Indiana
IN • Midwest
Quality of Life Score
51.17
State Comparison
Indiana vs Missouri
Missouri is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Missouri, Indiana has higher incomes, Indiana has lower state income tax, and Missouri gets more sunshine.
Indiana
12
/ 31
metrics won
Score
VS
Missouri
19
/ 31
metrics won
IN wins Housing
MO wins Quality of Life
MO wins Climate
IN wins Demographics
Quality of Life
Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.
Indiana
vs
Missouri
winner
Missouri scores higher on quality of life — 0.06 points difference.
Overview
Key differences overview
These cards keep the comparison factual first, so the biggest tradeoffs in affordability, housing, taxes, politics, climate, and day-to-day living are easy to scan.
Overall Affordability
Missouri is 1.3 points cheaper overall
Missouri has the lower cost-of-living index. Missouri is at 90.0, while Indiana is at 91.3.
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Real Dollar Value
$100 goes $1.53 further in Missouri
After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $112.21 of local buying power in Missouri, versus $110.68 in Indiana.
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Income
Indiana income is 1.9% higher
Indiana has the higher median household income at $67,173, compared with $65,920 in Missouri.
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Jobs
Missouri minimum wage is $7.75 higher
Missouri has the higher statewide minimum wage at $15.00/hr, compared with $7.25/hr in Indiana.
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Housing
Missouri homes cost about 1.0x more
Indiana has the lower median home value at $201,800, versus $202,500 in Missouri.
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Taxes
Indiana has lower state income tax
Indiana has the lower state income tax rate. Its top rate is 3.15%, compared with 4.95% in Missouri.
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Enter your gross income to see real purchasing power and the cost-of-living equivalent in both states.
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Indiana
- Gross salary
- —
- State income tax (top rate 3.1%)
- —
- After state tax
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- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
- —
Missouri
- Gross salary
- —
- State income tax (top rate 5.0%)
- —
- After state tax
- —
- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
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Cost-of-Living Equivalent
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* "After state tax" uses the top marginal rate — actual effective rate is lower for most incomes. Real buying power uses BEA Regional Price Parity (89.9 for Indiana, 89.5 for Missouri). COL equivalent uses the MERIC/C2ER composite index.
Tradeoffs
Pros and cons for each state
A fast scan of the biggest advantages and drawbacks pulled from affordability, housing, income, taxes, safety, health, education, jobs, and weather.
Indiana
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: Indiana
- Indiana has a lower housing cost index.
- Indiana has lower median home values.
- Indiana shows higher median income.
- Indiana has lower property tax rates on average.
- Indiana has a lower violent crime rate.
- Indiana health coverage access proxy is stronger.
Cons
- Indiana has a higher overall cost of living.
- Indiana job growth trend is weaker.
- Indiana health access/outcomes proxy is lower.
- Indiana education proxy is lower.
- Indiana has fewer sunny days.
Missouri
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: Missouri
- Missouri has a lower overall cost of living.
- Missouri job growth trend is stronger.
- Missouri health access/outcomes proxy is higher.
- Missouri education proxy is higher.
- Missouri has more sunny days.
Cons
- Missouri has a higher housing cost index.
- Missouri has higher median home values.
- Missouri shows lower median income.
- Missouri has higher property tax rates on average.
- Missouri has a higher violent crime rate.
- Missouri health coverage access proxy is weaker.
Full Comparison
Pick a category to focus on. General shows the most important facts at a glance.
| Metric |
IN
|
MO
|
|---|---|---|
|
Capital City
|
Indianapolis | Jefferson City |
|
State Color
|
Solid Red | Solid Red |
|
Population
|
6,785,528
|
6,154,913
|
|
Median Income
|
$67,173
|
$65,920
|
|
Cost of Living
|
91.3
|
90.0
|
|
Median Housing Value
|
$201,800
|
$202,500
|
|
Property Tax
|
0.74%
|
0.85%
|
|
State Income Tax
|
3.15%
|
4.95%
|
|
Minimum Wage
|
$7.25/hr
|
$15.00/hr
|
|
Gas Price
|
$3.905/gal
|
$3.559/gal
|
|
Electricity Rates
|
16.19 c/kWh
|
11.80 c/kWh
|
|
Livability Score
|
51.17
|
51.23
|
|
Average Temperature
|
51.7°F
|
54.5°F
|
|
Sunny Days
|
88 days
|
115 days
|
|
Land Area
|
36,420 sq mi
|
69,707 sq mi
|
|
Population Density
|
186.3 per sq mi
|
88.3 per sq mi
|
|
Statehood
|
December 11, 1816 (#19)
|
August 10, 1821 (#24)
|
Intent-Oriented
Which state fits your priorities better?
