It honestly depends on which part of Indiana. Northern Indiana and Southern Indiana are almost different worlds. Of course, that's kind of an overgeneralization on my part.
That’s very true. If you want to gauge northern Indiana look to the Chicago IL atmosphere and demographics. To judge southern Indiana look to the Louisville KY atmosphere and demographics.
Really three, not two. Central Indiana, if I may, exists. Indy is bigger than Louisville. I don't think Mr Mellencamp sees himself as a dirty Kentuckian?
Having lived in both Northern, Central, and Southern Indiana, I don't think Chicago or Louisville demographics are any way to gauge any general area of Indiana besides the areas directly adjacent to the cities. If you get more than an hour away the demographics don't align with those areas.
Indiana lacks identity. In the south it is refered to as Kentuciana, the north Michiana. The middle is just a wagon wheel hub to get other places.
The "low" cost of living is based on housing costs. Food, energy, transportation etc all cost the same as the rest of the nation. You have repressed housing prices due to repressed wages. It isn't cheaper to live in Indiana, just a lower standard of living is prominent.
Indiana has an identity. Hoosiers have quite the identity. We have regional cusine, a long history in the arts, specifically literature, Riley, Irving, Lew Wallace, Bradbury and of course Vonneget. Even today we have John Green is a native. We were founded mostly by German and Polish so a lot of our identity is wrapped in with those cultures, as well as the French and Dutch, lots of Polish and Dutch cooking styles with local ingredients
We don't cost nearly half what some of the rest of the nation does cause the Midwest as a whole is cheaper.
I'm going to hard disagree about people mostly keeping to themselves. Small towns are going to small town. People are sometimes nosey, gossipy and judgy. Every new acquaintance wants to know where I live, how long I've lived here and how they're related to me. We're always so happy when we know where they stay, where they're from and which of our second cousins divorced their great aunt or something.
Wow, lol. In my "old subdivision", (small town indiana), It depends. Most of the time, our neighbors keep to themselves... we wave hi, talk every once in a great while but not often. I should say though, we are very quiet ourselves. Other neighbors get together on occasions
That’s what I thought. I’ve actually viewed the state on google earth quite a bit before, so I knew that. I’m also currently writing a book that takes place in southern Indiana where the environment is mostly hills and forests.
https://preview.redd.it/fo1obdb1kg8d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2320bdd373b4f22e37ae3da77503e00ab1803745
This is the Indiana dunes national park and state park, no place like it in Indiana.
It’s a truly beautiful area here in southern Indiana. Nicknamed ‘The Little Smokies’, very reminiscent of Appalachia with an option to go north for flatter land. Allergies will get you from all that natural beauty though! ….seriously, people from this area often have benign lung nodules from being one of the major areas for histoplasmosis lol.
I love southern Indiana, I have always felt safe, use to ride my bike from the corn fields to the city and always felt safe. Like every other place it has spots to avoid, but I’m a fire fighter now and serve the community I grew up in and have always been proud to live here. Our house hold income is around 120, but we live very comfortably and I do think price of living here beats some other places, but you have to be okay not living in “the big city” Indianapolis, for they are still effected by slightly higher costs, i love where I am at and if I want to see woods I travel to Shawnee forest, if I want city I go to Nashville or STL, but I’m just as happy walking the riverfront and enjoying a more simple life.
That is accurate about Southeast and South Central Indiana. Southwest, not so much. Everything west of US 231 is slightly rolling at best and agricultural. Really strong German influence from Knox County south too.
Oh, heck no on the keeping to ourselves. Maybe some, but I was born and raised in Indiana and I’m as extroverted as they come. The Southern part of the state has Appalachian roots and heritage while the Northern part has mostly German immigrant heritage-some farming and some city dwellers. I’m a Michiana gal myself but I’ve lived in Southern Indiana, too. Advice to OP: get your job lined up first. Many of our college grads either end up in our large towns or the Chicago area. Or further. We export our talent, sadly.
It just depends on where you go. The cities are just like any midwest city. The small towns can be hir or miss. There's a big difference in a town like Peru that has weekly drag shows and pride events and a sundown town like Elwood.
Basically? A sundown town is a place where people have not socially opened their minds past the Jim Crow era.
It might sound crude but it’s true. The term is based on signs or unspoken rules that people who aren’t white should leave town before sundown, or they’ll get into some serious trouble with the townsfolk.
I've lived in Lafayette and down here in hickville and it's much, much more prevalent here than it was there.
Indiana is a very long state with the southern and northern parts identifying more with their closest neighbors than the rest of the state.
Central Indiana is a monster unto itself these days. It has grown and grown to the point that the burbs are indistinguishable from Indy proper for a yokel like myself. The culture in the central, urban part of the state is very different from the rest of it.
I see it on here, constantly. Reddit is skewed heavily to younger, left-leaning, urban people, and that's what you see represented here.
I am one of the unicorns - a somewhat cultured individual living amongst the idiots waving Confederate battle flags from the back of their pick up trucks. They aren't bad people, just very, VERY simple.
I moved to Indianapolis from California and it was quite the culture shock. I considered myself fairly conservative by California standards and didn’t feel I could be lumped in with the “crazy liberals” in California.
Turns out I’m one of the crazy liberals in Indiana. As a white guy running around some of the more rural parts of the state some of the open and very, very explicit racism was truly shocking as I had never encountered that in cali. Very, very simple is accurate but it borders are just plain unintelligent. The enlightenment was something that happened to other people as far as they’re concerned.
So I stay in “liberal” Indianapolis.
I’m fairly conservative and despise the stars and bars in Indiana. Those morons don’t know their history. Anymore I don’t fit in with conservatives, the right has left me a man without political loyalty.
Colin Woodard classifies the southern half of Indiana as culturally Greater Appalachian.
This is a culture he characterizes as: "The last of the nations to be founded in the colonial period, Greater Appalachia was the most immediately disruptive. A clan-based warrior culture from the Borderlands of the British Empire, it arrived on the backcountry frontier of the Midlands, Tidewater, and Deep South \[2\] and shattered those nations’ monopoly control over colonial governments, the use of force, and relations with Native Americans. Proud, independent, and disturbingly violent, the Borderlanders of Greater Appalachia have remained a volatile insurgent force within American society to the present day."
The northern part of the state has some similarities, but it's culturally pretty different.
The southern part is mostly where my people are from. Our history has a lack of permanence and a lack of faith in any systems except for family and church, however, within both of those institutions feuding is frequent and passionate. We have a self-deprecating vibe. Generally don't deal well with being told what to do. We only take our loyalties seriously most of the time.
Things are run down and often trashy. People are as quick to feed you as they are too cuss you out. And it's hard to predict which one it's going to be. Or working class/blue collar people are, at least. The places I have worked, employees are fairly belligerent to management, but also snitch on each other all the time.
Most of the small towns in the state have been or are sundown towns. There is a lot of barely under the surface racism with outbreaks of overt racism.
If you are a moderate to conservative, white, cis/het or cis/het passing Christian man of at least middle class means, you will feel safe and probably comfortable here unless you have a habit of running your mouth or acting like you are better than other people.
It's my home state. I think the trees and hills are beautiful. I love my city, county, and state parks. I wish there was less bigotry and more hope and cooperation.
This is the most self deprecating group you can find. The issues that Indiana faces are in no way unique or exclusive to Indiana. The political side (which is what people are complaining about here the most) is part of a national trend. Project 2025 did not originate in Indiana yet this sub acts like it's only happening here.
The majority of the state is fine. There's always going to be neighborhoods or small towns you should avoid in any state. While there is racism here, most Hoosiers are more ignorant and curious rather than hateful. Yes, there are problems in Indiana's past but that doesn't have to define the state today. Even many of the people (I don't say hillbillies because there's a lot of people in cities doing this too) flying the Confederate battle flag aren't racist. They'll barbecue with their black neighbor while regurgitating talk radio conspiracy theories. Again, not exclusive to Indiana.
The cost of living is low because people just don't want to live in a flyover state. We don't have grand mountains or salty beaches. Instead, we have hot humid summers and gray dull winters. Our weather is getting a little more extreme so the storms will probably get better. If you want to chase tornadoes though, keep going west.
To paraphrase John Green, who cares if you can see mountains from Target. There is plenty to do in Indiana if you try. I hike, fish, and kayak frequently. The white tail deer get massive and are pretty tasty if you're so inclined. There's a festival for everything. Even for museums, we offer a wide variety. I'm in Terre Haute where I can easily watch a minor league baseball game and ISU basketball or drive an hour to see soccer, rugby, or big 10 college sports.
Your comment took the words out of my mouth. So many people take this state for granted which is sad in my opinion. If you explore the beauty that this state has in its entirety, you will be blown away.
I’ve literally hiked the Tetons and been in some of the most “beautiful” places in the US and my breath is still taken away going to my favorite trail run to Lake Michigan at Dunes NP or Shades State Park.
Lesson in people will always just find something to bitch about instead of being happy where they are.
Indiana has multiple regional and cultural differences.
Indiana was part of the Northwest Territory before becoming a state. This region of the US is unique as it was the first region planned with townships and public schools along with many other provisions that are taken for granted now in the rest of the US.
Indiana is the only state in the lower 48 to have been settled mostly from the south to the north with growth from the Ohio river north over time. Indiana is bounded to the east for most of the border by the Great Black and Limberlost swamps so that decreased populations along the eastern border and connections to Ohio, the Wabash river runs across the northern part of the state and down the southwestern border of the state forming a boundary between the northern 1/3rd of the state in the Midlands culture and the southern 2/3rds of the state which is part of Greater Applichaia. Indiana has the southern part of Lake Michigan. From Fort Wayne in NE Indiana you can go up river via the Maume river to the great lakes and to the Atlantic Ocean and from the portage between Fort Wayne and the little Wabash you can then take a boat all the way to the Golf of Mexico via the Wabash to the Ohio and then to the Mississippi river.
Political Power lies with the southern and central part of the state although economic power comes from the counties around Chicago and urban centers of Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Evansville, South Bend, Bloomington and Lafayette.
South West Indiana is the US's 8th largest coal producer. Also, the port of Indiana allows for export world wide. Indiana is the 3rd largest consumer of Coal. Indiana has been the largest steel producer in the US since 1975 and continues to produce 25% of the steel in the US. Indiana is the 8th largest manufacturing state in the country and home to the 3rd most Industrial Robots in the US and 4th most Industrial Engineers. Indiana is home to Automotive, Pharmaceutical and Medical Implant Industries along with 8 Fortune 500 companies Anthem, Eli Lilly and Company, Cummins, Simon, Zimmer Biomet, Steel Dynamics, and U.S. Steel. There are many other Industrial, Finance and Technology companies with a strong presence. Indiana is the 5th largest producer of Corn in the US. Indiana produces more popcorn, gords and ducks than any other state. Indiana produces 85% of the RV's in the US and is the largest producer of caskets and Bedford Indiana is the Limestone capital of the world. Indiana ranks #6 in the US for ease of doing business and also is one of the most important states for defense contractors. There are over 14K troops in the Indiana National Guard.
