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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $75K salary, 3 cities (100%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices. We ran the numbers on 3 cities in Indiana using 2026 census, rent, and salary data. Evansvi…
#1 Ranked: Evansville — cost index 59, rent $1,010/mo, income $52,251
3 of 3 cities keep rent under 30% of $75K
3 of 3 cities keep rent under 30% of $75K gross income
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Evansville | 3.05% | 7% | 0.78% | $55,422 |
2Fort Wayne | 3.05% | 7% | 0.78% | $55,422 |
3Indianapolis | 3.05% | 7% | 0.78% | $55,422 |
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $75K salary, 3 cities (100%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices. We ran the numbers on 3 cities in Indiana using 2026 census, rent, and salary data. Evansville comes out on top — here's the full ranking and analysis.
The obvious answer isn't always the right one. That's a reasonable number. Exhibit A: 3 of 3 cities keep rent under 30% of $75K. The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $75K salary, 3 cities (100%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices.
Why Evansville ranks #1: the numbers tell a clear story. At 59 on the cost index, residents save roughly 52% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,010/month — we had to double-check this one — while the median household pulls in $52,251/year. The Housing category is particularly strong at 59, though Healthcare (92) lags behind. Home prices average $194,790 — $272,580 below the national median.
On a $75K salary, the key number is $1,875/month — and yes, that's adjusted for the region — — that's 30% of gross, the standard affordability line. It's fine. Not great, not bad. Evansville ($1,010/mo, 16%), Fort Wayne ($1,160/mo, 19%), Indianapolis ($1,356/mo, 22%) all clear that bar. After federal tax, FICA (7.65%), and state income tax, estimated take-home ranges from $55,422 to $55,422/year across these top picks.
The state-level view adds helpful context here. Here's the state-level backdrop: Indiana averages a 69 cost index, $1,175/mo rent, and $58,513 income across 3 cities. That's $720 less than the national rent average. Solidly affordable Rust Belt living — and that context shapes every city in this ranking (we double-checked this one).
Real talk: Bottom line: Evansville leads this ranking for clear, data-backed reasons — but the "best" city depends on your priorities. Click into any city below to see the full detail page with 12-month trend charts, profession-specific salary data, and a breakdown of all five cost categories. If you're seriously considering a move, use our salary calculator to model your specific income against these numbers.
| Rank | City | Median Rent | Rent % of Gross | Cost Index | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evansville | $1,010 | 16% | 59 | Details |
| 2 | Fort Wayne | $1,160 | 19% | 68 | Details |
| 3 | Indianapolis | $1,356 | 22% | 79 | Details |
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $75K salary, 3 cities (100%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices.
Rent in #1-ranked Evansville has increased from $951 to $1,010/mo over the past 12 months — a 6% increase. Rising costs may erode its top ranking over time.
115,332 residents · Indiana
The #1 spot goes to Evansville, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $1,010/month — saving renters $10,620 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Housing is the standout at index 59, making it one of the cheapest in the country for that category. The weak spot? Healthcare at 92. At a 23% rent-to-income ratio, there's genuine breathing room in the average household budget.
269,994 residents · Indiana
The #2 spot goes to Fort Wayne, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $1,160/month — saving renters $8,820 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Housing is the standout at index 68, making it one of the cheapest in the country for that category. The weak spot? Healthcare at 94. At a 23% rent-to-income ratio, there's genuine breathing room in the average household budget.
879,293 residents · Indiana
A closer look at Indianapolis: the cost index of 79 breaks down to a Housing index of 79 (strongest category) and a Healthcare index of 96 (weakest). Median rent is $1,356/month — 28% below the national median — while household income sits at $62,995, meaning locals spend about 26% of income on rent. That's within the recommended 30% threshold, though it doesn't leave much room (not adjusted for inflation, but still telling).
Evansville ranks #1 in Indiana for this analysis with a cost index of 59 and median income of $52,251.
Yes. On a $75K salary in Evansville, rent would consume about 16% of your gross monthly income. Financial experts recommend keeping rent under 30%. You're well within that guideline.
Our cost of living index uses real Zillow rent data as the foundation, indexed to 100 (national median). Sub-categories (housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare) are derived from the overall index with regional adjustments. Data is updated monthly.
Evansville (ranked #1) has a cost index of 59 and rent of $1,010/mo, while Indianapolis (ranked #3) has a cost index of 79 and rent of $1,356/mo — a 20-point difference in cost of living.
City data is refreshed monthly from Census Bureau population estimates, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary data, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Last updated: 2026.
The median 1-bedroom rent in Evansville is $1,010/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $885 below the national median of $1,895/month.
After federal taxes, FICA (7.65%), and 3.05% state income tax, estimated take-home on $75K in Evansville is approximately $55,422/year ($4,619/month). After median rent of $1,010/month, you'd have roughly $43,302/year for all other expenses.
The median home price in Evansville is $194,790, which is 3.7× the local median income. It's on the edge of affordability for median-income households. The national median home price is $467,370.
Indiana has a 3.05% state income tax rate. Combined state and local sales tax averages 7%, and the effective property tax rate is 0.78%.
This ranking was generated using data current as of early 2026. Population and income data comes from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year estimates). Rent and home price data is from Zillow's monthly releases. Tax rates are from the Tax Foundation's 2025 edition. Rankings are refreshed monthly.