Indiana
IN • Midwest
Quality of Life Score
51.17
State Comparison
Indiana vs Ohio
Ohio is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Indiana, Indiana has higher incomes, Indiana has lower state income tax, and Indiana gets more sunshine.
Indiana
15
/ 30
metrics won
Score
VS
Tie
Ohio
15
/ 30
metrics won
IN wins Housing
OH wins Quality of Life
IN wins Climate
IN wins Income
Quality of Life
Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.
Indiana
vs
Ohio
winner
Ohio scores higher on quality of life — 0.44 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
Ohio is 0.3 points cheaper overall
Ohio has the lower cost-of-living index. Ohio is at 91.0, while Indiana is at 91.3.
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Real Dollar Value
$100 goes $0.77 further in Indiana
After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $110.68 of local buying power in Indiana, versus $109.91 in Ohio.
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Income
Indiana income is 0.3% higher
Indiana has the higher median household income at $67,173, compared with $66,990 in Ohio.
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Jobs
Ohio minimum wage is $3.20 higher
Ohio has the higher statewide minimum wage at $10.45/hr, compared with $7.25/hr in Indiana.
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Housing
Indiana homes cost about 1.0x more
Ohio has the lower median home value at $196,200, versus $201,800 in Indiana.
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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 3.75% in Ohio.
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What's Your Salary Really Worth?
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
- —
- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
- —
Ohio
- Gross salary
- —
- State income tax (top rate 3.8%)
- —
- After state tax
- —
- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
- —
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, 91.0 for Ohio). 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 shows higher median income.
- Indiana has lower property tax rates on average.
- Indiana has more sunny days.
Cons
- Indiana has a higher overall cost of living.
- Indiana has a higher housing cost index.
- Indiana has higher median home values.
- Indiana has a higher violent crime rate.
- Indiana job growth trend is weaker.
- Indiana health coverage access proxy is weaker.
Ohio
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: Ohio
- Ohio has a lower overall cost of living.
- Ohio has a lower housing cost index.
- Ohio has lower median home values.
- Ohio has a lower violent crime rate.
- Ohio job growth trend is stronger.
- Ohio health coverage access proxy is stronger.
Cons
- Ohio shows lower median income.
- Ohio has higher property tax rates on average.
- Ohio has fewer sunny days.
Full Comparison
Pick a category to focus on. General shows the most important facts at a glance.
| Metric |
IN
|
OH
|
|---|---|---|
|
Capital City
|
Indianapolis | Columbus |
|
State Color
|
Solid Red | Solid Red |
|
Population
|
6,785,528
|
11,799,448
|
|
Median Income
|
$67,173
|
$66,990
|
|
Cost of Living
|
91.3
|
91.0
|
|
Median Housing Value
|
$201,800
|
$196,200
|
|
Property Tax
|
0.74%
|
1.31%
|
|
State Income Tax
|
3.15%
|
3.75%
|
|
Minimum Wage
|
$7.25/hr
|
$10.45/hr
|
|
Gas Price
|
$3.905/gal
|
$3.751/gal
|
|
Electricity Rates
|
16.19 c/kWh
|
17.59 c/kWh
|
|
Livability Score
|
51.17
|
51.61
|
|
Average Temperature
|
51.7°F
|
50.7°F
|
|
Sunny Days
|
88 days
|
72 days
|
|
Land Area
|
36,420 sq mi
|
44,826 sq mi
|
|
Population Density
|
186.3 per sq mi
|
263.2 per sq mi
|
|
Statehood
|
December 11, 1816 (#19)
|
March 1, 1803 (#17)
|
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
18
shown
Saving Money
Ohio is cheaper overall
Overall cost-of-living index: 91.0 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
Ohio is cheaper at the pump
Average regular gas price: $3.751/gal in Ohio vs $3.905/gal in Indiana. Lower pump prices can cut everyday driving costs.
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Minimum Wage
Ohio has the higher minimum wage
State minimum wage: $10.45/hr in Ohio vs $7.25/hr in Indiana. That matters most for hourly, entry-level, and part-time workers.
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Electricity Rates
Indiana has cheaper electricity
Average residential electricity rate: 16.19 c/kWh in Indiana vs 17.59 c/kWh in Ohio. Lower cents-per-kWh pricing can help keep utility bills down.
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Buying a Home
Ohio is more attainable for buyers
Home-value-to-income ratio: 2.93x in Ohio 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
Indiana is easier for renters
Rent-to-income ratio: 17.9% in Indiana vs 18.6% in Ohio. A lower percentage means rent takes a smaller bite out of a typical household budget.
See full dataExplore by Category
Dive Deeper
Each link opens a full one-on-one breakdown for that metric — national rankings, charts, and context.
People Also Ask
Indiana vs Ohio - Common Questions
Q Is Indiana cheaper to live in than Ohio?
Ohio has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Ohio scores 91.0 versus 91.3 for Indiana - a gap of 0.3 points.
Q Where does $100 go further - Indiana or Ohio?
$100 goes further in Indiana. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $110.68 in Indiana, compared with $109.91 in Ohio.
Q Which state is bigger - Indiana or Ohio?
Ohio is larger, covering 44,826 sq mi compared with 36,420 sq mi for Indiana - roughly 1.2x the size.
Q Does Indiana or Ohio have more people?
Ohio has the larger population at 11,799,448, compared with 6,785,528 in Indiana.
Q Which state has higher household income - Indiana or Ohio?
Indiana has the higher median household income at $67,173, versus $66,990 in Ohio.
Q Which state has lower income taxes - Indiana or Ohio?
Indiana has the lower state income tax top rate at 3.15%, compared with 3.75% in Ohio.
Q Is housing cheaper in Indiana or Ohio?
Homes are cheaper in Ohio, where the median home value is $196,200, versus $201,800 in Indiana.
Q Which state is more densely populated - Indiana or Ohio?
Ohio is more densely populated at 263.2 per sq mi people per sq mi. Indiana is more spread out at 186.3 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.