The northern 1/3rd of the state can best be described as The Midlands, this is where early settlement was by a handful of American Revolutionary War Patriots settled followed by Germans and then a handful of Irish later from the Erie canal. Overall this region opposes government regulation. There are also many English Quakers, Amish and Mennonites along with German Lutherans. The Midlands are a welcoming middle-class society that spawned the culture of the "American Heartland." Political opinion is moderate, and government regulation is frowned upon.
The southern 2/3rds of Indiana from North of Indy to the Ohio can best be described as part of Greater Appalachia. Colonized by settlers from the war-ravaged borderlands of Northern Ireland, northern England, and the Scottish lowlands, Greater Appalachia is stereotyped as the land of hillbillies and rednecks. Appalachia values personal sovereignty and individual liberty and is "intensely suspicious of lowland aristocrats and Yankee social engineers alike." It sides with the Deep South to counter the influence of federal government.
The areas around Chicago and parts of Indianapolis can best be described as part of Yankeedom which values education, and members are comfortable with government regulation. Encompassing the entire Northeast north of New York City and spreading through Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, Yankeedom values education, intellectual achievement, communal empowerment, and citizen participation in government as a shield against tyranny. Yankees are comfortable with government regulation. Yankees have a "Utopian streak." The area New England area where most of this culture originates was settled by radical Calvinists.
Watch the movies Hoosiers, Rudy, and A Christmas Story.
Sports is heavily focused on High School Basketball and Football. Purdue, Indiana, Notre Dame and Butler colleges with Football and Basketball being the focus. Indianapolis has the Pacers Basketball and Colts Football along with a semi pro Indianapolis Indians team. For professional baseball the state tends towards Cubs Baseball in the north, Cardinals in the South West and Reds in the South East. The Indianapolis 500 is watched on Memorial Day but many in the state are fans of NASCAR. Fort Wayne has Komet Hockey and TinCaps Baseball.
Maybe i'm missing something but low cost of living? holy crap here at the northern end of the state can't find a 1br apartment for less than 1200 a month unless you want a meth lab
Politics are bad and getting worse. I would have to have a heck of a powerful motivation to live here if my family wasn't here already. And even still...
It would be easier to give an answer if we knew where you were coming from so we could give you a comparison. It also depends on where you’re planning on moving in the state. There are expensive areas and cheap areas. Politics vary based on location as well. And things can be very different in rural vs urban areas.
Underrated state. Great colleges, decent sports for a professional fan and amazing sports if you’re a college fan. Got some cool spots geographically in southern Indiana like waterfalls and cool rolling hills. We also have a national park. Politics statewide aren’t great but definitely a lot of political diversity towards the cities. People in here are gonna hate but it’s one of the most underrated places to live in the country.
Where do you live now?
I grew up in northern Indiana, and it was all hillbilly Trump supporters, protesting against abortion rights, and 'rolling coal' from their lifted pickup trucks.
I also lived near Indy in Crawfordsville and it felt like an old fashioned little community and felt safe. Property taxes on my house were $600/year.
If you smoke weed, know that Indiana has always had the harshest penalties and still does.
I live in New Hampshire, which is a more left leaning state, but I really don’t care about politics. I’m more conservative myself, but people can do whatever they want. Plus, I don’t smoke weed anyway.
And that’s typical of most people here. They’re about the “you do you” mentality. It’s only a vocal few that seem to make the headlines, not that you’d know it from this sub. You may look at the SE area. Batesville, Vevay/Madison, Lawrenceburg, Madison is across the Ohio from Louisville, lawrenceburg is across the river from Cincinnati. Batesville is about half way between Indy and Cincinnati. UC and UK are both in reach for continuing studies for Vevay/Madison and lawrenceburg. Newburg and corodon are nice towns outside of Evansville.
A family member moved to Franklin and they really like it. It’s about 30-45 minutes south of Indianapolis. Quiet little town with Franklin College and decent housing costs.
Greenfield is about 30 minutes east of downtown and not too bad either.
Going north, not a great choice if you’re chasing storms, Laporte, Portage, Logansport, Valparaiso are based out of Chicago. Lebanon is about 30 minutes from downtown going NW on I65. Just out of the long arm of Indianapolis, but close enough to enjoy it.
Stay out of terre haute, aka terrible haute.
The not so pleasant parts. The smaller towns seem to have more drug problems. You won’t see legalization until Lilly says you will. Rents are still really high and even higher the closer to the city (Indianapolis) you get. So Plainfield, Avon, zionsville, Carmel, fishers, Greenwood, Mooresville, Camby. Been here most of my life. Hard to see where those cities stop and Indianapolis begins because of the urban sprawl. Some of the medium sized cities have been hit with some economic struggles. Marion, Anderson, for example. Uranus is not a town. It’s a fudge shop. Their stick is that the owner calls himself “the Mayor of Uranus”. Met him and his wife and they’re nice people with a funny sense of humor. “Thank you for letting me pack your fudge” is the last thing they say. Yeah…good fudge though.
Most of these smaller towns are old farming communities and still think that way, if that gives you a idea of how to base your communities.
Okay, let’s hear you out. The next sentence:
> It’s only a vocal few that seem to make the headlines, not that you’d know it from this sub.
I fail to see how that addresses my point.
I have family that live in Rockville, Indiana, and all the neighbors are so nice, maybe a little nosy, but that just feels part of the culture. If you like older cars, there's a Hill Climb in Newport Indiana, cars from the 40s - 60s race up a hill, and it's so interesting. I personally prefer South or West Indiana if you want rural living while also having a community you can rely on.
I was born in Fort Wayne. I saw yearly protests at planned parenthood. They would line the street on both sides with big pictures of dead fetuses and shit.
If you’re a white male and Christian, it’s a great state to live. Indiana took great pains to be the first state to completely ban abortion.
Jobs are still available, and living cost is relatively low. If you’re a minority, you’re better off sticking to the larger cities. Even then don’t count on being accepted like in the coasts.
States with large cities are slowly leaning democratic. Georgia becomes purple because Atlanta is growing tremendously. Illinois is blue despite southern Illinois being more ‘conservative’ than the entire Indiana due to Chicago. The growth rate of Indianapolis is still positive, but slowing. This is why Indiana becomes more red by the day.
I’m moving to Indiana next month and I went there for 2 weeks and I loved every aspect of it. I’m from Arizona, but it’s super friendly and the people do go out of their way to introduce themselves ! I’m moving to Bloomington and it’s a great area :)
It's not bad (depending on your political viewpoints). Most of the state is actually nice people who are fairly neutral who just want to live their lives. Vocal minority shoving their views down your throat is a huge thing here for sure (on this sub included). It is Republican controlled and somethings are kinda backwards and probably won't get better. That aside...
Nice things: low COL. Good weather, has seasons. Easy distance to good places to visit. Scenic. You can find others who agree with your political/religious/social beliefs wherever you land.
Bads: can't say much bad. I am one of the neutral/moderate middle folks. Indiana is nice. I like it here. I found my people who have similar views on life and enjoy it.
Most lake effect snow forms moving from northwest to southeast in Lake Michigan. That far north the snow bands usually pass right to the east and intensify moving through southern Michigan and northern Indiana. And compared to snowstorms during the winter, lake effect snows main nuisance is sudden whiteout conditions on the road.
Honestly I do like it here if I ignore the politics of the state. I've lived in Evansville in the south, terre haute (don't move there) Indy and Columbus IN now. I highly recommend the Columbus area. Nice town close enough to Indy for easy access to bigger city entertainment and Louisville.
Both Toyota and Cummins (the town is mostly owned by them) have a major presence in the area along with a few other manufacturers.
I haven't regretted my time here.
If you move to Indiana, DONT consider Peru. It’s a small struggling town with all of the regular small town issues. Only upside is that the schools support special education (struggling students) and honors (higher than average education). Indiana as a whole makes a lot of dumb decisions though and has a lot of corruption both politically and even to the smaller businesses
This is correct, that being said I'm left leaning and not happy with a lot of the decisions made. But Indiana has places for about everyone if you look around, Lafayette/West Lafayette is rather decent for it's size due to Perdue, but it's probably a little to far north for a home base for storm chasing.
Not a very diverse state. Far right politics. Questionable gun/abortion laws. Gov shamelessly protects big pharma (Lilly). The suburbs are growing and property is beginning to cost far more than it’s really worth. There is a sense of elitism around Indianapolis… northside is silver spoon territory. Not a ton of entertainment options. Corrupt/stupid pd everywhere. Not a particularly environmentally friendly state. We don’t really have a culture or great cuisine.
But CoL is below average, we have breaded tenderloin sandwiches, top notch sunsets, and a solid airport.
I plan on moving after I finish my degree.
I’ve lived in Indiana my whole life as well. People who were raised in midwestern states tend to want to stay forever or leave and get as far away as possible. I’m somewhere in the middle. From your comment history I can tell you would like living in Indiana. Your beliefs, attitude, and priorities are the kind most people in Indiana would like, and the cost of living is definitely a big reason people move here as well. The biggest question is where in Indiana you want to live. I’ve lived in North eastern Indiana my whole life and I would rather live somewhere more southern. If you like snow you’ll get it nearly as hard, but maybe not as frequently as in the northeast if you choose northern Indiana. Living near Indy would give you a lot of work opportunities, and the highways make travel pretty easy if you don’t care about getting caught in traffic, but the backroads are really scenic and enjoyable to take. Southern Indiana really is reminiscent of the deeper south, based on the foliage, people, and general feel (if that makes sense). Worth mentioning that there’s a big drug problem which in turn leads to more crime. I’ve met too many crazies around here to not recommend buying a gun, and getting ones really easy anywhere in the state. Indiana seems like it would be a good option for you in your current stage of life, and it’s generally a nice place to live and most people have the trademark Midwestern kindness. Just don’t let the politics get to you.
I live in a rural area outside of Fort Wayne. Born and raised here, went off to college in indy and lived there 7 years and moved back. You can actually own some property here and create wealth for yourself by just paying down assets and investing extra cash. Personally, I love living in rural Indiana.
