The Town FilesSullivan, Indiana
City in Sullivan County · population 4,264 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $128,100
- Household income
- $46,551
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 13 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 33.2
Sullivan is a city of 4,264 people in Sullivan County, Indiana. The median home is worth $128,100, below the typical Indiana town ($150,400). It ranks better for cycling than 96% of Indiana towns, more walkable than 76% of Indiana towns, more vibrant than 73% of Indiana towns.
How Sullivan 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 Sullivan is worth $128,100, below the typical Indiana town ($150,400). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $46,551, which is more affordable than 34% of Indiana towns. Median rent is $859 a month. 64.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Sullivan | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $128,100 | $150,400 |
| Median rent | $859 | $888 |
| Median household income | $46,551 | $61,953 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 64.5% | 73.4% |
| Median year built | 1959 | 1966 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Sullivan
| People | Sullivan | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.2 | 38.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.2% | 17.1% |
| Under 18 | 30.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.8% | 17.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.6% | 11.6% |
| Veterans | 7.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 7.0% | 6.2% |
| Average commute | 22.5 min | 24.7 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.6% | 89.2% |
Weather in Sullivan
July highs average 85.6°F and January lows 20.6°F. About 47.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 13.1 inches of snow (typical Indiana town: 21.1 in). Expect about 19 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 113 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sullivan since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Indiana town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on March 31, 2023 about 1.2 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 8 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 21, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 24 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on May 16, 2025.
Severe weather in Sullivan County since 1996
Sullivan County has been included in 19 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 |
| April 15, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4704: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| 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 Sullivan County
Sullivan County had 5,720 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,807 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Sullivan itself the ACS puts it at 3.4%.
Public schools in Sullivan
3 public schools with 1,515 students, about 15.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sullivan Elementary School | PK-5 | 651 | 15.9 |
| Sullivan High School | 9-12 | 503 | 12.0 |
| Sullivan Middle School | 6-8 | 361 | 20.1 |
Towns near Sullivan
- Linton, IN14.1 mi · 5,133 people · home $86,000
- Robinson, IL18.5 mi · 7,150 people · home $109,100
- Bicknell, IN22.9 mi · 3,029 people · home $66,300
- Terre Haute, IN25.4 mi · 58,389 people · home $115,700
- Marshall, IL25.8 mi · 3,947 people · home $118,500
- Vincennes, IN29.6 mi · 16,759 people · home $111,600
- Lawrenceville, IL29.7 mi · 4,164 people · home $71,300
Sullivan questions
Is Sullivan, Indiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Sullivan scores better for retirees than 58% of Indiana towns and quieter than 24%. 19.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.2).
How much does a house cost in Sullivan?
The median owner-occupied home in Sullivan is valued at $128,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $46,551, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $859 a month.
What is the weather like in Sullivan?
July highs average 85.6°F and January lows 20.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.2 inches of precipitation a year and 13.1 inches of snow.
Does Sullivan get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sullivan since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on March 31, 2023. 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)