The Town FilesPaoli, Indiana
Town in Orange County · population 3,666 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $150,700
- Household income
- $42,906
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 13 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 20
- Median age
- 42.6
Paoli is a town of 3,666 people in Orange County, Indiana. The median home is worth $150,700, close to the typical Indiana town ($150,400). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 88% of Indiana towns, hipper than 76% of Indiana towns, more walkable than 72% of Indiana towns.
How Paoli 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 Paoli is worth $150,700, close to the typical Indiana town ($150,400). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $42,906, which is more affordable than 8% of Indiana towns. Median rent is $799 a month. 62.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Paoli | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $150,700 | $150,400 |
| Median rent | $799 | $888 |
| Median household income | $42,906 | $61,953 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 62.2% | 73.4% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1966 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Paoli
| People | Paoli | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.6 | 38.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 31.3% | 17.1% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.0% | 17.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 25.2% | 11.6% |
| Veterans | 4.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.0% | — |
| Work from home | 9.5% | 6.2% |
| Average commute | 24.9 min | 24.7 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.8% | 89.2% |
Weather in Paoli
July highs average 86.6°F and January lows 21.4°F. About 49.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 12.8 inches of snow (typical Indiana town: 21.1 in). Expect about 26 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 119 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Paoli since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Indiana town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 19, 1963 about 5.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 15, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 39 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on June 25, 2023.
Severe weather in Orange County since 1996
Orange County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 15, 2026 | Flood | EM-3651: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Orange County
Orange County had 7,372 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,076 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Paoli itself the ACS puts it at 7.8%.
Public schools in Paoli
2 public schools with 1,285 students, about 13.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Throop Elementary School | PK-6 | 714 | 13.5 |
| Paoli Jr & Sr High School | 7-12 | 571 | 12.4 |
Towns near Paoli
- Mitchell, IN12.5 mi · 3,933 people · home $114,500
- Salem, IN20.4 mi · 6,371 people · home $144,700
- Bedford, IN21.0 mi · 13,792 people · home $152,400
- Loogootee, IN25.3 mi · 2,601 people · home $148,500
- Jasper, IN27.8 mi · 16,703 people · home $235,100
Paoli questions
Is Paoli, Indiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Paoli scores better for retirees than 59% of Indiana towns and quieter than 28%. 31.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.6).
How much does a house cost in Paoli?
The median owner-occupied home in Paoli is valued at $150,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $42,906, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $799 a month.
What is the weather like in Paoli?
July highs average 86.6°F and January lows 21.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.5 inches of precipitation a year and 12.8 inches of snow.
Does Paoli get tornadoes?
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Paoli since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 19, 1963. 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)