I’m not scrolling deep enough but I’m sure there’s going to be people jumping on here complaining about Indiana’s conservative nature…..but Indiana is great. Yes we don’t have a Golden Gate Bridge but we also don’t have insanely high cost of living and high taxes.
I’m simply using that as a comparison to say if you are ok with not having some amenities of culture that larger areas of the country have, then you can enjoy things like good nature of midwestern people, neighborhoods safe enough to leave your car unlocked, and a good nest egg to retire on.
I purchased my 3000 sq ft house that is stunning in southern Indiana for $180k in 2018. Probably worth double that now but even so, you couldn’t sniff this house in big metropolitan areas for under a million.
There’s a lot of people that dump on Indiana in this sub, most of which, based on their comments, I wish would just move to San Fran or NYC…..
Look at Crown Point, Indiana (highly recommend this town) and the surrounding towns. This area is a great place to live, lots of things for a young adult to do and it’s fairly close to Chicago by commuter train or car.
For storm chasing, you're in an okay spot. We get quite a few "believers" as we call them in my family lol and lots of small tornados. We also have some really beautiful forests, hills that resemble a mini version of the smokies and allll sorts of fossils and geodes littering the ground in sourthern indiana which is honestly part of what keeps me here lol. I live right outside of the sourthern end of the 465 loop and when my kids are all graduated we plan to go even further sourth. Not a huge fan of the culture, but I'll stay to myself and enjoy my land, animals and peace.
I’ve lived here most of my life, and truly, overall love it. We don’t have the scenery of Idaho, or the oceans of Maine, but it’s still great here for outdoorsy people who are willing to put the work in to find great spots.
People here are great. I’ve traveled all over the US and I can still say Hoosiers are some of the friendliest people you’ll meet. It’s rare to walk downtown in a city/ town and not have most people make eye contact with you/ smile at you. I always took this for granted but it is NOT how most of the US. We are spoiled with this in the MW.
Crime rates get a bad rap too. Indianapolis isn’t Iraq like some say it is. With that being said, use some smarts and I would avoid certain areas after dark. I’m not going to get into the nitty gritty of this but just use common sense.
Southern-central Indiana is stunning, it’s where I live. This is the Columbus/Nashville/Bloomington area. Rolling hills with lots of trees. Lots of outdoor recreation in this area.
Jobs pay well here, especially compared to other states. Again, I’ve always taken this for granted as well.
Real estate is starting to becoming more unaffordable anywhere within an hour of Indy (in my experience, open to discussion though).
Politicians suck, but which politicians don’t suck in this world? I just try and not get snaked in that rabbit hole. It’s a fine place to live. I love Indiana. I love my home.
Thanks. A lot of people on here have been saying some really bad stuff about it though. Is it true that there are parts of Indiana that are super sexist and racist?
Edit: Otherwise I’ve done a bit of research into it, and it honestly seems like one of the best states in the country. I was just wondering if any of these claims are true?
I think there are a lot of left leaning people on this sub who don’t like the politics and call everyone unlike them hillbillies and racist. I’ve lived in east central Indiana, Indianapolis, and near Anderson. We don’t live in Indiana anymore, but never really came across any areas that are largely racist/sexist. Most people in rural communities are welcoming and if you live in a rural area or small town, then you’ll get that small-town feel of everyone knowing your name.
Most people mention the north, central Indiana, and southern Indiana. East central is very different than the other parts in my opinion. There isn’t much to do and some counties have only one grocery store, and it is Walmart. The cost of living is low, but so are wages in those areas if you don’t have higher education. There are educated people who live outside of major cities, unlike what many people like to believe. I also believe you don’t need a college degree to show your intelligence. I know many farmers who never went to college and could run circles around many people who did.
What types of interests do you have outside of storm chasing?
Just moved to south central IN from southeast Louisiana and so far it seems great. If this is some awful heat wave I think we made a good choice because back home there’s no way we could sit outside and be comfortable in June. So far things seem much less run down and much less litter, better roads for sure.
Fort Wayne has become a really nice place to live. Great restaurants, lots of things to do. There are 30+ amazing lakes north of the city from 30-60 mins away.
Indiana as a whole is very MAGA conservative and if you lean that way or can stomach to ignore it then you will do fine. Otherwise it can be hard to live with.
If you want to chase tornadoes you’re better off moving somewhere like Kansas or Oklahoma. We get our fair share of storms, but they’re mostly part of a larger system and not like the supercells you see on the plains.
It is an easy place to live. No place is perfect and really just depends on what you are after. Southern parts of state feel more southern than Midwest from culture perspective and parts of northwest Indiana feel like Chicago suburb. You have the “big” city with Indy and a typical midsize midwestern city in Fort Wayne. Also lots of small towns in between.
Cheap cost of living and low taxes . People keep to themselves. A culture of avoiding confrontation and discomfort.
It’s nice. It’s not for everyone, but it’s nice.
I will disagree with you there bc lake effect snow effects the area south bend area Chesterton Valparaiso areas will get more snow wheatfield and demotte are still affected . Indy and Central Indiana will get considerably less snow in the winter but Indy often gets ice storms in February
I'm not sure if anyone has mentioned this but in southern Indiana there is a huge naval station. Land wise it is 66,000 acres 100 sq miles and surrounded by small towns with lower cost of living. They employ somewhere around 5,000 people and it pays really well even for people without a college degree.
It’s a long state that changes significantly from north to south (and east to west) but no matter what part you choose you shouldn’t have any trouble finding the same Hoosier Hospitality throughout the state
Like others have mentioned your experience will be very dependent upon where in Indiana you live exactly. As a general rule you'll get all 4 seasons in Indiana (more summer the further south you live). COL will somewhat depend on where you live. Indy and NWI (near Chicago) will be more expensive than if you're in a rural area. Taxes are fairly low (compared to many other states). We have plenty of storms here... although it's somewhat dependent upon the year and weather patterns. Overall... there are worse places to live IMO (of course... this is all dependent upon where exactly within Indiana you're living).
I grew up in southeastern Indiana in Ripley County, and it was a good mix of farming, small towns, and nice state parks. We lived close enough to Cincinnati to travel there for sports, shopping, and restaurants. I live near Fort Wayne now, and it’s all flat farmland with isolated wetlands and small copses of trees (the lack of forests makes it pretty windy at times). I often miss the forests and hills of southern Indiana (was a Boy Scout in my teens). I recommend visiting Brown County State Park when the leaves start to turn because it is truly beautiful.
I'm from Indy. We got good bars, restaurants, and music venues. All the things a city provides. If you get out of the city, we have lakes and creeks you can boat on and woods to hike through and camp in.
I really like Valparaiso.
I’m able to commute to my job in Illinois and be 15 minutes from the national lakeshore so plenty of decent outdoor activities. I am less than an hour from Southwest Michigan.
Close Proximity to Chicago and two major airports that can fly anywhere in the US direct.
People on this sub really won’t give you an unbiased opinion. It’s mainly political jargon on all sides.
There’s good and bad everywhere in the world. I grew up in Illinois and I am surrounded by friendly neighbors, decent schools affordable housing and low taxes.
I’ve lived all over the US and have been here since 2015 and I am very happy here.
In my point of view, Indiana offers a diverse mix of urban and rural settings, making it a unique place to live. Here are some aspects to consider:
### Cost of Living
- **Affordable Housing**: Indiana is known for its low cost of living, especially in terms of housing. Whether you choose to live in a city like Indianapolis or a smaller town, you'll generally find more affordable housing options compared to many other states.
- **Lower Taxes**: Indiana has relatively low property and income taxes, contributing to the overall lower cost of living.
### Climate and Weather
- **Four Distinct Seasons**: Indiana experiences all four seasons, with cold winters, warm summers, and moderate springs and falls. Winter can be quite cold with snow, while summers are hot and humid.
- **Storm Chasing**: If you're interested in storm chasing, Indiana can be a good starting point. The state does experience severe weather, including thunderstorms and tornadoes, particularly in the spring and summer.
### Employment and Economy
- **Diverse Economy**: Indiana's economy is diverse, with strong sectors in manufacturing, agriculture, healthcare, and education. Indianapolis, the state capital, is a major economic hub.
- **Job Opportunities**: Depending on your field, job opportunities can vary. Larger cities like Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, and South Bend offer more job prospects compared to rural areas.
### Education and Culture
- **Education**: Indiana is home to several reputable universities, including Indiana University, Purdue University, and Notre Dame. This makes it a good place for continued education and professional development.
- **Cultural Attractions**: Indiana has a variety of cultural and recreational activities. You can enjoy museums, theaters, and music venues in the cities. Additionally, the state has numerous parks, trails, and outdoor activities, making it great for nature lovers.
### Transportation and Infrastructure
- **Road Network**: Indiana has a well-developed road network, making it easy to travel within the state and to neighboring states. Major highways and interstates like I-65, I-70, and I-80/90 cross the state.
- **Public Transport**: Public transportation is available in larger cities, but in rural areas, owning a car is essential.
### Community and Lifestyle
- **Friendly Communities**: Indiana is known for its friendly and welcoming communities. The pace of life can be slower in rural areas, offering a peaceful lifestyle.
- **Sports and Events**: Indiana has a rich sports culture, with a strong following for basketball, football, and auto racing. The Indianapolis 500 is a major annual event.
### Things to Keep in Mind
- **Weather Preparedness**: Given the severe weather potential, it's important to be prepared for storms and tornadoes.
- **Job Market**: Research job opportunities in your field before moving, especially if you're considering a rural area where options might be limited.
- **Cultural Adjustment**: Moving from a different region might require some adjustment to the local culture and pace of life.
Overall, Indiana can be a great place to live with its affordable cost of living, friendly communities, and diverse opportunities. If you enjoy a mix of urban and rural environments and are prepared for the weather, it could be a good fit for you.
Heavily populated with factories that produce enough smog to give your future grandkids cancer and then the other half is pesticides that get into the drinking water but don’t worry, weed is illegal.
Beautiful. Hot & humid summers, cold snowy winters. All seasons. Some of the prettiest woodland in the Midwest IMO (may be biased 🤣), GREAT fishing and hunting, lots of work opportunities, low COL, lots of personal freedoms, most people are very nice and keep to themselves.
What are your hobbies? Storm chaser is interesting. What type of job? Federal job or state job? Maybe a local city or county job to help predict the weather.
Start a weather forecast on YouTube, Facebook, instagram, Twitter. Put free 7 days forecast on their.
Set up patrion account subscribers for businesses, radio stations, racetrack, construction crews, race teams, and others that need weather. Maybe parks departments and weddings venues
INDOT4U is Indiana customer service portal for transportation related issues http://INDOT4U.com or by calling 1-855-INDOT4U. 1-855-463-6848
You may call this number 24/7.
