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Living in
Bluffton.
About
Life in Bluffton
Bluffton is a community of 10,539 people in Indiana. The median household income is $57,929, median rent runs about $732 per month, and median home values are around $149,600. Unemployment is low at 2.9%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Bluffton at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
38.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
9.5%
Foreign-Born
3.5%
Broadband Internet
79.2%
of households
Population Growth
+2.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics3.5% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Bluffton: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Bluffton, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (60.8%), and 3.8% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
24.3%
of residents
65 and Older
17.7%
of residents
Households with Kids
27.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
42.1%
of households
Married Couples
38.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.27
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 31% below IN average
Rent, home values, and income in Bluffton
In Bluffton, rent runs 31% below the IN average, and home values are 31% below the IN average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
29.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
13.9%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
92.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$900
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
62.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1972
median year built
Home Value Trend
Latest: $189,252 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.8 pts below IN average
Unemployment in Bluffton
Unemployment in Wells County, which includes Bluffton, is 0.8 percentage points lower than the IN average.
Unemployment rate
Bluffton: Wells County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Wells County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Bluffton Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute19 min avg
How Bluffton residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Bluffton, most residents drive alone to work (80%), and 75% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 17 mi
Fort Wayne International Airport (FWA)
Regional airport · few flights486k passengers boarded in 2025
- 92 mi
Indianapolis International Airport (IND)
Medium hub5.2M passengers boarded in 2025
- 139 mi
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)
Major hub16.3M 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 49% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Bluffton runs 49% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
169.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
405
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Bluffton Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 6 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very Low
22.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Wells County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Wells County, which includes Bluffton, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 6 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6 | Winter Weather | $21,000 |
| 2024 | 4 | Thunderstorm Wind | $133,700 |
| 2023 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $223,500 |
| 2022 | 7 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2021 | 6 | Winter Weather | $9,000 |
| 2020 | 2 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2019 | 12 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2018 | 3 | Winter Weather | None reported |
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
Wells County, county-wide
Air Quality44 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Allen County, IN (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 25 miles from Bluffton) is typically good — 219 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
44
Good Days
219
per year
Moderate Days
143
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Allen County, IN (25 mi away)
Climate81°F summers, 20°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Bluffton has warm summers (avg high 81°F) and very cold winters (avg low 20°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
59°/39°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
81°/62°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
63°/43°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
35°/20°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
41.6"
Annual Snowfall
23.3"
Hot Days/Year
12
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
126
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
133
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 32°F | 17°F | 2.51" |
| Feb | 36°F | 19°F | 1.96" |
| Mar | 47°F | 28°F | 2.65" |
| Apr | 60°F | 39°F | 3.83" |
| May | 71°F | 51°F | 4.67" |
| Jun | 80°F | 60°F | 4.71" |
| Jul | 83°F | 63°F | 4.46" |
| Aug | 81°F | 61°F | 3.84" |
| Sep | 76°F | 54°F | 3.07" |
| Oct | 63°F | 42°F | 2.92" |
| Nov | 49°F | 32°F | 3.08" |
| Dec | 37°F | 23°F | 2.33" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Bluffton
Bluffton has 1 hospital, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
7.3%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Bluffton Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Adams Memorial Hospital
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available · 14.6 mi away · Decatur
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.
Education14.2:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Bluffton
Bluffton's student/teacher ratio is 14.2:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 17.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
4
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
17.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.2:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park, 87 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Bluffton
Bluffton has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park (87 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park
National Historical Park
87 mi awayCharles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument
National Monument
98 mi awayPublic Libraries in Bluffton
Wells County Public Library
200 West Washington Street, Bluffton
Cities Near Bluffton
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Bluffton?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Bluffton FAQ
Is Bluffton, Indiana affordable?⌄
Bluffton's median rent is $732/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $57,539/year. Median home value is $149,600.
Is Bluffton, Indiana safe?⌄
Bluffton's violent crime rate was 170 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 405 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Bluffton, Indiana?⌄
Wells County, which includes Bluffton, has an unemployment rate of 2.9%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Bluffton, Indiana?⌄
The cost of living in Bluffton is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $732/month and median household income is $57,539/year. The median home value is $149,600. About 30% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Bluffton, Indiana?⌄
The average commute in Bluffton is 19 minutes, which is shorter than 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