The Town FilesAustin, Indiana
City in Scott County · population 4,064 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $86,200
- Household income
- $31,520
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 12 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 27
- Median age
- 45.2
Austin is a city of 4,064 people in Scott County, Indiana. The median home is worth $86,200, below the typical Indiana town ($150,400). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 93% of Indiana towns.
How Austin 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 Austin is worth $86,200, below the typical Indiana town ($150,400). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $31,520, which is more affordable than 42% of Indiana towns. Median rent is $677 a month. 65.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Austin | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $86,200 | $150,400 |
| Median rent | $677 | $888 |
| Median household income | $31,520 | $61,953 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 65.8% | 73.4% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1966 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Austin
| People | Austin | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.2 | 38.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.0% | 17.1% |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.6% | 17.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 27.0% | 11.6% |
| Veterans | 5.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 5.1% | 6.2% |
| Average commute | 23.3 min | 24.7 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.9% | 89.2% |
Weather in Austin
July highs average 86.6°F and January lows 24.3°F. About 46.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 11.9 inches of snow (typical Indiana town: 21.1 in). Expect about 25 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 104 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Austin since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Indiana town. 13 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on April 3, 1974 about 9.7 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 50 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 18, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 29 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 3, 2007.
Severe weather in Scott County since 1996
Scott County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3641: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4515: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3456: Covid-19 |
| March 9, 2012 | Severe Storm | DR-4058: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| June 23, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-1997: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And |
Jobs and pay in Scott County
Scott County had 8,042 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,317 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Austin itself the ACS puts it at 5.3%.
Public schools in Austin
3 public schools with 1,236 students, about 21.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin Elementary School | PK-5 | 581 | 23.2 |
| Austin High School | 9-12 | 407 | 19.4 |
| Austin Middle School | 6-8 | 248 | 20.7 |
Towns near Austin
- Scottsburg, IN4.1 mi · 7,345 people · home $146,200
- Seymour, IN14.9 mi · 21,569 people · home $162,800
- Brownstown, IN16.0 mi · 3,025 people · home $146,600
- Salem, IN18.1 mi · 6,371 people · home $144,700
- Hanover, IN18.6 mi · 3,743 people · home $138,700
- North Vernon, IN21.3 mi · 6,608 people · home $128,600
- Country Squire Lakes, IN21.6 mi · 3,558 people · home $26,600
- Madison, IN22.3 mi · 12,357 people · home $203,100
Austin questions
Is Austin, Indiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Austin scores better for retirees than 40% of Indiana towns and quieter than 43%. 19.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.2).
How much does a house cost in Austin?
The median owner-occupied home in Austin is valued at $86,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $31,520, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $677 a month.
What is the weather like in Austin?
July highs average 86.6°F and January lows 24.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.9 inches of precipitation a year and 11.9 inches of snow.
Does Austin get tornadoes?
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Austin since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on April 3, 1974. 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)