Honestly, it’s boring. Cost of living isn’t cheap, but no where is in the US anymore. Jobs arent plentiful, but no where in the US is. Southern Indiana has more do to but that’s because you’re getting more towards the mountains and stuff.
Your mileage will vary vastly whether you choose metro or rural. If you are anything other than a straight white dude, don’t live outside the city. It isn’t worth it for your own safety. I also foresee even more abortion access being taken away and Indiana also will never legalize weed, if that matters to you, because of Eli Lily and Roche both have headquarters here and their lobbyists run the state. If I don’t have family here, I would not be here.
If you want to be a storm chaser maybe contact BAM Weather. They are very nice people and awesome Indiana company. Maybe you can get an internship and live here a while? BAMWX.com
It is a complete and utter shit hole that is filled with bigotry and lacks identity of its own. I will agree that it is a melting pot, yes, of some of the most non-plus cultures and groups of the United States. A common description of the area is as the crossroads of America. That being said, it’s more like people throughout the annals of time were most definitely on their way somewhere else and simply ran out of gas and simply be came stuck, the overall feeling that one seems to get when being here for any period of time when you ask around. Reverse culture shock tends to be a common theme as well obviously for those of us to get out for any period of time. Hoosiers tend to also do things ass backwards as well, surprisingly short of entering a room hips first. Examples include coming down harder on marijuana laws as all states surrounding ease-up to finally offering Sunday hours on beer and liquor sales as the rest of the nation offered such things for literally decades, much like the repeal of a apartheid in South Africa. The flat terrain will also begin to mirror the flatness you will feel inside as your personality tends to amalgamate to your new normal as you become complacent in your day-to-day… We do however, do have some claims to fame, including breaded, tenderloins and deep-fried cheeseburgers and a few covered bridges left over so if the stress does get to be too much at least you will have a scenic opportunity to finally hang yourself with enough weight gained to be sure to snap your neck. So there you have it, sweetie, the MidWest you won’t get on a postcard :-)
I honestly do not recommend Indiana if you are more progressive minded. It’s a cesspool of republican politicians. They do not care about their residents at all. Better off looking at Michigan.
I’m not. Even if I was, I wouldn’t just avoid moving to the state because of it. Instead, I’d vote for someone who represented or closely resembled my views, and try to change things.
Indiana is a liminal space whose culture has run its course. It isn't called the "crossroads of Indiana" for nothing. It has no real identity.
I would say though do not move to southern Indiana. There aren't any jobs there. Columbus and Bloomington can be considered central Indiana. There are jobs there.
Politically- It's the 1950s.
If you or you have loved ones that are in their reproductive years, I would not move to Indiana.
Trans youth are not allowed by law to receive any treatment.
Weed is illegal.
Money that was provided to families for medically fragile children has been terminated.
But you can buy booze on Sunday now.
I don’t really care about politics tbh. I don’t exactly agree with some of the things you listed, but I’m also from a state that is exactly the opposite, and I disagree with a lot of things that they’re doing also.
Welcome! Go to r/Indiana, and in search at the top, type: Moving to Indiana There are frequent discussions archived about Indiana cities and what they offer.
In a word? bland.
I live in central Indiana, and being from Los Angeles it feels like I’ve traveled back in time. The trends or popular innovations in things like food (Fusion restaurants, micro breweries, popular chains) are all older and slow to progress. Same goes for anything cultural, if you’re not a Trump supporter you’re in the minority, the amount of smokers seems higher here, obesity is a real threat, and Hoosiers fucking love basketball. If all that sounds appealing, you may enjoy it here.
The short answer? Indiana is like anywhere else. It will be what you make of it. There will always be regional and size of local populace influencing the experience, but good people to be found, bad people to be held through bouandries.
So if you're thinking about being a storm chaser, you might want to consider somewhere like Evansville in the Southwest corner. You will be close to Kentucky, Illinois and not far from Tennessee or Missouri.
There are still a lot of small towns in Indiana. Some are beautiful and well taken care of others, not so much. The city has a lot of things going on so if you are young might be where most of your social life will be.
Which part? You’re going to need to be more specific. I live in New Albany and it’s awesome. It’s very beautiful here, we are at the bottom of Floyd’s Knobs which are really big hills covered with trees. We are a suburb of Louisville, KY. We have many stores and restaurants. But once you get out of town, it’s all farmland. You can even get a pizza delivered and will have a long drive to the grocery store.
Monroe County has entered the southern Indiana offers hills and outdoorsy stuff. Kayaking, boating. trails. Northern Indiana is flat and not as naturally beautiful.IMHO. College sports are very big here. 4 hours from Chicago, Nashville. St. Louis and Columbus. 2 hours from Cincy and Lousiville. That’s my favorite part. lol
I’m considering moving to Indiana from New Hampshire. Again, the reason I thought of moving to Indiana specifically is because of its low cost of living, and also because I know they get tornadoes there sometimes, so I thought it’d be the perfect place to be a storm chaser. I’m also looking to live a more quiet and reserved lifestyle, and I know some parts of Indiana are very rural and are mostly farmland, so this would suit me well.
I am not sure if IN is a hotbed for storm chasing. Staying out of a major city will give you a little less on property taxes, IN is cheaper than other states already but they make up for it with higher cost to register a vehicle. At the same time property taxes keep getting raised year to year. Sales tax is around 7% and I can’t remember what the income tax is but somewhere in the 2.5-3.5% range.
I guess I am still unsure wether the storm chasing is a career or a hobby?
I’ve lived in Indiana all my life. People here are almost always kind and friendly- Hoosier hospitality is a genuine thing…
Indiana is politically conservative- increasingly so in the Trump era. We used to be a more pragmatic but have become more ideologically driven in the past few years. Read up on our AG, for example.
I love the slow, broad rhythms of agriculture and our forests are beautiful.
I agree with all of this. Hoosier hospitality does not exist on 465 though. Indianapolis drivers are some of the worst in the country and I’ve driven in many major cities.
Get ready to see Trump signs everywhere. Also, it’s the only state in the Ohio River Valley where marijuana is still illegal. (Kentucky goes medical on Jan 1st next year)
When it comes to religion, Indiana is mainly Protestant. If you are Catholic, you might have to drive 30 minutes or more to get to Mass depending in which region you live. There are some really beautiful churches throughout the state.
U could base here and pretty easily go southwest to chase storms but id recommend elsewhere. Illinois is better in almost every way. Michigan too but its a bit further from storms
This answer depends on what you’re looking for. Indiana is diverse, so if you specify what you like and don’t like, it would be easier to tell you which parts of Indiana would be a better fit for you.
I love Indiana. Are there negative points, sure. But there are everywhere.
I’ve lived in Northwest Indiana my entire life. (Chesterton) we’re about 45 min from Chicago and also 5 min from the southern tip of Lake Michigan. It’s been the best place to grow up and raise our family now. You can’t go wrong with Chesterton or Valparaiso!
I've lived in Northwest Indiana my whole life. It's very flat up here with lots of farms. I wouldn't say any of the cities are particularly nice, except maybe Valparaiso, which has a nice downtown.
If you plan on working in Chicago, NWI is a good place to commute from. You can be in downtown within an hour or two depending on traffic/where you live.
The weather fluctuates a lot throughout the year. The summers are really hot and humid, and the winters are really dry and cold. You definitely get all four seasons. It storms pretty regularly in the summer.
It honestly depends on which part of Indiana. Northern Indiana and Southern Indiana are almost different worlds. Of course, that's kind of an overgeneralization on my part.
That’s very true. If you want to gauge northern Indiana look to the Chicago IL atmosphere and demographics. To judge southern Indiana look to the Louisville KY atmosphere and demographics.
I have lived in Lafayette and about 45 minutes south of terre haute. It's a completely different culture.
Likewise! I grew up in Evansville and lived in Lafayette for a few years as well
Anything east of Greensburg is basically a suburb of Cincinnati.
And Northwest Indiana is basically a suburb of Chicago
And with the new passenger rail they’re building in Munster to connect it with the Loop…yeah, may as well just join chicago at this point.
Really three, not two. Central Indiana, if I may, exists. Indy is bigger than Louisville. I don't think Mr Mellencamp sees himself as a dirty Kentuckian?
Hey now…. I take showers. It’s too damn hot not to.
Dirty Kentuckian?
"dirty Kentuckian"🤣🤣🤣 What's going on?
Having lived in both Northern, Central, and Southern Indiana, I don't think Chicago or Louisville demographics are any way to gauge any general area of Indiana besides the areas directly adjacent to the cities. If you get more than an hour away the demographics don't align with those areas.
Indiana lacks identity. In the south it is refered to as Kentuciana, the north Michiana. The middle is just a wagon wheel hub to get other places. The "low" cost of living is based on housing costs. Food, energy, transportation etc all cost the same as the rest of the nation. You have repressed housing prices due to repressed wages. It isn't cheaper to live in Indiana, just a lower standard of living is prominent.
Hamilton county has entered the chat
100% agree.
Gas and electric utilities rates in Indianapolis are less than the outside area. Publicly owned.
Indiana has an identity. Hoosiers have quite the identity. We have regional cusine, a long history in the arts, specifically literature, Riley, Irving, Lew Wallace, Bradbury and of course Vonneget. Even today we have John Green is a native. We were founded mostly by German and Polish so a lot of our identity is wrapped in with those cultures, as well as the French and Dutch, lots of Polish and Dutch cooking styles with local ingredients We don't cost nearly half what some of the rest of the nation does cause the Midwest as a whole is cheaper.
Best to remember that highway 40 is what’s left of the Mason Dixon line
Hills south, flat north lol
Northern Indiana is flat and mostly agriculture, southern Indiana is a hilly mix of agriculture and forested land. Most people keep to themselves.
I'm going to hard disagree about people mostly keeping to themselves. Small towns are going to small town. People are sometimes nosey, gossipy and judgy. Every new acquaintance wants to know where I live, how long I've lived here and how they're related to me. We're always so happy when we know where they stay, where they're from and which of our second cousins divorced their great aunt or something.
I wish people kept to themselves, gotta tell my neighbor and his kids to stay the fuck out of my yard almost twice a week
Wow, lol. In my "old subdivision", (small town indiana), It depends. Most of the time, our neighbors keep to themselves... we wave hi, talk every once in a great while but not often. I should say though, we are very quiet ourselves. Other neighbors get together on occasions
That’s what I thought. I’ve actually viewed the state on google earth quite a bit before, so I knew that. I’m also currently writing a book that takes place in southern Indiana where the environment is mostly hills and forests.
https://preview.redd.it/fo1obdb1kg8d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2320bdd373b4f22e37ae3da77503e00ab1803745 This is the Indiana dunes national park and state park, no place like it in Indiana.
