The Town FilesDecatur, Indiana
City in Adams County · population 9,913 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $142,800
- Household income
- $58,646
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 28 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 31
- Median age
- 44.6
Decatur is a city of 9,913 people in Adams County, Indiana. The median home is worth $142,800, below the typical Indiana town ($150,400). It ranks more vibrant than 76% of Indiana towns, hipper than 73% of Indiana towns, more walkable than 72% of Indiana towns.
How Decatur 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 Decatur is worth $142,800, below the typical Indiana town ($150,400). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $58,646, which is more affordable than 58% of Indiana towns. Median rent is $820 a month. 76.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Decatur | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $142,800 | $150,400 |
| Median rent | $820 | $888 |
| Median household income | $58,646 | $61,953 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 76.6% | 73.4% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1966 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Decatur
| People | Decatur | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.6 | 38.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.4% | 17.1% |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.3% | 17.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.3% | 11.6% |
| Veterans | 4.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.7% | — |
| Work from home | 3.3% | 6.2% |
| Average commute | 26.9 min | 24.7 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.9% | 89.2% |
Weather in Decatur
July highs average 83.8°F and January lows 18.3°F. About 40.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 28.1 inches of snow (typical Indiana town: 21.1 in). Expect about 18 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 127 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Decatur since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Indiana town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on November 10, 2002 about 9.0 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 22 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 2, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 27 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 10, 2011.
Severe weather in Adams County since 1996
Adams 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 8, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1766: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| March 12, 2007 | Snowstorm | EM-3274: Snow |
Jobs and pay in Adams County
Adams County had 12,932 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,465 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Decatur itself the ACS puts it at 2.7%.
Public schools in Decatur
3 public schools with 1,579 students, about 13.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bellmont Elementary | PK-5 | 684 | 14.0 |
| Bellmont Senior High School | 9-12 | 610 | 13.0 |
| Bellmont Middle School | 6-8 | 285 | 12.4 |
Towns near Decatur
- Berne, IN11.9 mi · 4,173 people · home $151,700
- Ossian, IN13.0 mi · 3,266 people · home $201,500
- Bluffton, IN14.1 mi · 10,308 people · home $149,600
- New Haven, IN17.2 mi · 15,583 people · home $166,900
- Van Wert, OH17.9 mi · 11,092 people · home $123,900
- Fort Wayne, IN21.1 mi · 263,886 people · home $188,900
- Celina, OH26.9 mi · 10,935 people · home $164,100
- Portland, IN27.2 mi · 6,320 people · home $96,700
Decatur questions
Is Decatur, Indiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Decatur scores better for retirees than 33% of Indiana towns and quieter than 42%. 20.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.6).
How much does a house cost in Decatur?
The median owner-occupied home in Decatur is valued at $142,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $58,646, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $820 a month.
What is the weather like in Decatur?
July highs average 83.8°F and January lows 18.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.6 inches of precipitation a year and 28.1 inches of snow.
Does Decatur get tornadoes?
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Decatur since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on November 10, 2002. 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)