Indiana is located in a unique part of the country.
That is probably why someone has wanted to occupy it since the 1600s.
Just south are landlocked states, but Indiana has the distinct pleasure of sharing a border with Lake Michigan.
Of course, that is among many miles of river and other lakes.
If you can get past shoveling your driveway and being emersed in having to go out of your way to find fun things to do, Indiana might be for you!
Let’s take a deeper look at what makes this state one of a kind, in the best and worst ways.
Contents
Pros of Living in Indiana
1. Cost of Living
One great benefit of living in the Hoosier state is how much it costs to be a citizen.
Unlike some of our neighbors, pretty much all of Indiana is affordable.
Even the capital, where most places become too far from a normal budget to consider, is sustainable.
The land is also more budget-friendly.
We have a lot of lands that are not taken up by housing development that you could start your own small farm on even.
2. Four Seasons
No, not the hotel. We’re talking about getting to experience actual seasons.
There are several states where summers or winters overstay their welcome.
Indiana is a place where you get the best from all four seasons.
No need to travel to a cabin in Canada to experience snowy winters or the Caribbean for warm summers.
For someone from one of these other extreme states, this weather pattern is a breath of fresh air.
3. Low Crime
Perhaps it is due to all those wide-open fields of sustenance, there are not a lot of violent crimes.
Indiana is quite lucky to keep people happy enough that they are not prowling the streets to do others harm.
At least that is the hope.
Having a lower crime rate is something to be proud of.
It is also definitely something many consider when it comes to family planning.
No one is afraid to have children here.
4. Higher Education
Who needs to go to the coast to get an elite education?
Indiana is home to Purdue University, one of the top schools in the country.
While it is not Ivy League, Purdue is a Tier 1 school and has a comparable education to the likes of Harvard or Princeton.
On a similar level is the University of Notre Dame, which has been around for going on 200 years.
Notre Dame is also #1 for fellowships from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
5. College and Professional Sports
It would be weird to mention Notre Dame without somewhere saying something about their impressive college football.
There are so many fans, many of whom did not even attend the university.
The Fighting Irish are one of the most popular teams in all the college sports.
There are also two professional teams that have a strong following.
The Indianapolis Colts and Indiana Pacers keep both football and basketball fans happy all season.
Oh, and the Indy 500.
6. Making a Living
The unemployment rate is about half the national average.
That is because Indiana is part of the Rust Belt, meaning it is a manufacturing goldmine.
We produce more steel than anywhere else in the country and come in second place in the number of automobiles that are put together here.
Those are just two of the industries that Indiana has its foot in.
That keeps workers in high demand.
7. Outdoor Activities
It is not all just cornfields!
There are 24,000 miles of river to enjoy in the state and over 900 lakes, including Lake Michigan.
On dry land, there are three national parks and 24 state parks.
Also, due to the healthy span of each season, there are sports you can play all year long.
There is no part of the year that there is not something going on outside, even if that means it is happening in the snow.
8. Traffic
In most other states, this would definitely be a con.
However, it seems that Indiana has discovered a little bit of magic when it comes to decongesting the highways.
The state is #2 for driver satisfaction.
It is pretty surprising that even in the capital city the traffic is relatively light.
So, if you are coming from a heavy traffic or construction zone, you will be able to appreciate the freedom of the roads.
Cons of Living in Indiana
1. Not a Lot to Do
Unfortunately, entertainment is not in abundance.
Most natives, if they are being honest, would tell you a sad tale of the boring things they’d do as kids in the summer to pass the time.
Thank goodness for the internet.
At least there is always something to stream, even if there are not a ton of events to attend.
To be fair, it may be better to be bored than to get in trouble.
At least that is the idea.
2. Drug Use
It is great to look at crime rates and be happy with a few violent crimes.
What is not good, though, is the amount of crime that is related to drug use.
Because there is not a whole lot to keep the population entertained, that often turns people down avenues they might not have considered otherwise.
If you are looking for opportunities to dig into a community, you could help create programs that might curve these statistics.
3. Lack of Diversity
Back in 1673, Indiana was settled by the French when they established a trading post within the border.
Indiana has been pretty European ever since.
The current ethnic breakdown of those who call Indiana home is 89% European-American, 9% African American, 1% Asian-American, and the Native Americans share a percent Native Alaskans.
If you were hoping to have variety in your friend group, look for interests instead.
4. Political Climate
With a lack of diversity often comes a lack of religious variety.
Three-quarters of Indianians attend services based on Christianity.
That also seems to go hand in hand with the number of conservative voters in the state.
That sort of outlook on life bleeds over to other types of after-hours entertainment, such as bars.
In most places, you cannot buy any alcohol on Sunday or any at all, if you even locate a liquor store.
