Indiana
IN • Midwest
Quality of Life Score
51.17
State Comparison
Indiana vs Nebraska
Indiana is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Nebraska, Nebraska has higher incomes, Indiana has lower state income tax, and Nebraska gets more sunshine.
Indiana
12
/ 31
metrics won
Score
VS
Nebraska
19
/ 31
metrics won
NE wins Quality of Life
IN wins Climate
NE wins Income
IN wins Demographics
Quality of Life
Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.
Indiana
vs
Nebraska
winner
Nebraska scores higher on quality of life — 1.72 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
Indiana is 0.4 points cheaper overall
Indiana has the lower cost-of-living index. Indiana is at 91.3, while Nebraska is at 91.7.
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Real Dollar Value
$100 goes $0.54 further in Nebraska
After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $111.22 of local buying power in Nebraska, versus $110.68 in Indiana.
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Income
Nebraska income is 6.8% higher
Nebraska has the higher median household income at $71,772, compared with $67,173 in Indiana.
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Jobs
Nebraska minimum wage is $7.75 higher
Nebraska has the higher statewide minimum wage at $15.00/hr, compared with $7.25/hr in Indiana.
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Housing
Nebraska homes cost about 1.0x more
Indiana has the lower median home value at $201,800, versus $211,000 in Nebraska.
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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 5.84% in Nebraska.
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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
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- State income tax (top rate 3.1%)
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- After state tax
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- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
- —
Nebraska
- Gross salary
- —
- State income tax (top rate 5.8%)
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- 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, 91.1 for Nebraska). 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 overall cost of living.
- Indiana has lower median home values.
- Indiana has lower property tax rates on average.
- Indiana job growth trend is stronger.
Cons
- Indiana has a higher housing cost index.
- Indiana shows lower median income.
- Indiana has a higher violent crime rate.
- Indiana health access/outcomes proxy is lower.
- Indiana health coverage access proxy is weaker.
- Indiana education proxy is lower.
Nebraska
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: Nebraska
- Nebraska has a lower housing cost index.
- Nebraska shows higher median income.
- Nebraska has a lower violent crime rate.
- Nebraska health access/outcomes proxy is higher.
- Nebraska health coverage access proxy is stronger.
- Nebraska education proxy is higher.
Cons
- Nebraska has a higher overall cost of living.
- Nebraska has higher median home values.
- Nebraska has higher property tax rates on average.
- Nebraska job growth trend is weaker.
Full Comparison
Pick a category to focus on. General shows the most important facts at a glance.
| Metric |
IN
|
NE
|
|---|---|---|
|
Capital City
|
Indianapolis | Lincoln |
|
State Color
|
Solid Red | Solid Red |
|
Population
|
6,785,528
|
1,961,504
|
|
Median Income
|
$67,173
|
$71,772
|
|
Cost of Living
|
91.3
|
91.7
|
|
Median Housing Value
|
$201,800
|
$211,000
|
|
Property Tax
|
0.74%
|
1.49%
|
|
State Income Tax
|
3.15%
|
5.84%
|
|
Minimum Wage
|
$7.25/hr
|
$15.00/hr
|
|
Gas Price
|
$3.905/gal
|
$3.482/gal
|
|
Electricity Rates
|
16.19 c/kWh
|
11.76 c/kWh
|
|
Livability Score
|
51.17
|
52.89
|
|
Average Temperature
|
51.7°F
|
48.8°F
|
|
Sunny Days
|
88 days
|
117 days
|
|
Land Area
|
36,420 sq mi
|
77,358 sq mi
|
|
Population Density
|
186.3 per sq mi
|
25.4 per sq mi
|
|
Statehood
|
December 11, 1816 (#19)
|
March 1, 1867 (#37)
|
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
17
shown
Saving Money
Indiana is cheaper overall
Overall cost-of-living index: 91.3 vs 91.7 in Nebraska. On a national baseline of 100, the lower score usually means cheaper day-to-day expenses.
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Gas Price
Nebraska is cheaper at the pump
Average regular gas price: $3.482/gal in Nebraska vs $3.905/gal in Indiana. Lower pump prices can cut everyday driving costs.
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Minimum Wage
Nebraska has the higher minimum wage
State minimum wage: $15.00/hr in Nebraska vs $7.25/hr in Indiana. That matters most for hourly, entry-level, and part-time workers.
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Electricity Rates
Nebraska has cheaper electricity
Average residential electricity rate: 11.76 c/kWh in Nebraska 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
Nebraska is more attainable for buyers
Home-value-to-income ratio: 2.94x in Nebraska vs 3.00x in Indiana. A lower ratio means the median home is easier to afford on a median income.
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Renting
Nebraska is easier for renters
Rent-to-income ratio: 16.5% in Nebraska 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 Nebraska - Common Questions
Q Is Indiana cheaper to live in than Nebraska?
Indiana has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Indiana scores 91.3 versus 91.7 for Nebraska - a gap of 0.4 points.
Q Where does $100 go further - Indiana or Nebraska?
$100 goes further in Nebraska. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $111.22 in Nebraska, compared with $110.68 in Indiana.
Q Which state is bigger - Indiana or Nebraska?
Nebraska is larger, covering 77,358 sq mi compared with 36,420 sq mi for Indiana - roughly 2.1x the size.
Q Does Indiana or Nebraska have more people?
Indiana has the larger population at 6,785,528, compared with 1,961,504 in Nebraska.
Q Which state has higher household income - Indiana or Nebraska?
Nebraska has the higher median household income at $71,772, versus $67,173 in Indiana.
Q Which state has lower income taxes - Indiana or Nebraska?
Indiana has the lower state income tax top rate at 3.15%, compared with 5.84% in Nebraska.
Q Is housing cheaper in Indiana or Nebraska?
Homes are cheaper in Indiana, where the median home value is $201,800, versus $211,000 in Nebraska.
Q Which state is more densely populated - Indiana or Nebraska?
Indiana is more densely populated at 186.3 per sq mi people per sq mi. Nebraska is more spread out at 25.4 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.