CountyScore

Grant County

Indiana · IN

#70 in Indiana
68.6
County Score

County Report Card

About Grant County, Indiana

Grant scores strong nationally

Grant County's composite score of 68.6 beats the national median of 50.0 by 37%, reflecting solid fundamentals in tax policy and housing affordability. However, it sits slightly below the national 75th percentile, indicating room for improvement.

Below Indiana's state average

At 68.6, Grant lags Indiana's state average of 71.2 by roughly 3.5 points, ranking in the lower-middle tier of the state's counties. This gap reflects persistent income and risk challenges.

Exceptional affordability across the board

Grant boasts an outstanding cost score of 82.3 with median home values of just $116,000 and rent at $799/month—among Indiana's most affordable. The tax score of 83.1 and effective rate of 0.681% further cement its value proposition.

Lowest incomes, highest risks

Grant's income score of just 18.6 reflects median household earnings of $54,007, the lowest among these eight counties. The risk score of 30.6 signals elevated vulnerability to economic disruption.

For ultra-budget-conscious pioneers

Grant County suits enterprising individuals and families with strong self-sufficiency who prioritize rock-bottom housing costs over income stability. It's best for retirees with fixed incomes or workers seeking to maximize savings in a lean economy.

Score breakdown

5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.

Tax83.1Cost82.3SafetyComing SoonHealth65.3SchoolsComing SoonIncome18.6Risk30.6WaterComing Soon
🏛83.1
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠82.3
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼18.6
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤65.3
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡30.6
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty →
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncomeincomebycounty.com
Compare Grant County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Graham County
Arizona
68.6
Median income: $67,326
Saline County
Arkansas
68.6
Median income: $76,534
Catoosa County
Georgia
68.6
Median income: $72,425
Shoshone County
Idaho
68.6
Median income: $49,975
Cumberland County
Illinois
68.6
Median income: $69,826

Deep Dives

Grant County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Grant County

via TaxByCounty

Grant County taxes remain quite low nationally

Grant County's effective tax rate of 0.681% ranks in the bottom 25% nationwide, making it a tax-friendly community. Residents pay just $790 annually on a median home of $116,000—less than 30% of the national median tax bill of $2,690.

Slightly above Indiana average, still reasonable

At 0.681%, Grant County's effective rate hovers just above Indiana's average of 0.671%. The median annual tax of $790 falls well below the state median of $1,199, reflecting the county's modestly valued homes.

Competitive tax rates across central Indiana

Grant County's 0.681% rate aligns closely with Hancock County (0.680%) and undercuts Greene County (0.689%) and Gibson County (0.730%). The tax differences are minimal across this region, making local services more important than tax rates to homeowners.

Grant homeowners pay modest annual taxes

A typical Grant County home worth $116,000 generates an annual property tax bill of just $790. This makes property ownership remarkably affordable, with taxes adding only $861 when mortgage-related assessments are included.

Even modest bills can be reduced through appeals

Grant County homeowners often overpay on property taxes due to outdated or inflated assessments. Filing an appeal with the county assessor can verify your home's true market value and potentially lower your tax liability.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Grant County

via CostByCounty

Grant faces Indiana's tightest affordability squeeze

Grant County households struggle most: a 17.8% rent-to-income ratio—the highest among these eight counties—combined with a $54,007 median income, nearly 28% below the national average. On paper, $799 rent looks cheap; in practice, it consumes nearly one-fifth of household earnings.

Worst affordability in Indiana's lineup

Grant's 17.8% rent-to-income ratio significantly exceeds Indiana's 15.6% state average, making it the least affordable county in this analysis. The median rent of $799 saves just $84 versus the state average, while incomes lag peers by thousands annually.

Cheapest rents, lowest incomes

Grant's $799 rent is the lowest in the group, but paired with the lowest median income ($54,007), the savings evaporate in affordability terms. The $116,000 median home value represents the cheapest properties available, but financing remains challenging on limited incomes.

Grant's precarious balance

Renters spend $799 monthly while homeowners pay $776—nearly identical, but on an income of just $54,007, either path consumes roughly 18% of earnings. This leaves Grant residents with the tightest margins for healthcare, transportation, and savings among all eight counties.