5. Public Transportation
Maybe it is due to the strange way the population is spread across the state, but the transport system could use an upgrade.
Indianapolis has one of the lowest ridership numbers in the country.
You might be thinking that it must be a good sign for the economy because people are driving.
In actuality, almost a quarter of the population in the capital is below the poverty line.
By all accounts, they should be taking the rides more often but are not.
A lot of the reason is that the stops and routes are just massively inconvenient.
6. Flat Plains
There are so many lakes and rivers but not a whole lot in the way of great scenery.
Most of Indiana could be characterized as quite flat without things such as forests to get lost in or mountains to climb.
In order to see anything like that, you will have to travel out of state.
It can be a big pain to not have more things to enjoy without the hassle of driving.
7. Air Quality
Having so much industry does well for job seekers in the region.
What it does not do well for is the air.
The pollution infiltrating the air around Indiana is some of the worst in the nation.
There are currently no efforts being made to reduce pollution or create green energy.
So, progress is quite slow.
8. Food Selection
It should not be surprising that there is not much variety in the meal department of Indiana.
That probably cannot be helped, since there is not really much variety of people in the first place.
If you are coming from a more diverse population, it is likely you will miss being able to have a completely different delicious food item every night.
The real investment in the state would be to offer perks for people from unique walks of life to move there and set up shop.
Pros and Cons of Living in Indiana – Summary Table
| Pros of Living in Indiana | Cons of Living in Indiana |
|---|---|
| 1. Cost of Living | 1. Not a Lot to Do |
| 2. Four Seasons | 2. Drug Use |
| 3. Low Crime | 3. Lack of Diversity |
| 4. Higher Education | 4. Political Climate |
| 5. College and Professional Sports | 5. Public Transportation |
| 6. Making a Living | 6. Flat Plains |
| 7. Outdoor Activities | 7. Air Quality |
| 8. Traffic | 8. Food Selection |
Indiana Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Indiana Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW
- MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM
- TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM
- SCAMS RISK: LOW
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: MEDIUM
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the meaning of Hoosiers?
This is a bit of a debate.
Hoosiers are what you call people from Indiana.
They have been called this for 150 years, one of the oldest state nicknames.
Where does it come from though?
If you did not know better, you might think it just popped up in the 1830s and people accepted it.
It was written in a poem by John Finley, which means it was common enough then that he knew it would be understood by readers.
There are actually several theories but no definitive answer.
Are there any big events?
Yes!
A majority of the biggest events take place in Indianapolis but there are things for all kinds of interests.
A few local favorites start with the St. Patrick’s Day Festival, Fourth of July, Indiana State Fair, and Circle of Lights.
As you can see, there is some sort of happenings going on throughout the year.
No major holiday is left behind.
What is Indiana known for?
A lot of what we have mentioned, such as a passion for sports and being top of the line for manufacturing.
Many might think of the cornfields and even the TV show Parks and Rec, which was set in Indiana.
What is Indiana's population?
Coming in 14th place, there are almost 6.7 million individuals calling Indiana their home.
That number has pretty much remained steady for the past decade.
In comparison to the neighboring states, both Illinois and Ohio have almost double the number of people.
What is the deadliest animal in Indiana?
Due to the slow encroaching upon their land, coyotes tend to be the most dangerous.
A lot of the state is pretty spaced out, so it is easier for a coyote to come meandering through a property versus a bigger city with more action happening.
They have been known to chase people on bikes as well as come up with unassuming children.
Obviously this piece is dated, as we can buy alcohol on Sundays now for the the last few years.
Not sure what you’re classifying as entertainment, but there’s the Indy 500, Colts, Pacers, Fevers, Indians, IndyEleven, etc. The Phoenix and Civic Theatre provide some great musical and dramatic theatre, along with the Murat and Palladium bringing in a lot of national talent. Is it NYC or Chicago? No,, but the great thing here is that you can actually get access to events where it’s a struggle in Chicago or NYC, etc.
Also, yes the northern 60% of the state is pretty flat, but there are tons of lakes to go to in the north, and there is a lot of hills and national / state forest and parks in the south 40%. Is it Wyoming? No, but it provides a lot to do.
Thank you. That updated information really helped!
Sounds nice 🙂
how long ago were these comments provided? We are looking to relocate from New York small children teenage children . What would be suggested. Employment background in Social Services please
Outside of Bloomington, Indiana is home to the most conservative and illiterate bunch of yahoos in the northern half of the nation.
So true! The majority of residents are hicks, rednecks and hillbillies. Drug use is rampant, especially among the young people. Mental health services are practically nil which only adds insult to the reality.
Bwahahahaha. Get a job. Stop committing crime.