The Town FilesAnderson, Indiana
City in Madison County · population 54,788 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $119,000
- Household income
- $46,909
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 17 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 34
- Median age
- 38.9
Anderson is a city of 54,788 people in Madison County, Indiana. The median home is worth $119,000, below the typical Indiana town ($150,400). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 92% of Indiana towns, more walkable than 90% of Indiana towns, hipper than 89% of Indiana towns.
How Anderson ranks
Percentile among Indiana towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Indiana towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Anderson is worth $119,000, below the typical Indiana town ($150,400). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $46,909, which is more affordable than 52% of Indiana towns. Median rent is $925 a month. 55.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Anderson | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $119,000 | $150,400 |
| Median rent | $925 | $888 |
| Median household income | $46,909 | $61,953 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 55.5% | 73.4% |
| Median year built | 1961 | 1966 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.2% | — |
Who lives in Anderson
| People | Anderson | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.9 | 38.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.3% | 17.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.7% | 17.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.0% | 11.6% |
| Veterans | 8.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.8% | — |
| Work from home | 9.6% | 6.2% |
| Average commute | 24.7 min | 24.7 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.8% | 89.2% |
Weather in Anderson
July highs average 83.8°F and January lows 20.7°F. About 43.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 16.9 inches of snow (typical Indiana town: 21.1 in). Expect about 14 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 112 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
34 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Anderson since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Indiana town. 18 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 14, 1972 about 9.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 2, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 61 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 18, 2000.
Severe weather in Madison County since 1996
Madison County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 25, 2026 | Flood | DR-4933: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| August 15, 2026 | Flood | EM-3651: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3641: Severe Winter Storm |
| July 22, 2025 | Flood | DR-4882: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4515: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Madison County
Madison County had 40,192 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,965 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Anderson itself the ACS puts it at 7.3%.
Public schools in Anderson
11 public schools with 7,189 students, about 13.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anderson High School | 9-12 | 1,722 | 14.4 |
| Highland Middle School | 7-8 | 935 | 12.5 |
| Anderson Preparatory Academy (charter) | K-12 | 843 | 12.4 |
| Eastside Elementary School | K-5 | 565 | 15.3 |
| Tenth Street Elementary School | K-5 | 518 | 15.2 |
| Erskine Elementary School | K-5 | 474 | 12.5 |
| Anderson Elementary School | K-5 | 462 | 14.0 |
| Edgewood Elementary School | PK-5 | 457 | 12.4 |
| Valley Grove Elementary School | K-5 | 453 | 13.7 |
| Anderson Intermediate School | 5-6 | 452 | 11.9 |
| Excel Center - Anderson (charter) | 9-12 | 308 | 30.8 |
Towns near Anderson
- Pendleton, IN6.8 mi · 4,717 people · home $248,200
- Yorktown, IN11.5 mi · 11,548 people · home $186,700
- Alexandria, IN12.0 mi · 5,149 people · home $97,800
- Fortville, IN14.1 mi · 4,784 people · home $254,900
- Elwood, IN14.9 mi · 8,410 people · home $97,800
- Noblesville, IN17.1 mi · 69,604 people · home $349,700
- Fishers, IN17.2 mi · 98,977 people · home $391,000
- Muncie, IN17.3 mi · 65,194 people · home $97,300
Anderson questions
Is Anderson, Indiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Anderson scores better for retirees than 22% of Indiana towns and quieter than 13%. 19.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.9).
How much does a house cost in Anderson?
The median owner-occupied home in Anderson is valued at $119,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $46,909, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $925 a month.
What is the weather like in Anderson?
July highs average 83.8°F and January lows 20.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.8 inches of precipitation a year and 16.9 inches of snow.
Does Anderson get tornadoes?
34 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Anderson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 14, 1972. The typical Indiana town has had 23.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)