Use these cards as decision shortcuts for common goals like saving money, buying a home, finding better weather, or optimizing for work and family life.
6
of
16
shown
Saving Money
Missouri is cheaper overall
Overall cost-of-living index: 90.0 vs 91.3 in Indiana. On a national baseline of 100, the lower score usually means cheaper day-to-day expenses.
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Gas Price
Missouri is cheaper at the pump
Average regular gas price: $3.559/gal in Missouri vs $3.905/gal in Indiana. Lower pump prices can cut everyday driving costs.
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Minimum Wage
Missouri has the higher minimum wage
State minimum wage: $15.00/hr in Missouri vs $7.25/hr in Indiana. That matters most for hourly, entry-level, and part-time workers.
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Electricity Rates
Missouri has cheaper electricity
Average residential electricity rate: 11.80 c/kWh in Missouri vs 16.19 c/kWh in Indiana. Lower cents-per-kWh pricing can help keep utility bills down.
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Buying a Home
Indiana is more attainable for buyers
Home-value-to-income ratio: 3.00x in Indiana vs 3.07x in Missouri. A lower ratio means the median home is easier to afford on a median income.
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Renting
Missouri is easier for renters
Rent-to-income ratio: 17.8% in Missouri vs 17.9% in Indiana. A lower percentage means rent takes a smaller bite out of a typical household budget.
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Dive Deeper
Each link opens a full one-on-one breakdown for that metric — national rankings, charts, and context.
People Also Ask
Indiana vs Missouri - Common Questions
Q Is Indiana cheaper to live in than Missouri?
Missouri has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Missouri scores 90.0 versus 91.3 for Indiana - a gap of 1.3 points.
Q Where does $100 go further - Indiana or Missouri?
$100 goes further in Missouri. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $112.21 in Missouri, compared with $110.68 in Indiana.
Q Which state is bigger - Indiana or Missouri?
Missouri is larger, covering 69,707 sq mi compared with 36,420 sq mi for Indiana - roughly 1.9x the size.
Q Does Indiana or Missouri have more people?
Indiana has the larger population at 6,785,528, compared with 6,154,913 in Missouri.
Q Which state has higher household income - Indiana or Missouri?
Indiana has the higher median household income at $67,173, versus $65,920 in Missouri.
Q Which state has lower income taxes - Indiana or Missouri?
Indiana has the lower state income tax top rate at 3.15%, compared with 4.95% in Missouri.
Q Is housing cheaper in Indiana or Missouri?
Homes are cheaper in Indiana, where the median home value is $201,800, versus $202,500 in Missouri.
Q Which state is more densely populated - Indiana or Missouri?
Indiana is more densely populated at 186.3 per sq mi people per sq mi. Missouri is more spread out at 88.3 per sq mi people per sq mi.
Related Comparisons
Methodology
All figures are sourced from U.S. government datasets and updated annually. Page last updated: April 2026.
Core demographic data comes from the 2020 U.S. Census, with land area from U.S. Census Bureau TIGER files and statehood dates from the National Archives. Income, housing, affordability, and tax fields are maintained in our comparison dataset; purchasing-power figures use BEA Regional Price Parities. Minimum wage data comes from the U.S. Department of Labor, gas prices from AAA, and electricity rates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Political control and election fields use 2024 presidential results together with National Conference of State Legislatures data. Gun-law labels use the Giffords scorecard, alcohol system data comes from NABCA, and marijuana status uses NCSL's state cannabis laws tracker. See our editorial policy for how we review and update these pages.