City profile · Indiana · Census ACS 2023

Wabash, IN

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

10,378
Residents
$54,199
Median income
$115,000
Median home
$956
Median rent (state)

Wabash - the verdict

Nationally, Wabash sits in the 26th percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

26th
percentile, household income
15th
percentile, home value
11th
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: Wabash, IN

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 10,378 residents in Wabash, a small town within Indiana. Median household income here is $54,199 per year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 10.1%. Typical homes in Wabash are valued around $115,000, and the median resident age is 42.2 years. Educational attainment runs 21.9% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 55.2% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 5 residential building permits were authorized in Wabash (Construction Slowdown), down 29% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. NOAA climate normals record an annual average temperature of 51.4°F with 40.3 inches of precipitation per year and 19.5 inches of snowfall.

Living costs in Indiana run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Indiana scores 93.3 (Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $956 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Indiana run around $235, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. The average commute for Wabash workers runs 16.8 minutes, with 86.1% driving alone and 2.1% working from home. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 41.0 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Low).

Population

10,378 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Indiana

Median Household Income

$54,199 /yr

Poverty 10.1%

Cost of Living Index (state)

93.3 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Indiana average

How does Wabash compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 26% higher than other cities
Home value 15% pricier than other cities
Median rent 11% 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

Each percentile compares Wabash against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Indiana only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Indiana-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Wabash near the bottom of Indiana's cities

Among the 850 Indiana cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Wabash ranks #610 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Wabash only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#520 of 766
32nd percentile in Indiana
Median Gross Rent
#610 of 850
0th percentile in Indiana
Median Home Value
#491 of 771
36th percentile in Indiana
Poverty Rate
#298 of 849
65th percentile in Indiana
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#251 of 850
70th percentile in Indiana

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Indiana only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

26thIncome percentile

26th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Wabash's home value compares nationally

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

$115,000 Among the most affordable more affordable than 85% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $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. Wabash $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 - Wabash, IN Wabash, IN's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Wabash, 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 Wabash, IN median $54,199/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%
Wabash, 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 Wabash, IN. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 21.9%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 10.1%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 55.2%

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

Population
10,378
Median Income
$54,199
Median Home Value
$115,000
Median Age
42.2
Poverty Rate
10.1%
Labor force participation
55.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
21.9%

Climate

Avg Temperature
51.4°F
Annual Precipitation
40.3"
Annual Snowfall
19.5"

Schools

Total Schools
10
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
10,100 residents10,200 residents10,300 residents10,400 residents10,500 residents 202020212022202320242025 10,424 residents 10,190 residents ▼ -2.2%
Wabash's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
5
housing units authorized
Single-Family
5
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.5
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 7
2020 9
2021 7
2022 4
2023 5
2024 5

Permit volume decreased 29% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
16.8 minutes
Drive Alone
86.1%
Carpool
8.3%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
2.8%
Work from Home
2.1%
Other
0.7%

Based on 4,452 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 Wabash sits in

Cost of Living Index
93.3
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$956/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
41.0 / 100
Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Indiana

Plymouth
10,506 people
Bluffton
10,539 people
Sellersburg
10,215 people
Bargersville
10,163 people
Kendallville
10,094 people
Columbia City
9,975 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Wabash's 10,378 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Progress, FL
10,378 people
Spanish Fort, AL
10,377 people
East Bakersfield, CA
10,377 people
Garden City, GA
10,375 people
Versailles, KY
10,382 people
Portage, WI
10,374 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Wabash's $54,199 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Warsaw, NY
$54,196 median income
Pinetops, NC
$54,196 median income
Hartford (Croton), OH
$54,196 median income
Strattanville, PA
$54,194 median income
Crowder, OK
$54,191 median income
Reyno, AR
$54,208 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Wabash, 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 Wabash, IN - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 94.7% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 4.9% White 94.7% Black or African American 0.2% Asian 0.4% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.7% Two or more races 2.9% 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 Wabash 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
Wabash (this city) 10,378 $54,199
Plymouth 10,506 $53,115
Bluffton 10,539 $57,929
Sellersburg 10,215 $69,851
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IN NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Wabash, IN?

What is the population of Wabash, IN? +

Wabash, IN has a population of 10,378 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

In Wabash, the typical household earns $54,199 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Wabash? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Wabash; 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 Wabash, IN? +

Wabash's median home value sits at $115,000, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Wabash? +

Climate normals put Wabash's yearly average temperature at 51.4°F, 40.3 inches of precipitation, and 19.5 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

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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.