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Living in
Muncie.
About
Life in Muncie
Living in Muncie means choosing a genuinely affordable Midwest city where you can buy a home for under $100,000 and rent runs under $900 a month—that financial breathing room is real. Ball State University shapes much of the city's character, bringing cultural events, libraries, and a younger demographic that keeps things relatively lively downtown, though the college degree attainment rate sits at about 26 percent, below the national average. The economic transition from manufacturing to healthcare and education has created winners and losers: north side development thrives while historically industrial south side neighborhoods struggle, and long-term job prospects for college graduates remain uncertain since many leave after graduation.
Muncie at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
29.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
29.2%
Foreign-Born
3.3%
Broadband Internet
87.6%
of households
Population Growth
+0.4%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics3.3% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Muncie: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Muncie, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (15.9%), and 2.3% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
15.8%
of residents
65 and Older
14.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
22.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
37.1%
of households
Married Couples
28.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.16
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 15% below IN average
Rent, home values, and income in Muncie
In Muncie, rent runs 15% below the IN average, and home values are 55% below the IN average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
47.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
29.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
88.1
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$894
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
52.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1963
median year built
Vacant Homes
13.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $153,572 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.8 pts above IN average
Unemployment in Muncie
Unemployment in Muncie is 0.8 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 Muncie Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute18.1 min avg
How Muncie residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Muncie, most residents drive alone to work (74%), and 82% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 55 mi
Fort Wayne International Airport (FWA)
Regional airport · few flights486k passengers boarded in 2025
- 58 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 47% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Muncie runs 47% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
484.9
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,470
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Muncie Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 19 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
76.3 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Delaware County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Delaware County, which includes Muncie, 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 | $433,000 |
| 2024 | 10 | Drought | $8.6M |
| 2023 | 9 | Hail | $111,000 |
| 2022 | 10 | High Wind | $153,000 |
| 2021 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $140,000 |
| 2020 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $30,000 |
| 2019 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $187,000 |
| 2018 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | $13,000 |
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
Delaware County, county-wide
Air Quality43 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Delaware County, which includes Muncie, is typically good — 236 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
43
Good Days
236
per year
Moderate Days
127
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Delaware County, county-wide
Climate84°F summers, 24°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Muncie has warm summers (avg high 84°F) and cold winters (avg low 24°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
63°/43°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
84°/64°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
66°/46°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
39°/24°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
40.3"
Annual Snowfall
19.4"
Hot Days/Year
18
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
119
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
132
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 36°F | 21°F | 2.52" |
| Feb | 40°F | 24°F | 2.27" |
| Mar | 51°F | 33°F | 3.08" |
| Apr | 64°F | 43°F | 3.89" |
| May | 75°F | 54°F | 4.36" |
| Jun | 83°F | 64°F | 4.81" |
| Jul | 86°F | 66°F | 4.10" |
| Aug | 84°F | 63°F | 3.38" |
| Sep | 79°F | 56°F | 3.09" |
| Oct | 66°F | 45°F | 2.96" |
| Nov | 52°F | 36°F | 3.23" |
| Dec | 41°F | 27°F | 2.57" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Muncie
Muncie has 1 hospital, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
8.0%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Indiana University Health Ball Memorial Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
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.
Education13.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Muncie
Muncie's student/teacher ratio is 13.8:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 26.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
15
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
26.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Muncie
Public · 4-year · 13,988 students · in-state tuition $11,082 · 64% graduate · median earnings $56,674 (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, 74 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Muncie
Muncie has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park (74 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park
National Historical Park
74 mi awayCharles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument
National Monument
86 mi awayWilliam Howard Taft National Historic Site
National Historic Site
88 mi awayPublic Libraries in Muncie
Muncie-Center Township Public Library
2005 South High Street, Muncie
Carnegie Library
301 East Jackson Street, Muncie
Connection Corner
1824 East Centennial, Muncie
Kennedy Branch Library
1700 West Mcgalliard Road, Muncie
Cities Near Muncie
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Muncie?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Muncie FAQ
Is Muncie, Indiana affordable?⌄
Muncie's median rent is $904/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $44,471/year. Median home value is $97,300.
Is Muncie, Indiana safe?⌄
Muncie's violent crime rate was 485 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1470 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Muncie, Indiana?⌄
Muncie has an unemployment rate of 4.5%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Muncie, Indiana?⌄
The cost of living in Muncie is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $904/month and median household income is $44,471/year. The median home value is $97,300. About 48% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Muncie, Indiana?⌄
The average commute in Muncie is 18 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