Indiana
IN • Midwest
Quality of Life Score
51.17
State Comparison
Indiana vs Wisconsin
Indiana is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Indiana, Wisconsin has higher incomes, Indiana has lower state income tax, and Wisconsin gets more sunshine.
Indiana
15
/ 30
metrics won
Score
VS
Tie
Wisconsin
15
/ 30
metrics won
IN wins Housing
WI wins Quality of Life
IN wins Climate
WI wins Income
Quality of Life
Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.
Indiana
vs
Wisconsin
winner
Wisconsin scores higher on quality of life — 8.49 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 4.2 points cheaper overall
Indiana has the lower cost-of-living index. Indiana is at 91.3, while Wisconsin is at 95.5.
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Real Dollar Value
$100 goes $1.75 further in Indiana
After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $110.68 of local buying power in Indiana, versus $108.93 in Wisconsin.
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Income
Wisconsin income is 7.0% higher
Wisconsin has the higher median household income at $71,887, compared with $67,173 in Indiana.
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Jobs
Wisconsin has the higher minimum wage
Wisconsin has the higher statewide minimum wage at $7.25/hr, compared with $7.25/hr in Indiana.
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Housing
Wisconsin homes cost about 1.2x more
Indiana has the lower median home value at $201,800, versus $237,300 in Wisconsin.
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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 7.65% in Wisconsin.
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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
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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)
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Wisconsin
- Gross salary
- —
- State income tax (top rate 7.7%)
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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, 93.2 for Wisconsin). 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 a lower housing cost index.
- Indiana has lower median home values.
- Indiana has lower property tax rates on average.
Cons
- 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.
- Indiana has fewer sunny days.
Wisconsin
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: Wisconsin
- Wisconsin shows higher median income.
- Wisconsin has a lower violent crime rate.
- Wisconsin health access/outcomes proxy is higher.
- Wisconsin health coverage access proxy is stronger.
- Wisconsin education proxy is higher.
- Wisconsin has more sunny days.
Cons
- Wisconsin has a higher overall cost of living.
- Wisconsin has a higher housing cost index.
- Wisconsin has higher median home values.
- Wisconsin has higher property tax rates on average.
Full Comparison
Pick a category to focus on. General shows the most important facts at a glance.
| Metric |
IN
|
WI
|
|---|---|---|
|
Capital City
|
Indianapolis | Madison |
|
State Color
|
Solid Red | Swing State |
|
Population
|
6,785,528
|
5,893,718
|
|
Median Income
|
$67,173
|
$71,887
|
|
Cost of Living
|
91.3
|
95.5
|
|
Median Housing Value
|
$201,800
|
$237,300
|
|
Property Tax
|
0.74%
|
1.42%
|
|
State Income Tax
|
3.15%
|
7.65%
|
|
Minimum Wage
|
$7.25/hr
|
$7.25/hr
|
|
Gas Price
|
$3.905/gal
|
$3.818/gal
|
|
Electricity Rates
|
16.19 c/kWh
|
18.20 c/kWh
|
|
Livability Score
|
51.17
|
59.66
|
|
Average Temperature
|
51.7°F
|
43.1°F
|
|
Sunny Days
|
88 days
|
89 days
|
|
Land Area
|
36,420 sq mi
|
65,496 sq mi
|
|
Population Density
|
186.3 per sq mi
|
90.0 per sq mi
|
|
Statehood
|
December 11, 1816 (#19)
|
May 29, 1848 (#30)
|
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 95.5 in Wisconsin. On a national baseline of 100, the lower score usually means cheaper day-to-day expenses.
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Gas Price
Wisconsin is cheaper at the pump
Average regular gas price: $3.818/gal in Wisconsin vs $3.905/gal in Indiana. Lower pump prices can cut everyday driving costs.
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Electricity Rates
Indiana has cheaper electricity
Average residential electricity rate: 16.19 c/kWh in Indiana vs 18.20 c/kWh in Wisconsin. 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 3.30x in Wisconsin. A lower ratio means the median home is easier to afford on a median income.
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Renting
Wisconsin is easier for renters
Rent-to-income ratio: 17.2% in Wisconsin vs 17.9% in Indiana. A lower percentage means rent takes a smaller bite out of a typical household budget.
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Property Tax
Indiana has lower property taxes
Effective property tax rate: 0.74% in Indiana vs 1.42% in Wisconsin. A lower rate usually means a smaller yearly tax bill relative to home value.
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 Wisconsin - Common Questions
Q Is Indiana cheaper to live in than Wisconsin?
Indiana has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Indiana scores 91.3 versus 95.5 for Wisconsin - a gap of 4.2 points.
Q Where does $100 go further - Indiana or Wisconsin?
$100 goes further in Indiana. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $110.68 in Indiana, compared with $108.93 in Wisconsin.
Q Which state is bigger - Indiana or Wisconsin?
Wisconsin is larger, covering 65,496 sq mi compared with 36,420 sq mi for Indiana - roughly 1.8x the size.
Q Does Indiana or Wisconsin have more people?
Indiana has the larger population at 6,785,528, compared with 5,893,718 in Wisconsin.
Q Which state has higher household income - Indiana or Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has the higher median household income at $71,887, versus $67,173 in Indiana.
Q Which state has lower income taxes - Indiana or Wisconsin?
Indiana has the lower state income tax top rate at 3.15%, compared with 7.65% in Wisconsin.
Q Is housing cheaper in Indiana or Wisconsin?
Homes are cheaper in Indiana, where the median home value is $201,800, versus $237,300 in Wisconsin.
Q Which state is more densely populated - Indiana or Wisconsin?
Indiana is more densely populated at 186.3 per sq mi people per sq mi. Wisconsin is more spread out at 90.0 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.