.7 million, 4 bedrooms)

#1. Hamilton County
- Median home value: $263,300 (77% own)
- Median rent: $1,176 (23% rent)
- Median household income: $98,173
- Top public schools: Carmel High School (A+), Creekside Middle School (A+), Smoky Row Elementary School (A+)
- Top private schools: University High School of Indiana (A+), St. Theodore Guerin High School (A), Eman Schools (A)
- Top places to live: Carmel (A+), Fishers (A+), Westfield (A+)
- Pictured: 4141 W 116th St, Zionsville ($6.3 million, 5 bedrooms)