Grant: affordable only if income matches

Grant County's rock-bottom housing costs attract budget seekers, but its lower-income workforce suggests relocation works best for remote workers or those with portable, higher-wage jobs. Compare income and job prospects carefully before moving; affordability disappears if your income also drops.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Grant County

via IncomeByCounty

Grant faces steepest income challenge

Grant County's median household income of $54,007 trails the national median of $74,755 by $20,748—a sobering 28% gap. The county ranks among the lower-income counties nationally, reflecting structural economic headwinds.

Lowest income among these eight

Grant's $54,007 median household income falls $14,674 below Indiana's state average of $68,681. The county faces tougher economic conditions than most other Indiana counties, demanding focus on workforce development.

Significant gap from nearby counties

Grant's $54,007 lags well behind neighboring Fulton ($62,878) and Greene ($59,753), representing the lowest income in this regional cluster. The gap suggests Grant residents face different employment and wage challenges.

Housing affordability pressures emerge

Grant's 17.8% rent-to-income ratio is the highest among these counties, straining household budgets on modest incomes. A $116,000 median home value is affordable, but renters shoulder proportionally higher costs.

Strategic career moves matter most

Grant County households benefit most from investing in education, certifications, and job transitions that boost earning power directly. Even modest increases in household income—through job changes or additional earners—create meaningful wealth-building capacity.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Grant County

via HealthByCounty

Grant County faces critical health crisis

Grant County's life expectancy of 70.8 years ranks among the lowest in Indiana and falls 8+ years below the U.S. average of 78.9 years. This severe gap reflects compounding health challenges: one in five residents report poor or fair health, and chronic disease burden is substantial.

Lowest life expectancy in peer comparison

Grant County's 70.8-year life expectancy places it near the bottom of Indiana's 92 counties—nearly 4.3 years below the state average of 75.1. This dramatic shortfall demands urgent attention from policymakers, healthcare providers, and community leaders.

Far behind surrounding counties

Neighbors Hancock (77.2) and Harrison (73.7) both outlive Grant residents by 2–6 years, signaling that local conditions, not regional inevitability, drive poor outcomes. Grant's 42 primary care providers per 100,000 are adequate, but the exceptional mental health capacity of 295 per 100,000—highest in the region—hasn't prevented the life expectancy crisis.

Uninsured rate modest, but underlying crises run deep

Grant's 7.2% uninsured rate is near the state average of 8.4%, so coverage gaps alone don't explain the severe health deficit. The crisis likely reflects despair, substance abuse, and untreated mental illness—factors that require integrated behavioral and primary care solutions.

Insurance is step one; crisis intervention is urgent

Verify coverage through Indiana's marketplace or Medicaid to remove barriers to care. But Grant County residents also need coordinated behavioral health services, addiction treatment, and community support—insurance alone won't reverse years of deepening health decline.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Grant County

via RiskByCounty

Grant faces elevated risk nationwide

Grant County's composite risk score of 69.40 substantially exceeds the national average, earning a "Relatively Low" rating but reflecting real hazard exposure. The county confronts above-average tornado (88.84) and flood (73.41) risks that are among Indiana's highest.

High-risk profile within Indiana

Grant's 69.40 score ranks it well above Indiana's 45.52 state average—placing the county in the upper tier of state risk. Tornado exposure at 88.84 is the third-highest in the state, making severe weather a defining feature of the county's hazard landscape.

Grant faces more risk than Fulton

Grant County's 69.40 risk score substantially exceeds nearby Fulton County's 20.20, making Grant one of the state's riskier counties. Tornado exposure in Grant (88.84) is more than 70% higher than Fulton's, reflecting different geographic and meteorological conditions.

Tornadoes and flooding dominate hazards

Tornadoes pose Grant County's greatest threat at 88.84—among the state's highest tornado exposure levels. Flooding at 73.41 presents a secondary but serious risk, particularly during severe spring and summer weather events.

Prepare for severe storms and flooding

Homeowners need comprehensive wind and hail coverage for tornado protection, plus a designated safe room or basement shelter. Flood insurance is critical; review FEMA flood maps and elevate utilities in flood-prone areas to reduce damage risk.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

ByCounty Network

🏛Property Tax🏠Cost of Living💼Income & Jobs🛡Safety❤Health🎓Schools⚡Disaster Risk💧Water Quality

Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.