What it's like to live in Hobart
Hobart is a small city in Indiana with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, and crime rates well below the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Hobart deals with air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, college degree attainment below the national average, larger class sizes than the national average, and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Low crime rates
The not so good
- Air quality concerns
- Low college degree attainment
- High student-teacher ratio
- High rent burden for renters
- Cold winters
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
How Hobart compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Hobart
Based on Hobart's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,412
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $48,240 a year
- 54% of Hobart renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$43,040
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $21,520
- Homes cost 2.9× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 15% below US
$1,206/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,206 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices here are genuinely accessible, with a median around $215,200. That kind of affordability is rare in today's market.
Median home value $215,200 · 54% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▲ 14% above US
4.9% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.9%, somewhat above the national average of 4.3%. Lining up work before the move is the safer route.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 51% below US
160 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 2215/100k · Hobart Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
27 min average commute
Commutes run about average, at 26.5 minutes. Fine day to day, but it adds up over a year, and where someone lives relative to where they work starts to matter. 9 in 10 workers drive to work.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 81°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 21°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 3.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 41% below US
21% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 21%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
7 public schools inside the boundary
There are 7 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school. The student-to-teacher ratio is 19:1, slightly above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Indiana Dunes National Park (12 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Hobart's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are air quality that falls short of national benchmarks and college degree attainment below the national average. A year of median rent ($1,206/mo) equals 19% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget and anyone prioritizing low crime. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Hobart
All Indiana guides →Not sure Hobart is the one?
Put it side by side with another city.