City profile · Indiana · Census ACS 2023

Rensselaer, IN

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Rensselaer - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

5,369
Residents
$61,648
Median income
$149,100
Median home
$1,174
Median rent (state)

Rensselaer - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Rensselaer places in the 38th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

38th
percentile, household income
27th
percentile, home value
34th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Rensselaer, IN

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 5,369 residents in Rensselaer, a small town within Indiana. Median household income here is $61,648 per year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 3.9%. Rensselaer's housing stock carries a median value of $149,100, and the median resident age is 36.4 years. 17.7% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 65.2% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 7 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Growing), up 17% from five years earlier. NOAA climate normals record an annual average temperature of 50.5°F with 40.1 inches of precipitation per year and 25.3 inches of snowfall.

Living costs in Indiana run below the national norm: the state registers 93.3 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,174 per month. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Indiana run around $235, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 32.8 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very Low).

Population

5,369 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Indiana

Median Household Income

$61,648 /yr

Poverty 3.9%

Cost of Living Index (state)

93.3 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Indiana average

How does Rensselaer compare to other US cities?

Where Rensselaer sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 38% higher than other cities
Home value 27% pricier than other cities
Median rent 34% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Rensselaer's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Indiana, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

38thIncome percentile

38th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Rensselaer's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$149,100 Among the most affordable more affordable than 73% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Rensselaer $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Rensselaer, IN Rensselaer, IN's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Rensselaer, IN-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Rensselaer, IN median $61,648/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Rensselaer, IN's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Rensselaer, IN. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 17.7%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 3.9%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 65.2%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
5,369
Median Income
$61,648
Median Home Value
$149,100
Median Age
36.4
Poverty Rate
3.9%
Labor force participation
65.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
17.7%

Climate

Avg Temperature
50.5°F
Annual Precipitation
40.1"
Annual Snowfall
25.3"

Schools

Total Schools
4
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
5,640 residents5,660 residents5,680 residents5,700 residents5,720 residents5,740 residents 202020212022202320242025 5,718 residents 5,681 residents ▼ -0.6%
Rensselaer's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Growing
Total Permits (2024)
7
housing units authorized
Single-Family
7
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
1.3
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 6
2020 5
2021 10
2022 5
2023 5
2024 7

Permit volume increased 17% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
81.0%
Carpool
14.0%
Public Transit
0.8%
Walk
1.1%
Work from Home
3.2%

Based on 2,728 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Indiana - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$110
avg/month
Natural Gas
$80
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$235
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Indiana state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Indiana state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Rensselaer sits in

Cost of Living Index
93.3
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,174/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
32.8 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Indiana

Cicero
5,441 people
Westville
5,291 people
Tipton
5,255 people
Monticello
5,504 people
Porter
5,208 people
Lawrenceburg
5,155 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Rensselaer's 5,369 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Iola, KS
5,368 people
Reminderville, OH
5,370 people
Olyphant, PA
5,370 people
St. Martinville, LA
5,367 people
Glendora, NJ
5,367 people
Clarinda, IA
5,366 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Rensselaer's $61,648 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Sapulpa, OK
$61,644 median income
Maywood, CA
$61,655 median income
Palisade, CO
$61,655 median income
Willoughby Hills, OH
$61,641 median income
Port Angeles, WA
$61,640 median income
Morrow, AR
$61,635 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Rensselaer, IN Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Rensselaer, IN - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 85.9% 7.0% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 10.6% White 85.9% Black or African American 1.4% Asian 1.1% American Indian 0.1% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 4.5% Two or more races 7.0% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Rensselaer compares to nearby Indiana cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Rensselaer (this city) 5,369 $61,648
Cicero 5,441 $75,278
Westville 5,291 $59,732
Tipton 5,255 $64,709
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IN NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Rensselaer, IN?

What is the population of Rensselaer, IN? +

Rensselaer, IN has a population of 5,369 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Rensselaer, IN? +

Rensselaer households earn a median of $61,648 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Rensselaer? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Rensselaer; the closest available measure is the Indiana state average, a cost of living index of 93.3 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Indiana vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Rensselaer, IN? +

Rensselaer's median home value sits at $149,100, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Rensselaer? +

The average annual temperature in Rensselaer runs 50.5°F, 40.1 inches of precipitation, and 25.3 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

Verify with HUD →

Verify with FBI →

Verify with NOAA →

Verify with U.S. Census Bureau →

Verify with EPA →

Verify with FEMA →

Verify with BEA →

Verify with EIA →

Verify with NCES →

Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.