The Town FilesBrownstown, Indiana
Town in Jackson County · population 3,025 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $146,600
- Household income
- $62,756
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 13 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 24
- Median age
- 40.7
Brownstown is a town of 3,025 people in Jackson County, Indiana. The median home is worth $146,600, close to the typical Indiana town ($150,400). It ranks better for retirees than 99% of Indiana towns.
How Brownstown 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 Brownstown is worth $146,600, close to the typical Indiana town ($150,400). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $62,756, which is more affordable than 64% of Indiana towns. Median rent is $658 a month. 81.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Brownstown | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $146,600 | $150,400 |
| Median rent | $658 | $888 |
| Median household income | $62,756 | $61,953 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 81.2% | 73.4% |
| Median year built | 1981 | 1966 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.8% | — |
Who lives in Brownstown
| People | Brownstown | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.7 | 38.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.8% | 17.1% |
| Under 18 | 25.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.1% | 17.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Veterans | 12.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 2.8% | 6.2% |
| Average commute | 19.8 min | 24.7 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.1% | 89.2% |
Weather in Brownstown
July highs average 84.7°F and January lows 21.7°F. About 49.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 12.8 inches of snow (typical Indiana town: 21.1 in). Expect about 20 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 117 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Brownstown since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Indiana town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 2, 1990 about 4.6 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 40 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 23 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on November 18, 2025.
Severe weather in Jackson County since 1996
Jackson 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 |
| June 23, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-1997: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And |
| March 5, 2009 | Severe Storm | DR-1828: Severe Winter Storm |
Jobs and pay in Jackson County
Jackson County had 22,633 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,520 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Brownstown itself the ACS puts it at 1.6%.
Public schools in Brownstown
3 public schools with 1,422 students, about 15.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brownstown Elementary School | PK-5 | 636 | 16.7 |
| Brownstown Central High School | 9-12 | 469 | 14.7 |
| Brownstown Central Middle School | 6-8 | 317 | 15.1 |
Towns near Brownstown
- Seymour, IN9.7 mi · 21,569 people · home $162,800
- Austin, IN16.0 mi · 4,064 people · home $86,200
- Salem, IN19.2 mi · 6,371 people · home $144,700
- Scottsburg, IN19.6 mi · 7,345 people · home $146,200
- Country Squire Lakes, IN22.4 mi · 3,558 people · home $26,600
- Columbus, IN23.6 mi · 50,474 people · home $244,200
- Bedford, IN23.8 mi · 13,792 people · home $152,400
- North Vernon, IN24.3 mi · 6,608 people · home $128,600
Brownstown questions
Is Brownstown, Indiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Brownstown scores better for retirees than 99% of Indiana towns and quieter than 66%. 28.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.7).
How much does a house cost in Brownstown?
The median owner-occupied home in Brownstown is valued at $146,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $62,756, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $658 a month.
What is the weather like in Brownstown?
July highs average 84.7°F and January lows 21.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.6 inches of precipitation a year and 12.8 inches of snow.
Does Brownstown get tornadoes?
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Brownstown since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 2, 1990. 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)