What it's like to live in Warsaw
Warsaw is a small city in Indiana with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, county unemployment below the national average, and commutes that run shorter than most cities. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Warsaw deals with household incomes below the national average, crime rates above the national average, a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, and cold winters.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Low unemployment in the county
- Short commutes
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- Crime above national average
- High rent burden for renters
- Cold winters
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Warsaw compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Warsaw
Based on Warsaw's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,132
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $42,640 a year
- 53% of Warsaw renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$36,240
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $18,120
- Homes cost 3.0× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 25% below US
$1,066/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,066 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices here are genuinely accessible, with a median around $181,200. That kind of affordability is rare in today's market.
Median home value $181,200 · 53% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
3.5% county unemployment
Unemployment in Kosciusko County is 3.5%, a little below the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Kosciusko County (county-wide)
Safety▲ 52% above US
500 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is worth weighing seriously here. Rates run above the national average, and while plenty of residents live comfortably, neighborhood selection matters a lot more than it does in a safer city.
Property crime 1526/100k · Warsaw Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 37% below US
16 min average commute
Commutes run short here, averaging 16.3 minutes. That's an underrated perk of living in a smaller or well-planned city, where time isn't lost sitting in traffic. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 10% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 82°F, and winters are cold and harsh, with lows dropping to 19°F. 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 4.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforceNear US average
34% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 34% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
7 public schools inside the boundary
There are 7 public schools inside the boundary and 2 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Indiana Dunes National Park (70 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Warsaw's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are household incomes below the national average and crime rates above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,066/mo) equals 21% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Warsaw
All Indiana guides →Not sure Warsaw is the one?
Put it side by side with another city.