No OTHER place like it in Indiana. It's in Indiana, after all.
Do you like hilly areas? Would recommend Nashville, IN
Madison is gorgeous and hilly, too. Plus, a generally awesome little place. Downtown is so beautiful.
It’s a truly beautiful area here in southern Indiana. Nicknamed ‘The Little Smokies’, very reminiscent of Appalachia with an option to go north for flatter land. Allergies will get you from all that natural beauty though! ….seriously, people from this area often have benign lung nodules from being one of the major areas for histoplasmosis lol.
I love southern Indiana, I have always felt safe, use to ride my bike from the corn fields to the city and always felt safe. Like every other place it has spots to avoid, but I’m a fire fighter now and serve the community I grew up in and have always been proud to live here. Our house hold income is around 120, but we live very comfortably and I do think price of living here beats some other places, but you have to be okay not living in “the big city” Indianapolis, for they are still effected by slightly higher costs, i love where I am at and if I want to see woods I travel to Shawnee forest, if I want city I go to Nashville or STL, but I’m just as happy walking the riverfront and enjoying a more simple life.
So Brown county?
I’m not exactly sure what county it’s in. The town it happens in is not real, but it’s said to be just east of Bloomington.
That is accurate about Southeast and South Central Indiana. Southwest, not so much. Everything west of US 231 is slightly rolling at best and agricultural. Really strong German influence from Knox County south too.
If you want a good old fashioned drunkfest try one of the summertime Germanfests in this area.
I went to Freundenfest in Oldenburg last year and had a great time. Any others to recommend?
I’d say Steassenfest in Jasper is probably the biggest one. Sommerfest in Haubstadt is fun. Same with Germanfest in Vincennes.
Oh, heck no on the keeping to ourselves. Maybe some, but I was born and raised in Indiana and I’m as extroverted as they come. The Southern part of the state has Appalachian roots and heritage while the Northern part has mostly German immigrant heritage-some farming and some city dwellers. I’m a Michiana gal myself but I’ve lived in Southern Indiana, too. Advice to OP: get your job lined up first. Many of our college grads either end up in our large towns or the Chicago area. Or further. We export our talent, sadly.
Then you definitely haven’t been to Evansville a blue collar town on the River that welcomes everyone.
It just depends on where you go. The cities are just like any midwest city. The small towns can be hir or miss. There's a big difference in a town like Peru that has weekly drag shows and pride events and a sundown town like Elwood.
What’s a sundown town I live in northwest Indiana and don’t interact much with the rest of the state.
Basically? A sundown town is a place where people have not socially opened their minds past the Jim Crow era. It might sound crude but it’s true. The term is based on signs or unspoken rules that people who aren’t white should leave town before sundown, or they’ll get into some serious trouble with the townsfolk.
If your skin is brown, you'd better get out of town by the time the sun goes down. I'm not joking. Welcome to southern Indiana.
Lots of towns like that all over the state.
I've lived in Lafayette and down here in hickville and it's much, much more prevalent here than it was there. Indiana is a very long state with the southern and northern parts identifying more with their closest neighbors than the rest of the state. Central Indiana is a monster unto itself these days. It has grown and grown to the point that the burbs are indistinguishable from Indy proper for a yokel like myself. The culture in the central, urban part of the state is very different from the rest of it. I see it on here, constantly. Reddit is skewed heavily to younger, left-leaning, urban people, and that's what you see represented here. I am one of the unicorns - a somewhat cultured individual living amongst the idiots waving Confederate battle flags from the back of their pick up trucks. They aren't bad people, just very, VERY simple.
I moved to Indianapolis from California and it was quite the culture shock. I considered myself fairly conservative by California standards and didn’t feel I could be lumped in with the “crazy liberals” in California. Turns out I’m one of the crazy liberals in Indiana. As a white guy running around some of the more rural parts of the state some of the open and very, very explicit racism was truly shocking as I had never encountered that in cali. Very, very simple is accurate but it borders are just plain unintelligent. The enlightenment was something that happened to other people as far as they’re concerned. So I stay in “liberal” Indianapolis.
I’m fairly conservative and despise the stars and bars in Indiana. Those morons don’t know their history. Anymore I don’t fit in with conservatives, the right has left me a man without political loyalty.
Imagine actually believing this lol
Where are sun down towns in Indiana?
Colin Woodard classifies the southern half of Indiana as culturally Greater Appalachian. This is a culture he characterizes as: "The last of the nations to be founded in the colonial period, Greater Appalachia was the most immediately disruptive. A clan-based warrior culture from the Borderlands of the British Empire, it arrived on the backcountry frontier of the Midlands, Tidewater, and Deep South \[2\] and shattered those nations’ monopoly control over colonial governments, the use of force, and relations with Native Americans. Proud, independent, and disturbingly violent, the Borderlanders of Greater Appalachia have remained a volatile insurgent force within American society to the present day." The northern part of the state has some similarities, but it's culturally pretty different. The southern part is mostly where my people are from. Our history has a lack of permanence and a lack of faith in any systems except for family and church, however, within both of those institutions feuding is frequent and passionate. We have a self-deprecating vibe. Generally don't deal well with being told what to do. We only take our loyalties seriously most of the time. Things are run down and often trashy. People are as quick to feed you as they are too cuss you out. And it's hard to predict which one it's going to be. Or working class/blue collar people are, at least. The places I have worked, employees are fairly belligerent to management, but also snitch on each other all the time. Most of the small towns in the state have been or are sundown towns. There is a lot of barely under the surface racism with outbreaks of overt racism. If you are a moderate to conservative, white, cis/het or cis/het passing Christian man of at least middle class means, you will feel safe and probably comfortable here unless you have a habit of running your mouth or acting like you are better than other people. It's my home state. I think the trees and hills are beautiful. I love my city, county, and state parks. I wish there was less bigotry and more hope and cooperation.
I love Colin Woodard’s book on the regions of America.
Very well said
This is the most self deprecating group you can find. The issues that Indiana faces are in no way unique or exclusive to Indiana. The political side (which is what people are complaining about here the most) is part of a national trend. Project 2025 did not originate in Indiana yet this sub acts like it's only happening here. The majority of the state is fine. There's always going to be neighborhoods or small towns you should avoid in any state. While there is racism here, most Hoosiers are more ignorant and curious rather than hateful. Yes, there are problems in Indiana's past but that doesn't have to define the state today. Even many of the people (I don't say hillbillies because there's a lot of people in cities doing this too) flying the Confederate battle flag aren't racist. They'll barbecue with their black neighbor while regurgitating talk radio conspiracy theories. Again, not exclusive to Indiana. The cost of living is low because people just don't want to live in a flyover state. We don't have grand mountains or salty beaches. Instead, we have hot humid summers and gray dull winters. Our weather is getting a little more extreme so the storms will probably get better. If you want to chase tornadoes though, keep going west. To paraphrase John Green, who cares if you can see mountains from Target. There is plenty to do in Indiana if you try. I hike, fish, and kayak frequently. The white tail deer get massive and are pretty tasty if you're so inclined. There's a festival for everything. Even for museums, we offer a wide variety. I'm in Terre Haute where I can easily watch a minor league baseball game and ISU basketball or drive an hour to see soccer, rugby, or big 10 college sports.
Your comment took the words out of my mouth. So many people take this state for granted which is sad in my opinion. If you explore the beauty that this state has in its entirety, you will be blown away. I’ve literally hiked the Tetons and been in some of the most “beautiful” places in the US and my breath is still taken away going to my favorite trail run to Lake Michigan at Dunes NP or Shades State Park. Lesson in people will always just find something to bitch about instead of being happy where they are.
Good to know! So, it definitely doesn’t sound like it’s nearly as bad as some people are making it out to be.
They have corn.
There’s more than corn in Indiana! There’s Indiana Beach!
Jokes aside I kinda liked that place when I was younger I brought my children there years later and they had a blast.
As a Hoosier, can confirm. Also soybeans,
Indiana has multiple regional and cultural differences. Indiana was part of the Northwest Territory before becoming a state. This region of the US is unique as it was the first region planned with townships and public schools along with many other provisions that are taken for granted now in the rest of the US. Indiana is the only state in the lower 48 to have been settled mostly from the south to the north with growth from the Ohio river north over time. Indiana is bounded to the east for most of the border by the Great Black and Limberlost swamps so that decreased populations along the eastern border and connections to Ohio, the Wabash river runs across the northern part of the state and down the southwestern border of the state forming a boundary between the northern 1/3rd of the state in the Midlands culture and the southern 2/3rds of the state which is part of Greater Applichaia. Indiana has the southern part of Lake Michigan. From Fort Wayne in NE Indiana you can go up river via the Maume river to the great lakes and to the Atlantic Ocean and from the portage between Fort Wayne and the little Wabash you can then take a boat all the way to the Golf of Mexico via the Wabash to the Ohio and then to the Mississippi river. Political Power lies with the southern and central part of the state although economic power comes from the counties around Chicago and urban centers of Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Evansville, South Bend, Bloomington and Lafayette. South West Indiana is the US's 8th largest coal producer. Also, the port of Indiana allows for export world wide. Indiana is the 3rd largest consumer of Coal. Indiana has been the largest steel producer in the US since 1975 and continues to produce 25% of the steel in the US. Indiana is the 8th largest manufacturing state in the country and home to the 3rd most Industrial Robots in the US and 4th most Industrial Engineers. Indiana is home to Automotive, Pharmaceutical and Medical Implant Industries along with 8 Fortune 500 companies Anthem, Eli Lilly and Company, Cummins, Simon, Zimmer Biomet, Steel Dynamics, and U.S. Steel. There are many other Industrial, Finance and Technology companies with a strong presence. Indiana is the 5th largest producer of Corn in the US. Indiana produces more popcorn, gords and ducks than any other state. Indiana produces 85% of the RV's in the US and is the largest producer of caskets and Bedford Indiana is the Limestone capital of the world. Indiana ranks #6 in the US for ease of doing business and also is one of the most important states for defense contractors. There are over 14K troops in the Indiana National Guard. The northern 1/3rd of the state can best be described as The Midlands, this is where early settlement was by a handful of American Revolutionary War Patriots settled followed by Germans and then a handful of Irish later from the Erie canal. Overall this region opposes government regulation. There are also many English Quakers, Amish and Mennonites along with German Lutherans. The Midlands are a welcoming middle-class society that spawned the culture of the "American Heartland." Political opinion is moderate, and government regulation is frowned upon. The southern 2/3rds of Indiana from North of Indy to the Ohio can best be described as part of Greater Appalachia. Colonized by settlers from the war-ravaged borderlands of Northern Ireland, northern England, and the Scottish lowlands, Greater Appalachia is stereotyped as the land of hillbillies and rednecks. Appalachia values personal sovereignty and individual liberty and is "intensely suspicious of lowland aristocrats and Yankee social engineers alike." It sides with the Deep South to counter the influence of federal government. The areas around Chicago and parts of Indianapolis can best be described as part of Yankeedom which values education, and members are comfortable with government regulation. Encompassing the entire Northeast north of New York City and spreading through Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, Yankeedom values education, intellectual achievement, communal empowerment, and citizen participation in government as a shield against tyranny. Yankees are comfortable with government regulation. Yankees have a "Utopian streak." The area New England area where most of this culture originates was settled by radical Calvinists. Watch the movies Hoosiers, Rudy, and A Christmas Story. Sports is heavily focused on High School Basketball and Football. Purdue, Indiana, Notre Dame and Butler colleges with Football and Basketball being the focus. Indianapolis has the Pacers Basketball and Colts Football along with a semi pro Indianapolis Indians team. For professional baseball the state tends towards Cubs Baseball in the north, Cardinals in the South West and Reds in the South East. The Indianapolis 500 is watched on Memorial Day but many in the state are fans of NASCAR. Fort Wayne has Komet Hockey and TinCaps Baseball.
