Evansville, IN Relocation Guide (2026)
Cost of living, housing, and income data for Evansville, sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Salary needed to live in Evansville →
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Last updated July 2026.
Evansville counts roughly 116,906 residents, and the median household brings in $49,853 annually — -31% relative to the cities in our dataset, putting incomes here below the pack.
In Evansville, the median home is valued at $121,100 — below the median across the cities we track (-63%) — and typical rent runs $917 a month. Factor in mortgage rates and property taxes when sizing up whether buying pencils out.
The ratio of median home value to median household income in Evansville — roughly 2.4× — signals relatively affordable housing relative to local pay. Evansville's home prices climbed 3.83% over the past year — steady appreciation without signs of overheating. FEMA's National Risk Index puts Evansville at Relatively Moderate for overall natural-hazard risk — a relatively favorable factor for insurance costs.
Personal Affordability Check
Renting at $917/mo in Evansville would take 22.1% of your income.
$329/mo under the 30% guideline.
Buying the median home ($121,100) would take 15.6% of your income toward principal & interest.
$517/mo under the 28% guideline.
Cost of housing in Evansville
Median home value is $121,100 and median gross rent is $917/month. For buyers, monthly costs depend heavily on current mortgage rates — worth checking before you commit.
FHFA's county-level home price index for Vanderburgh rose 3.83% over the past year (as of 2025).
HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom unit in the surrounding county is $1,113/month.
Climate & home insurance
FEMA rates Evansville's overall natural-hazard risk as Relatively Moderate. Risk level is a major driver of home insurance premiums.
Safety
Evansville reported a violent crime rate of 1087 per 100,000 residents in 2025, per FBI data.
Moving to Evansville
Planning a move to Evansville? Compare licensed movers and get quotes based on your origin and move date.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Evansville, IN?
- The US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022) puts Evansville's median home value at $121,100, median rent at $917/month, and median household income at $49,853.
- How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Evansville?
- A common guideline is that rent should stay under 30% of gross income. With median rent at $917/month in Evansville, that implies an income of about $36,680 to keep housing affordable. See the full salary breakdown (renting and buying) for Evansville.
- Is it better to rent or buy in Evansville?
- Comparing the two in Evansville: renting at the median $917/month needs about $36,680 in annual income (30% guideline), while buying the $121,100 median home needs roughly $27,707 a year in principal-and-interest, assuming 20% down and a 30-year fixed loan at current rates.
- Is Evansville safe?
- The most recent FBI figures (2025) show a violent crime rate of 1087 per 100,000 residents in Evansville.
See the full salary breakdown for Evansville →
Cities with a similar cost of living
Matched on median rent and household income within 15% of Evansville's.