The Town FilesOssian, Indiana
Town in Wells County · population 3,266 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $201,500
- Household income
- $71,563
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 23 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 44.1
Ossian is a town of 3,266 people in Wells County, Indiana. The median home is worth $201,500, above the typical Indiana town ($150,400). It ranks better for retirees than 97% of Indiana towns, easier by car than 89% of Indiana towns, more of a college town than 87% of Indiana towns.
How Ossian 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 Ossian is worth $201,500, above the typical Indiana town ($150,400). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $71,563, which is more affordable than 34% of Indiana towns. Median rent is $906 a month. 67.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ossian | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $201,500 | $150,400 |
| Median rent | $906 | $888 |
| Median household income | $71,563 | $61,953 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 67.0% | 73.4% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1966 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Ossian
| People | Ossian | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.1 | 38.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.7% | 17.1% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.5% | 17.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.7% | 11.6% |
| Veterans | 10.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.5% | — |
| Work from home | 9.4% | 6.2% |
| Average commute | 31.0 min | 24.7 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.1% | 89.2% |
Weather in Ossian
July highs average 82.6°F and January lows 17.2°F. About 40.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 23.3 inches of snow (typical Indiana town: 21.1 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 126 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ossian since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Indiana town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 16, 1968 about 9.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 20, 2004.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 43 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 15, 1964.
Severe weather in Wells County since 1996
Wells County has been included in 15 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 12, 2007 | Snowstorm | EM-3274: Snow |
| September 10, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3238: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Wells County
Wells County had 11,293 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,048 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Ossian itself the ACS puts it at 4.8%.
Public schools in Ossian
3 public schools with 1,897 students, about 15.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norwell High School | 9-12 | 745 | 17.3 |
| Norwell Middle School | 6-8 | 584 | 14.6 |
| Ossian Elementary | PK-5 | 568 | 14.9 |
Towns near Ossian
- Bluffton, IN9.2 mi · 10,308 people · home $149,600
- Decatur, IN13.0 mi · 9,913 people · home $142,800
- Fort Wayne, IN14.7 mi · 263,886 people · home $188,900
- New Haven, IN15.4 mi · 15,583 people · home $166,900
- Huntington, IN17.6 mi · 17,022 people · home $119,500
- Berne, IN18.8 mi · 4,173 people · home $151,700
- Huntertown, IN23.5 mi · 9,141 people · home $298,200
- Leo-Cedarville, IN25.0 mi · 3,624 people · home $370,100
Ossian questions
Is Ossian, Indiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ossian scores better for retirees than 97% of Indiana towns and quieter than 55%. 26.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.1).
How much does a house cost in Ossian?
The median owner-occupied home in Ossian is valued at $201,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $71,563, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $906 a month.
What is the weather like in Ossian?
July highs average 82.6°F and January lows 17.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.0 inches of precipitation a year and 23.3 inches of snow.
Does Ossian get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ossian since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 16, 1968. 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)