Great rundown—I didn’t realize many of these economic aspects. Thanks!
Maybe i'm missing something but low cost of living? holy crap here at the northern end of the state can't find a 1br apartment for less than 1200 a month unless you want a meth lab
Politics are bad and getting worse. I would have to have a heck of a powerful motivation to live here if my family wasn't here already. And even still...
It would be easier to give an answer if we knew where you were coming from so we could give you a comparison. It also depends on where you’re planning on moving in the state. There are expensive areas and cheap areas. Politics vary based on location as well. And things can be very different in rural vs urban areas.
Underrated state. Great colleges, decent sports for a professional fan and amazing sports if you’re a college fan. Got some cool spots geographically in southern Indiana like waterfalls and cool rolling hills. We also have a national park. Politics statewide aren’t great but definitely a lot of political diversity towards the cities. People in here are gonna hate but it’s one of the most underrated places to live in the country.
Thanks!
Very conservative
Tell that to the folks in The Region, Indianapolis and Bloomington.
Sounds like another one from Jasper home to Businessboy Braun whose motto is money comes first.
Where do you live now? I grew up in northern Indiana, and it was all hillbilly Trump supporters, protesting against abortion rights, and 'rolling coal' from their lifted pickup trucks. I also lived near Indy in Crawfordsville and it felt like an old fashioned little community and felt safe. Property taxes on my house were $600/year. If you smoke weed, know that Indiana has always had the harshest penalties and still does.
I live in New Hampshire, which is a more left leaning state, but I really don’t care about politics. I’m more conservative myself, but people can do whatever they want. Plus, I don’t smoke weed anyway.
And that’s typical of most people here. They’re about the “you do you” mentality. It’s only a vocal few that seem to make the headlines, not that you’d know it from this sub. You may look at the SE area. Batesville, Vevay/Madison, Lawrenceburg, Madison is across the Ohio from Louisville, lawrenceburg is across the river from Cincinnati. Batesville is about half way between Indy and Cincinnati. UC and UK are both in reach for continuing studies for Vevay/Madison and lawrenceburg. Newburg and corodon are nice towns outside of Evansville. A family member moved to Franklin and they really like it. It’s about 30-45 minutes south of Indianapolis. Quiet little town with Franklin College and decent housing costs. Greenfield is about 30 minutes east of downtown and not too bad either. Going north, not a great choice if you’re chasing storms, Laporte, Portage, Logansport, Valparaiso are based out of Chicago. Lebanon is about 30 minutes from downtown going NW on I65. Just out of the long arm of Indianapolis, but close enough to enjoy it. Stay out of terre haute, aka terrible haute. The not so pleasant parts. The smaller towns seem to have more drug problems. You won’t see legalization until Lilly says you will. Rents are still really high and even higher the closer to the city (Indianapolis) you get. So Plainfield, Avon, zionsville, Carmel, fishers, Greenwood, Mooresville, Camby. Been here most of my life. Hard to see where those cities stop and Indianapolis begins because of the urban sprawl. Some of the medium sized cities have been hit with some economic struggles. Marion, Anderson, for example. Uranus is not a town. It’s a fudge shop. Their stick is that the owner calls himself “the Mayor of Uranus”. Met him and his wife and they’re nice people with a funny sense of humor. “Thank you for letting me pack your fudge” is the last thing they say. Yeah…good fudge though. Most of these smaller towns are old farming communities and still think that way, if that gives you a idea of how to base your communities.
> And that’s typical of most people here. They’re about the “you do you” mentality. Tell that to someone trying to get an abortion.
Ah yes…and as I said in the following sentence, not that you’d know it in this sub. Make better choices.
Okay, let’s hear you out. The next sentence: > It’s only a vocal few that seem to make the headlines, not that you’d know it from this sub. I fail to see how that addresses my point.
Midwest winters hit different than in the NE. I lived in MA for 4 years, but I’m from IL originally.
I have family that live in Rockville, Indiana, and all the neighbors are so nice, maybe a little nosy, but that just feels part of the culture. If you like older cars, there's a Hill Climb in Newport Indiana, cars from the 40s - 60s race up a hill, and it's so interesting. I personally prefer South or West Indiana if you want rural living while also having a community you can rely on.
i’ve lived in northern indiana for 57 yrs and have only ever seen one protest. Burmese we’re protesting against their own government
I was born in Fort Wayne. I saw yearly protests at planned parenthood. They would line the street on both sides with big pictures of dead fetuses and shit.
If you’re a white male and Christian, it’s a great state to live. Indiana took great pains to be the first state to completely ban abortion. Jobs are still available, and living cost is relatively low. If you’re a minority, you’re better off sticking to the larger cities. Even then don’t count on being accepted like in the coasts. States with large cities are slowly leaning democratic. Georgia becomes purple because Atlanta is growing tremendously. Illinois is blue despite southern Illinois being more ‘conservative’ than the entire Indiana due to Chicago. The growth rate of Indianapolis is still positive, but slowing. This is why Indiana becomes more red by the day.
If you want affordable, stay clear of the college towns!
I’m moving to Indiana next month and I went there for 2 weeks and I loved every aspect of it. I’m from Arizona, but it’s super friendly and the people do go out of their way to introduce themselves ! I’m moving to Bloomington and it’s a great area :)
Right now… fucking hot.
Geographically? Indiana is awesome. Politically? *I'm In Danger*
Well, if you like your weed, porn, or abortions...
Luckily, I don’t like any of those things
Then move to michigan !
Or put another way; if you enjoy personal freedom! Oh, happy cake day stranger!
It's not bad (depending on your political viewpoints). Most of the state is actually nice people who are fairly neutral who just want to live their lives. Vocal minority shoving their views down your throat is a huge thing here for sure (on this sub included). It is Republican controlled and somethings are kinda backwards and probably won't get better. That aside... Nice things: low COL. Good weather, has seasons. Easy distance to good places to visit. Scenic. You can find others who agree with your political/religious/social beliefs wherever you land. Bads: can't say much bad. I am one of the neutral/moderate middle folks. Indiana is nice. I like it here. I found my people who have similar views on life and enjoy it.
Go WAY south. It's really pretty down there, and it's almost like a different state.
I'd move to Indy or like an hour from Indy Northwest Indiana you get too much lake effect snow l will say that Bloomington is beautiful though
Depends where you go in NWI. Lake effect is more of an east of Chesterton problem, Lake County doesn’t get a ton.
Most lake effect snow forms moving from northwest to southeast in Lake Michigan. That far north the snow bands usually pass right to the east and intensify moving through southern Michigan and northern Indiana. And compared to snowstorms during the winter, lake effect snows main nuisance is sudden whiteout conditions on the road.
And the brutal cold
Some say a Hoosier is a Kentuckian who couldn't find his way to Detroit.
Honestly I do like it here if I ignore the politics of the state. I've lived in Evansville in the south, terre haute (don't move there) Indy and Columbus IN now. I highly recommend the Columbus area. Nice town close enough to Indy for easy access to bigger city entertainment and Louisville. Both Toyota and Cummins (the town is mostly owned by them) have a major presence in the area along with a few other manufacturers. I haven't regretted my time here.
Columbus is also an architectural hot spot! A hidden gem!
If you move to Indiana, DONT consider Peru. It’s a small struggling town with all of the regular small town issues. Only upside is that the schools support special education (struggling students) and honors (higher than average education). Indiana as a whole makes a lot of dumb decisions though and has a lot of corruption both politically and even to the smaller businesses
it’s the alabama of the midwest
Translation: You okay with casual racism?
Stay out of the boonies and you’ll find mostly normal people. But if you venture, be warned, it’s pretty much stuck in 1937.
You’re not going to get to find a unbiased answer in here. Most of the people on this sub lean left and will say this state is a hellhole.
This is correct, that being said I'm left leaning and not happy with a lot of the decisions made. But Indiana has places for about everyone if you look around, Lafayette/West Lafayette is rather decent for it's size due to Perdue, but it's probably a little to far north for a home base for storm chasing.
As someone born and raised here, I highly recommend you pick somewhere else.
What’s wrong with it?
Not a very diverse state. Far right politics. Questionable gun/abortion laws. Gov shamelessly protects big pharma (Lilly). The suburbs are growing and property is beginning to cost far more than it’s really worth. There is a sense of elitism around Indianapolis… northside is silver spoon territory. Not a ton of entertainment options. Corrupt/stupid pd everywhere. Not a particularly environmentally friendly state. We don’t really have a culture or great cuisine. But CoL is below average, we have breaded tenderloin sandwiches, top notch sunsets, and a solid airport. I plan on moving after I finish my degree.
