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Living in
Terre Haute.
About
Life in Terre Haute
If you're considering Terre Haute, you're looking at an affordable Midwestern city with genuine cultural assets and a real commitment to community. The downtown arts scene is legitimate—free art museums, the restored Indiana Theater, multiple theater companies, and a professional symphony orchestra established in 1926 give the city more cultural infrastructure than you'd expect its size. Housing is genuinely cheap; median home values sit around $115,700 and rent averages $922 a month, which matters if affordability is your priority.
Terre Haute at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
32.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
24.7%
Foreign-Born
4.1%
Broadband Internet
83.2%
of households
Population Growth
+0.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics4.1% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Terre Haute: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Terre Haute, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (18.7%), and 3.6% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
19.5%
of residents
65 and Older
15.8%
of residents
Households with Kids
24.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
40.5%
of households
Married Couples
30.8%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.23
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 Terre Haute
In Terre Haute, rent runs 13% below the IN average, and home values are 47% below the IN average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
56.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
29.5%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
87.8
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,104
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
52.2%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1957
median year built
Vacant Homes
12.0%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $158,602 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.6 pts above IN average
Unemployment in Terre Haute
Unemployment in Terre Haute 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 Terre Haute Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute18.5 min avg
How Terre Haute residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Terre Haute, most residents drive alone to work (74%), and 83% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 61 mi
University of Illinois Willard Airport (CMI)
Regional airport · few flights87k passengers boarded in 2025
- 62 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 50% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Terre Haute runs 50% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
493.5
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
3,193
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Terre Haute Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 18 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
83.2 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Vigo County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Vigo County, which includes Terre Haute, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 18 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 18 | Thunderstorm Wind | $389,000 |
| 2024 | 10 | Hail | $2.1M |
| 2023 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | $2.1M |
| 2022 | 9 | Winter Storm | $166,000 |
| 2021 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | $137,500 |
| 2020 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $84,000 |
| 2019 | 5 | Thunderstorm Wind | $37,000 |
| 2018 | 3 | Flash Flood | $26,500 |
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.
2 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Vigo County, county-wide
Air Quality45 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Vigo County, which includes Terre Haute, is typically good — 218 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
45
Good Days
218
per year
Moderate Days
146
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Vigo County, county-wide
Climate89°F summers, 22°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Terre Haute has warm summers (avg high 89°F) and cold winters (avg low 22°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
68°/44°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
89°/65°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
70°/44°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
43°/22°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
44.7"
Annual Snowfall
15.4"
Hot Days/Year
47
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
116
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
110
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 40°F | 19°F | 2.48" |
| Feb | 45°F | 23°F | 2.52" |
| Mar | 56°F | 33°F | 3.41" |
| Apr | 69°F | 44°F | 4.92" |
| May | 78°F | 55°F | 4.75" |
| Jun | 87°F | 63°F | 5.09" |
| Jul | 90°F | 66°F | 4.27" |
| Aug | 89°F | 64°F | 3.31" |
| Sep | 84°F | 56°F | 3.29" |
| Oct | 71°F | 43°F | 3.72" |
| Nov | 56°F | 33°F | 3.74" |
| Dec | 45°F | 25°F | 3.17" |
Healthcare3 hospitals, avg 2.5/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Terre Haute
Terre Haute has 3 hospitals, averaging 2.5 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
3
within city limits
Uninsured
9.6%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.5 / 5
Union Hospital Inc.
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Terre Haute Regional Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Hamilton Center Inc.
Psychiatric
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Harsha Behavioral Center Inc.
Psychiatric · 6.2 mi away · Terre Haute
Union Hospital Clinton
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available · 13.1 mi away · Clinton
Ascension St Vincent Clay
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available · 14.8 mi away · Brazil
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.
Education14.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Terre Haute
Terre Haute's student/teacher ratio is 14.1:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 24.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
16
within city limits
Private Schools
3
within city limits
College Degree Rate
24.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Terre Haute
Public · 4-year · 6,188 students · in-state tuition $10,258 · 46% graduate · median earnings $52,316 (10 yrs after entry)
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,309 students · in-state tuition $60,850 · 82% graduate · median earnings $107,683 (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: George Rogers Clark National Historical Park, 55 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Terre Haute
Terre Haute has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being George Rogers Clark National Historical Park (55 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
George Rogers Clark National Historical Park
National Historical Park
55 mi awayLincoln Boyhood National Memorial
National Memorial
95 mi awayPublic Libraries in Terre Haute
Vigo County Public Library
680 Poplar Street, Terre Haute
Cities Near Terre Haute
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Terre Haute?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Terre Haute FAQ
Is Terre Haute, Indiana affordable?⌄
Terre Haute's median rent is $922/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $43,126/year. Median home value is $115,700.
Is Terre Haute, Indiana safe?⌄
Terre Haute's violent crime rate was 494 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 3193 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Terre Haute, Indiana?⌄
Terre Haute has an unemployment rate of 4.3%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Terre Haute, Indiana?⌄
The cost of living in Terre Haute is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $922/month and median household income is $43,126/year. The median home value is $115,700. About 57% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Terre Haute, Indiana?⌄
The average commute in Terre Haute 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