The Town FilesBrazil, Indiana
City in Clay County · population 8,181 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $113,900
- Household income
- $52,055
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 20 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 39.5
Brazil is a city of 8,181 people in Clay County, Indiana. The median home is worth $113,900, below the typical Indiana town ($150,400). It ranks hipper than 85% of Indiana towns, more walkable than 84% of Indiana towns, more vibrant than 78% of Indiana towns.
How Brazil 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 Brazil is worth $113,900, below the typical Indiana town ($150,400). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $52,055, which is more affordable than 68% of Indiana towns. Median rent is $869 a month. 72.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Brazil | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $113,900 | $150,400 |
| Median rent | $869 | $888 |
| Median household income | $52,055 | $61,953 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 72.8% | 73.4% |
| Median year built | 1962 | 1966 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Brazil
| People | Brazil | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.5 | 38.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.5% | 17.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.5% | 17.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 18.6% | 11.6% |
| Veterans | 7.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.9% | — |
| Work from home | 1.3% | 6.2% |
| Average commute | 33.6 min | 24.7 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.5% | 89.2% |
Weather in Brazil
July highs average 85.6°F and January lows 20.5°F. About 41.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 19.9 inches of snow (typical Indiana town: 21.1 in). Expect about 25 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 111 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Brazil since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Indiana town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on November 15, 2005 about 0.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 16, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 26 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 25, 2023.
Severe weather in Clay County since 1996
Clay County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3456: Covid-19 |
| April 22, 2014 | Severe Storm | DR-4173: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Clay County
Clay County had 8,172 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,786 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Brazil itself the ACS puts it at 5.9%.
Public schools in Brazil
8 public schools with 3,382 students, about 14.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northview High School | 9-12 | 894 | 12.8 |
| North Clay Middle School | 6-8 | 765 | 14.4 |
| Staunton Elementary School | K-5 | 391 | 19.6 |
| Meridian Street Elementary School | PK-5 | 307 | 17.1 |
| Forest Park Elementary School | PK-5 | 284 | 12.9 |
| Van Buren Elementary School | K-5 | 269 | 14.2 |
| Jackson Township Elementary School | K-5 | 257 | 17.1 |
| East Side Elementary School | PK-5 | 215 | 15.4 |
Towns near Brazil
- North Terre Haute, IN12.9 mi · 4,222 people · home $152,900
- Terre Haute, IN14.0 mi · 58,389 people · home $115,700
- Greencastle, IN17.0 mi · 9,820 people · home $169,200
- Clinton, IN17.7 mi · 4,831 people · home $101,600
- Rockville, IN17.8 mi · 2,510 people · home $99,600
- Heritage Lake, IN26.7 mi · 3,012 people · home $262,900
Brazil questions
Is Brazil, Indiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Brazil scores better for retirees than 7% of Indiana towns and quieter than 32%. 18.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.5).
How much does a house cost in Brazil?
The median owner-occupied home in Brazil is valued at $113,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $52,055, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $869 a month.
What is the weather like in Brazil?
July highs average 85.6°F and January lows 20.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.8 inches of precipitation a year and 19.9 inches of snow.
Does Brazil get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Brazil since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on November 15, 2005. 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)