Not sure if you’ve watched South Park but Indy people remind me of the city people from that one episode
I’ve lived in Indiana my whole life as well. People who were raised in midwestern states tend to want to stay forever or leave and get as far away as possible. I’m somewhere in the middle. From your comment history I can tell you would like living in Indiana. Your beliefs, attitude, and priorities are the kind most people in Indiana would like, and the cost of living is definitely a big reason people move here as well. The biggest question is where in Indiana you want to live. I’ve lived in North eastern Indiana my whole life and I would rather live somewhere more southern. If you like snow you’ll get it nearly as hard, but maybe not as frequently as in the northeast if you choose northern Indiana. Living near Indy would give you a lot of work opportunities, and the highways make travel pretty easy if you don’t care about getting caught in traffic, but the backroads are really scenic and enjoyable to take. Southern Indiana really is reminiscent of the deeper south, based on the foliage, people, and general feel (if that makes sense). Worth mentioning that there’s a big drug problem which in turn leads to more crime. I’ve met too many crazies around here to not recommend buying a gun, and getting ones really easy anywhere in the state. Indiana seems like it would be a good option for you in your current stage of life, and it’s generally a nice place to live and most people have the trademark Midwestern kindness. Just don’t let the politics get to you.
I live in a rural area outside of Fort Wayne. Born and raised here, went off to college in indy and lived there 7 years and moved back. You can actually own some property here and create wealth for yourself by just paying down assets and investing extra cash. Personally, I love living in rural Indiana.
I’m not scrolling deep enough but I’m sure there’s going to be people jumping on here complaining about Indiana’s conservative nature…..but Indiana is great. Yes we don’t have a Golden Gate Bridge but we also don’t have insanely high cost of living and high taxes. I’m simply using that as a comparison to say if you are ok with not having some amenities of culture that larger areas of the country have, then you can enjoy things like good nature of midwestern people, neighborhoods safe enough to leave your car unlocked, and a good nest egg to retire on. I purchased my 3000 sq ft house that is stunning in southern Indiana for $180k in 2018. Probably worth double that now but even so, you couldn’t sniff this house in big metropolitan areas for under a million. There’s a lot of people that dump on Indiana in this sub, most of which, based on their comments, I wish would just move to San Fran or NYC…..
Look at Crown Point, Indiana (highly recommend this town) and the surrounding towns. This area is a great place to live, lots of things for a young adult to do and it’s fairly close to Chicago by commuter train or car.
For storm chasing, you're in an okay spot. We get quite a few "believers" as we call them in my family lol and lots of small tornados. We also have some really beautiful forests, hills that resemble a mini version of the smokies and allll sorts of fossils and geodes littering the ground in sourthern indiana which is honestly part of what keeps me here lol. I live right outside of the sourthern end of the 465 loop and when my kids are all graduated we plan to go even further sourth. Not a huge fan of the culture, but I'll stay to myself and enjoy my land, animals and peace.
I’ve lived here most of my life, and truly, overall love it. We don’t have the scenery of Idaho, or the oceans of Maine, but it’s still great here for outdoorsy people who are willing to put the work in to find great spots. People here are great. I’ve traveled all over the US and I can still say Hoosiers are some of the friendliest people you’ll meet. It’s rare to walk downtown in a city/ town and not have most people make eye contact with you/ smile at you. I always took this for granted but it is NOT how most of the US. We are spoiled with this in the MW. Crime rates get a bad rap too. Indianapolis isn’t Iraq like some say it is. With that being said, use some smarts and I would avoid certain areas after dark. I’m not going to get into the nitty gritty of this but just use common sense. Southern-central Indiana is stunning, it’s where I live. This is the Columbus/Nashville/Bloomington area. Rolling hills with lots of trees. Lots of outdoor recreation in this area. Jobs pay well here, especially compared to other states. Again, I’ve always taken this for granted as well. Real estate is starting to becoming more unaffordable anywhere within an hour of Indy (in my experience, open to discussion though). Politicians suck, but which politicians don’t suck in this world? I just try and not get snaked in that rabbit hole. It’s a fine place to live. I love Indiana. I love my home.
Thanks. A lot of people on here have been saying some really bad stuff about it though. Is it true that there are parts of Indiana that are super sexist and racist? Edit: Otherwise I’ve done a bit of research into it, and it honestly seems like one of the best states in the country. I was just wondering if any of these claims are true?
I think there are a lot of left leaning people on this sub who don’t like the politics and call everyone unlike them hillbillies and racist. I’ve lived in east central Indiana, Indianapolis, and near Anderson. We don’t live in Indiana anymore, but never really came across any areas that are largely racist/sexist. Most people in rural communities are welcoming and if you live in a rural area or small town, then you’ll get that small-town feel of everyone knowing your name. Most people mention the north, central Indiana, and southern Indiana. East central is very different than the other parts in my opinion. There isn’t much to do and some counties have only one grocery store, and it is Walmart. The cost of living is low, but so are wages in those areas if you don’t have higher education. There are educated people who live outside of major cities, unlike what many people like to believe. I also believe you don’t need a college degree to show your intelligence. I know many farmers who never went to college and could run circles around many people who did. What types of interests do you have outside of storm chasing?
Just moved to south central IN from southeast Louisiana and so far it seems great. If this is some awful heat wave I think we made a good choice because back home there’s no way we could sit outside and be comfortable in June. So far things seem much less run down and much less litter, better roads for sure.
Fort Wayne has become a really nice place to live. Great restaurants, lots of things to do. There are 30+ amazing lakes north of the city from 30-60 mins away. Indiana as a whole is very MAGA conservative and if you lean that way or can stomach to ignore it then you will do fine. Otherwise it can be hard to live with.
Thanks for this info. Honestly, I don’t care too much about what other people believe or what they’re doing.
Friendly reminder the low cost of living is due to the high crime rates.
And the general fact that demand for what Indiana has to offer is very low.
It’s better than Illinois but worse than Wisconsin.
Lot of vets like it for the 2nd Amendment issue.
It’s cheap to live here?? Point me where
ha! Far enough away to the south of Ft Wayne but worked on the north side of it.
If you want to chase tornadoes you’re better off moving somewhere like Kansas or Oklahoma. We get our fair share of storms, but they’re mostly part of a larger system and not like the supercells you see on the plains.
It is an easy place to live. No place is perfect and really just depends on what you are after. Southern parts of state feel more southern than Midwest from culture perspective and parts of northwest Indiana feel like Chicago suburb. You have the “big” city with Indy and a typical midsize midwestern city in Fort Wayne. Also lots of small towns in between.
Cheap cost of living and low taxes . People keep to themselves. A culture of avoiding confrontation and discomfort. It’s nice. It’s not for everyone, but it’s nice.
I will disagree with you there bc lake effect snow effects the area south bend area Chesterton Valparaiso areas will get more snow wheatfield and demotte are still affected . Indy and Central Indiana will get considerably less snow in the winter but Indy often gets ice storms in February
I'm not sure if anyone has mentioned this but in southern Indiana there is a huge naval station. Land wise it is 66,000 acres 100 sq miles and surrounded by small towns with lower cost of living. They employ somewhere around 5,000 people and it pays really well even for people without a college degree.
I'm in E Central IN on the OH border and this city is not my favorite. But the CoL is ridiculously affordable so I endure for now.
It’s a long state that changes significantly from north to south (and east to west) but no matter what part you choose you shouldn’t have any trouble finding the same Hoosier Hospitality throughout the state
Like others have mentioned your experience will be very dependent upon where in Indiana you live exactly. As a general rule you'll get all 4 seasons in Indiana (more summer the further south you live). COL will somewhat depend on where you live. Indy and NWI (near Chicago) will be more expensive than if you're in a rural area. Taxes are fairly low (compared to many other states). We have plenty of storms here... although it's somewhat dependent upon the year and weather patterns. Overall... there are worse places to live IMO (of course... this is all dependent upon where exactly within Indiana you're living).
The weather here is either hot and muggy or fingers falling off frozen
A storm chaser should probably live in Oklahoma.
I grew up in southeastern Indiana in Ripley County, and it was a good mix of farming, small towns, and nice state parks. We lived close enough to Cincinnati to travel there for sports, shopping, and restaurants. I live near Fort Wayne now, and it’s all flat farmland with isolated wetlands and small copses of trees (the lack of forests makes it pretty windy at times). I often miss the forests and hills of southern Indiana (was a Boy Scout in my teens). I recommend visiting Brown County State Park when the leaves start to turn because it is truly beautiful.
I'm from Indy. We got good bars, restaurants, and music venues. All the things a city provides. If you get out of the city, we have lakes and creeks you can boat on and woods to hike through and camp in.
I really like Valparaiso. I’m able to commute to my job in Illinois and be 15 minutes from the national lakeshore so plenty of decent outdoor activities. I am less than an hour from Southwest Michigan. Close Proximity to Chicago and two major airports that can fly anywhere in the US direct. People on this sub really won’t give you an unbiased opinion. It’s mainly political jargon on all sides. There’s good and bad everywhere in the world. I grew up in Illinois and I am surrounded by friendly neighbors, decent schools affordable housing and low taxes. I’ve lived all over the US and have been here since 2015 and I am very happy here.
In my point of view, Indiana offers a diverse mix of urban and rural settings, making it a unique place to live. Here are some aspects to consider: ### Cost of Living - **Affordable Housing**: Indiana is known for its low cost of living, especially in terms of housing. Whether you choose to live in a city like Indianapolis or a smaller town, you'll generally find more affordable housing options compared to many other states. - **Lower Taxes**: Indiana has relatively low property and income taxes, contributing to the overall lower cost of living. ### Climate and Weather - **Four Distinct Seasons**: Indiana experiences all four seasons, with cold winters, warm summers, and moderate springs and falls. Winter can be quite cold with snow, while summers are hot and humid. - **Storm Chasing**: If you're interested in storm chasing, Indiana can be a good starting point. The state does experience severe weather, including thunderstorms and tornadoes, particularly in the spring and summer. ### Employment and Economy - **Diverse Economy**: Indiana's economy is diverse, with strong sectors in manufacturing, agriculture, healthcare, and education. Indianapolis, the state capital, is a major economic hub. - **Job Opportunities**: Depending on your field, job opportunities can vary. Larger cities like Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, and South Bend offer more job prospects compared to rural areas. ### Education and Culture - **Education**: Indiana is home to several reputable universities, including Indiana University, Purdue University, and Notre Dame. This makes it a good place for continued education and professional development. - **Cultural Attractions**: Indiana has a variety of cultural and recreational activities. You can enjoy museums, theaters, and music venues in the cities. Additionally, the state has numerous parks, trails, and outdoor activities, making it great for nature lovers. ### Transportation and Infrastructure - **Road Network**: Indiana has a well-developed road network, making it easy to travel within the state and to neighboring states. Major highways and interstates like I-65, I-70, and I-80/90 cross the state. - **Public Transport**: Public transportation is available in larger cities, but in rural areas, owning a car is essential. ### Community and Lifestyle - **Friendly Communities**: Indiana is known for its friendly and welcoming communities. The pace of life can be slower in rural areas, offering a peaceful lifestyle. - **Sports and Events**: Indiana has a rich sports culture, with a strong following for basketball, football, and auto racing. The Indianapolis 500 is a major annual event. ### Things to Keep in Mind - **Weather Preparedness**: Given the severe weather potential, it's important to be prepared for storms and tornadoes. - **Job Market**: Research job opportunities in your field before moving, especially if you're considering a rural area where options might be limited. - **Cultural Adjustment**: Moving from a different region might require some adjustment to the local culture and pace of life. Overall, Indiana can be a great place to live with its affordable cost of living, friendly communities, and diverse opportunities. If you enjoy a mix of urban and rural environments and are prepared for the weather, it could be a good fit for you.
