Housing decision brief
Vigo County, IN Housing Market
Vigo County screens as a below-state purchase price, rent that needs comparison, a manageable tax-rate signal market. Use the page as a decision brief, not just a price lookup, because local income, taxes, and data confidence change how affordable the county really is.
22nd lowest home value out of 92 Indiana counties with data | 57th lowest rent out of 92
Median home value
$140,400
Purchase-price signal from Census ACS.
Median rent
$879/mo
Gross rent, including utilities where reported.
Monthly owner cost
$851/mo
Owner costs before individual loan terms.
Decision snapshot
Read this county in four signals.
Buy screen
2.7x
Median home value divided by local household income.
Rent burden
33.0%
At or above the 30% burden threshold.
Rent vs own
$28/mo
Median owner cost screens below median rent.
Data confidence
1 note
Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
What Works
Lower purchase price
$140,400 median home value is 18% below Indiana county median
Owning screens cheaper than renting
Median owner costs are $28/mo below median rent before individual mortgage terms.
What to Check
Lower income base
$52,525 median income is 21% below Indiana county median
Health context
Health score is 42.0 out of 100, so affordability should be weighed against local health indicators.
Crime data coverage
Crime data coverage is partial. Treat zero or low crime rates as incomplete until you check the source coverage.
Best Fit For
- Buyers comparing homes to local incomes
- Households weighing ownership against renting
- Remote earners or cash buyers looking below the state price line
Poor Fit For
- Households dependent on a deep local wage market
- Anyone treating reported crime rates as complete without source context
County vs State vs National
The county number only matters after you see the benchmark. These comparisons show where Vigo County is genuinely cheap, where it is average, and where the hidden cost may be.
| Metric | County | State | U.S. | Signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Median home value Lower usually helps affordability. | $140,400 | $171,400 | $281,900 | 18% favorable18% below Indiana county median |
Median gross rent Lower usually helps affordability. | $879 | $850 | $1,163 | Near state median3% above Indiana county median |
Monthly owner cost Lower usually helps affordability. | $851 | $898 | $1,672 | 5% favorable5% below Indiana county median |
Median household income | $52,525 | $66,674 | $74,755 | 21% pressure21% below Indiana county median |
Effective property-tax rate Lower usually helps affordability. | 0.89% | 1.00% | 1.02% | 11% favorable11% below Indiana county median |
Rent burden Lower usually helps affordability. | 33.00% | 26.00% | N/A | 27% pressure33.00% of renter income goes to rent. |
Income Fit
A low price only helps if local income can carry the monthly cost. This panel compares the county income base with rent and owner-cost thresholds.
Rent cushion
+$17,365
Median income minus rent threshold.
Owner cushion
+$16,054
Median income minus owner-cost threshold.
Affordability Advisory
This turns the raw housing numbers into income and buy-versus-rent screens.
Affordability verdict
Housing in Vigo County is affordable. The median rent is $879/month against a median household income of $52,525, putting rent at 20.1% of income.
Rent vs own
At $879/month rent versus $851/month in owner costs, owning is roughly $28/month cheaper , a 3% difference.
Income needed
To afford the median rent without exceeding 30% of gross income, a household needs to earn approximately $35,160/year. For owner costs at the 28% rule, the required income is roughly $36,471/year. With a median household income of $52,525, most households can comfortably afford rent here. Notably, 33.0% of renter households in Vigo County are cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of income on housing.
Regional context
Vigo County sits 6% more expensive than Decatur County ($828/month) in terms of median gross rent.
Better Counties to Compare
Similar counties are matched on home value, rent, income, and state context. This is more useful than a simple nearest-price list.
| County | Home Value | Rent | Why compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scott County, IN | $145,400 | $790/mo | Same-state comparison near $145,400 home value and $790/mo rent. |
| Delaware County, IN | $127,600 | $874/mo | Same-state comparison near $127,600 home value and $874/mo rent. |
| Henry County, IN | $140,200 | $807/mo | Same-state comparison near $140,200 home value and $807/mo rent. |
| Fulton County, IN | $144,700 | $861/mo | Same-state comparison near $144,700 home value and $861/mo rent. |
| Huntington County, IN | $146,400 | $866/mo | Same-state comparison near $146,400 home value and $866/mo rent. |
Data Confidence
- Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
Next Checks
Housing Questions for Vigo County
Is Vigo County affordable for buying a home?
Is renting or owning cheaper in Vigo County?
How much income do you need for housing in Vigo County?
What should I double-check before moving to Vigo County?
Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023) — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.