© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
Anderson.
About
Life in Anderson
That said, the city carries real economic scars from the GM plant closure; median household income sits noticeably below the state average at $47,221, and poverty rates remain stubbornly high at over 25 percent. The job market is stabilizing with unemployment at 4.3 percent, but long-term employment trends have been negative, so do your homework on specific employers before committing. You'll find solid educational institutions including Anderson University, Ivy Tech, and Purdue Polytechnic, plus a charted military-based prep academy if that appeals to you.
Anderson at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
38.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
21.0%
Foreign-Born
2.8%
Broadband Internet
87.8%
of households
Population Growth
+2.4%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics2.8% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Anderson: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Anderson, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (55.2%), and 6.2% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
20.9%
of residents
65 and Older
19.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
26.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
39.8%
of households
Married Couples
31.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.20
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 13% below IN average
Rent, home values, and income in Anderson
In Anderson, rent runs 13% below the IN average, and home values are 45% below the IN average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
48.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
27.2%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
95.7
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$996
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
55.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1961
median year built
Vacant Homes
11.9%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $132,635 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.6 pts above IN average
Unemployment in Anderson
Unemployment in Anderson is 0.6 percentage points higher than the IN average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Anderson Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute24.7 min avg
How Anderson residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Anderson, most residents drive alone to work (74%), and 64% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 42 mi
Indianapolis International Airport (IND)
Medium hub5.2M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 24% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Anderson runs 24% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
409.9
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,017.4
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Anderson Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 19 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
77.3 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Madison County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Madison County, which includes Anderson, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 19 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 19 | Thunderstorm Wind | $4.4M |
| 2024 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $827,000 |
| 2023 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $126,000 |
| 2022 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $177,000 |
| 2021 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $388,000 |
| 2020 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | $228,000 |
| 2019 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $269,000 |
| 2018 | 5 | Thunderstorm Wind | $75,500 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Madison County, county-wide
Air Quality41 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Madison County, which includes Anderson, is typically good — 260 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
41
Good Days
260
per year
Moderate Days
103
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Madison County, county-wide
Climate82°F summers, 24°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Anderson has warm summers (avg high 82°F) and cold winters (avg low 24°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
62°/42°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
82°/63°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
64°/45°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
38°/24°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
43.3"
Annual Snowfall
16.9"
Hot Days/Year
14
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
112
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
109
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 35°F | 21°F | 3.00" |
| Feb | 39°F | 24°F | 2.47" |
| Mar | 50°F | 32°F | 3.47" |
| Apr | 63°F | 42°F | 4.10" |
| May | 73°F | 53°F | 4.56" |
| Jun | 81°F | 62°F | 5.24" |
| Jul | 84°F | 65°F | 4.34" |
| Aug | 82°F | 63°F | 3.39" |
| Sep | 77°F | 56°F | 3.12" |
| Oct | 65°F | 45°F | 3.37" |
| Nov | 51°F | 35°F | 3.66" |
| Dec | 39°F | 26°F | 3.04" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 2.5/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Anderson
Anderson has 2 hospitals, averaging 2.5 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
9.2%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.5 / 5
Community Hospital of Anderson and Madison County
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Ascension St Vincent Anderson
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Ascension St Vincent Fishers
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 13.9 mi away · Fishers
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education13.7:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Anderson
Anderson's student/teacher ratio is 13.7:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 15.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
10
within city limits
Private Schools
5
within city limits
College Degree Rate
15.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.7:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Anderson
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,057 students · in-state tuition $38,900 · 55% graduate · median earnings $52,590 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park, 86 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Anderson
Anderson has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park (86 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park
National Historical Park
86 mi awayWilliam Howard Taft National Historic Site
National Historic Site
92 mi awayCharles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument
National Monument
99 mi awayPublic Libraries in Anderson
Anderson Public Library
111 East 12th Street, Anderson
Cities Near Anderson
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Anderson?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Anderson FAQ
Is Anderson, Indiana affordable?⌄
Anderson's median rent is $925/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $46,909/year. Median home value is $119,000.
Is Anderson, Indiana safe?⌄
Anderson's violent crime rate was 410 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2017 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Anderson, Indiana?⌄
Anderson has an unemployment rate of 4.3%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Anderson, Indiana?⌄
The cost of living in Anderson is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $925/month and median household income is $46,909/year. The median home value is $119,000. About 48% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Anderson, Indiana?⌄
The average commute in Anderson is 25 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from