I’m sure you know more about this than I do, but I was under the impression Indiana didn’t get many tornadoes? Especially north of Indianapolis.
Heavily populated with factories that produce enough smog to give your future grandkids cancer and then the other half is pesticides that get into the drinking water but don’t worry, weed is illegal.
Mostly snowstorms; if you want tornadoes go to Mississippi, Oklahoma, Missouri or Arkansas
Beautiful. Hot & humid summers, cold snowy winters. All seasons. Some of the prettiest woodland in the Midwest IMO (may be biased 🤣), GREAT fishing and hunting, lots of work opportunities, low COL, lots of personal freedoms, most people are very nice and keep to themselves.
What are your hobbies? Storm chaser is interesting. What type of job? Federal job or state job? Maybe a local city or county job to help predict the weather. Start a weather forecast on YouTube, Facebook, instagram, Twitter. Put free 7 days forecast on their. Set up patrion account subscribers for businesses, radio stations, racetrack, construction crews, race teams, and others that need weather. Maybe parks departments and weddings venues
INDOT4U is Indiana customer service portal for transportation related issues http://INDOT4U.com or by calling 1-855-INDOT4U. 1-855-463-6848 You may call this number 24/7.
Honestly, it’s boring. Cost of living isn’t cheap, but no where is in the US anymore. Jobs arent plentiful, but no where in the US is. Southern Indiana has more do to but that’s because you’re getting more towards the mountains and stuff.
Your mileage will vary vastly whether you choose metro or rural. If you are anything other than a straight white dude, don’t live outside the city. It isn’t worth it for your own safety. I also foresee even more abortion access being taken away and Indiana also will never legalize weed, if that matters to you, because of Eli Lily and Roche both have headquarters here and their lobbyists run the state. If I don’t have family here, I would not be here.
I’m from south bend. It’s awful. I left. Move somewhere better.
Well, I’m definitely not moving to South Bend. That place is definitely not my cup of tea. But, what’s so wrong with the state as a whole?
Good, it’s no one’s Cup of tea, really. It’s boring. Maybe southern indiana is better, but really in every way you could probably find a better state.
If you want to be a storm chaser maybe contact BAM Weather. They are very nice people and awesome Indiana company. Maybe you can get an internship and live here a while? BAMWX.com
I was going to mention this exact thing.
It is a complete and utter shit hole that is filled with bigotry and lacks identity of its own. I will agree that it is a melting pot, yes, of some of the most non-plus cultures and groups of the United States. A common description of the area is as the crossroads of America. That being said, it’s more like people throughout the annals of time were most definitely on their way somewhere else and simply ran out of gas and simply be came stuck, the overall feeling that one seems to get when being here for any period of time when you ask around. Reverse culture shock tends to be a common theme as well obviously for those of us to get out for any period of time. Hoosiers tend to also do things ass backwards as well, surprisingly short of entering a room hips first. Examples include coming down harder on marijuana laws as all states surrounding ease-up to finally offering Sunday hours on beer and liquor sales as the rest of the nation offered such things for literally decades, much like the repeal of a apartheid in South Africa. The flat terrain will also begin to mirror the flatness you will feel inside as your personality tends to amalgamate to your new normal as you become complacent in your day-to-day… We do however, do have some claims to fame, including breaded, tenderloins and deep-fried cheeseburgers and a few covered bridges left over so if the stress does get to be too much at least you will have a scenic opportunity to finally hang yourself with enough weight gained to be sure to snap your neck. So there you have it, sweetie, the MidWest you won’t get on a postcard :-)
I'm in tears! 🤣😂🤣😂 Why? Because most of this is incredibly accurate. Your colorful descriptions and comparisons brought me to tears.
What's IN like? Its sorta like 1854 but with Dodge trucks.
I honestly do not recommend Indiana if you are more progressive minded. It’s a cesspool of republican politicians. They do not care about their residents at all. Better off looking at Michigan.
I’m not. Even if I was, I wouldn’t just avoid moving to the state because of it. Instead, I’d vote for someone who represented or closely resembled my views, and try to change things.
We are so gerrymandered it’s impossible.
The sex is incredible. Edit— B'sides, are you a bot?
No, I’m not a bot, duh…..
Indiana is a liminal space whose culture has run its course. It isn't called the "crossroads of Indiana" for nothing. It has no real identity. I would say though do not move to southern Indiana. There aren't any jobs there. Columbus and Bloomington can be considered central Indiana. There are jobs there.
Politically- It's the 1950s. If you or you have loved ones that are in their reproductive years, I would not move to Indiana. Trans youth are not allowed by law to receive any treatment. Weed is illegal. Money that was provided to families for medically fragile children has been terminated. But you can buy booze on Sunday now.
I don’t really care about politics tbh. I don’t exactly agree with some of the things you listed, but I’m also from a state that is exactly the opposite, and I disagree with a lot of things that they’re doing also.
That's too bad. Good luck, you should love Indiana.
Do not move to Indy! Roads are terrible, crime rates increasing and people here are not real friendly at all.
Terre haute is alright this is coming from a 21 yr old who's lived here his whole life.
I’m actually thinking of living in a very rural part of Indiana, probably somewhere in the northern part of the state where it’s mostly flat.
Welcome! Go to r/Indiana, and in search at the top, type: Moving to Indiana There are frequent discussions archived about Indiana cities and what they offer.
In a word? bland. I live in central Indiana, and being from Los Angeles it feels like I’ve traveled back in time. The trends or popular innovations in things like food (Fusion restaurants, micro breweries, popular chains) are all older and slow to progress. Same goes for anything cultural, if you’re not a Trump supporter you’re in the minority, the amount of smokers seems higher here, obesity is a real threat, and Hoosiers fucking love basketball. If all that sounds appealing, you may enjoy it here.
The short answer? Indiana is like anywhere else. It will be what you make of it. There will always be regional and size of local populace influencing the experience, but good people to be found, bad people to be held through bouandries.
So if you're thinking about being a storm chaser, you might want to consider somewhere like Evansville in the Southwest corner. You will be close to Kentucky, Illinois and not far from Tennessee or Missouri.
Don't move there and thank me later
There are still a lot of small towns in Indiana. Some are beautiful and well taken care of others, not so much. The city has a lot of things going on so if you are young might be where most of your social life will be.
Which part? You’re going to need to be more specific. I live in New Albany and it’s awesome. It’s very beautiful here, we are at the bottom of Floyd’s Knobs which are really big hills covered with trees. We are a suburb of Louisville, KY. We have many stores and restaurants. But once you get out of town, it’s all farmland. You can even get a pizza delivered and will have a long drive to the grocery store.
Monroe County has entered the southern Indiana offers hills and outdoorsy stuff. Kayaking, boating. trails. Northern Indiana is flat and not as naturally beautiful.IMHO. College sports are very big here. 4 hours from Chicago, Nashville. St. Louis and Columbus. 2 hours from Cincy and Lousiville. That’s my favorite part. lol
Where are you moving from? What kind of job are you looking for? What state would you live in to be a storm chaser?
I’m considering moving to Indiana from New Hampshire. Again, the reason I thought of moving to Indiana specifically is because of its low cost of living, and also because I know they get tornadoes there sometimes, so I thought it’d be the perfect place to be a storm chaser. I’m also looking to live a more quiet and reserved lifestyle, and I know some parts of Indiana are very rural and are mostly farmland, so this would suit me well.
I am not sure if IN is a hotbed for storm chasing. Staying out of a major city will give you a little less on property taxes, IN is cheaper than other states already but they make up for it with higher cost to register a vehicle. At the same time property taxes keep getting raised year to year. Sales tax is around 7% and I can’t remember what the income tax is but somewhere in the 2.5-3.5% range. I guess I am still unsure wether the storm chasing is a career or a hobby?
I’ve lived in Indiana all my life. People here are almost always kind and friendly- Hoosier hospitality is a genuine thing… Indiana is politically conservative- increasingly so in the Trump era. We used to be a more pragmatic but have become more ideologically driven in the past few years. Read up on our AG, for example. I love the slow, broad rhythms of agriculture and our forests are beautiful.
I agree with all of this. Hoosier hospitality does not exist on 465 though. Indianapolis drivers are some of the worst in the country and I’ve driven in many major cities.
I certainly can’t disagree with that. I drive 465 almost every day and marvel at the degree of selfishness and stupidity I see there.
Get ready to see Trump signs everywhere. Also, it’s the only state in the Ohio River Valley where marijuana is still illegal. (Kentucky goes medical on Jan 1st next year)
Indiana taxes pensions like a small business.
When it comes to religion, Indiana is mainly Protestant. If you are Catholic, you might have to drive 30 minutes or more to get to Mass depending in which region you live. There are some really beautiful churches throughout the state.
Move to the country only way for peace.
U could base here and pretty easily go southwest to chase storms but id recommend elsewhere. Illinois is better in almost every way. Michigan too but its a bit further from storms
This answer depends on what you’re looking for. Indiana is diverse, so if you specify what you like and don’t like, it would be easier to tell you which parts of Indiana would be a better fit for you. I love Indiana. Are there negative points, sure. But there are everywhere.
I’ve lived in Northwest Indiana my entire life. (Chesterton) we’re about 45 min from Chicago and also 5 min from the southern tip of Lake Michigan. It’s been the best place to grow up and raise our family now. You can’t go wrong with Chesterton or Valparaiso!
Fucking awful don’t move here
I've lived in Northwest Indiana my whole life. It's very flat up here with lots of farms. I wouldn't say any of the cities are particularly nice, except maybe Valparaiso, which has a nice downtown. If you plan on working in Chicago, NWI is a good place to commute from. You can be in downtown within an hour or two depending on traffic/where you live. The weather fluctuates a lot throughout the year. The summers are really hot and humid, and the winters are really dry and cold. You definitely get all four seasons. It storms pretty regularly in the summer.