State Comparison

Indiana vs Ohio

Ohio is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Indiana, Indiana has higher incomes, Indiana has lower state income tax, and Indiana gets more sunshine.

Indiana flag
Indiana
IN • Midwest
Quality of Life Score
51.17
Ohio flag
Ohio
OH • Midwest
Better quality of life
Quality of Life Score
51.61
Indiana flag
Indiana
15 / 30
metrics won
Ohio flag
Ohio
15 / 30
metrics won
Indiana flag IN wins Housing Ohio flag OH wins Quality of Life Indiana flag IN wins Climate Indiana flag IN wins Income

Quality of Life

Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.

Indiana flag Indiana
51.17
vs
Ohio flag Ohio winner
51.61
Ohio scores higher on quality of life — 0.44 points difference.
Quick Take

Indiana vs Ohio

This quick read mixes affordability, housing, income, politics, density, and climate so the biggest tradeoffs show up fast.

  • Ohio has a larger population than Indiana by 5,013,920 people.
  • Ohio has the lower cost-of-living index. Ohio is at 91.0, while Indiana is at 91.3.
  • After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $110.68 of local buying power in Indiana, versus $109.91 in Ohio.
  • Indiana has the higher median household income at $67,173, compared with $66,990 in Ohio.

Overview

Key differences overview

These cards keep the comparison factual first, so the biggest tradeoffs in affordability, housing, taxes, politics, climate, and day-to-day living are easy to scan.

Overall Affordability

Ohio is 0.3 points cheaper overall

Ohio has the lower cost-of-living index. Ohio is at 91.0, while Indiana is at 91.3.

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Real Dollar Value

$100 goes $0.77 further in Indiana

After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $110.68 of local buying power in Indiana, versus $109.91 in Ohio.

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Income

Indiana income is 0.3% higher

Indiana has the higher median household income at $67,173, compared with $66,990 in Ohio.

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Jobs

Ohio minimum wage is $3.20 higher

Ohio has the higher statewide minimum wage at $10.45/hr, compared with $7.25/hr in Indiana.

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Housing

Indiana homes cost about 1.0x more

Ohio has the lower median home value at $196,200, versus $201,800 in Indiana.

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Taxes

Indiana has lower state income tax

Indiana has the lower state income tax rate. Its top rate is 3.15%, compared with 3.75% in Ohio.

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Full Comparison

Pick a category to focus on. General shows the most important facts at a glance.

Metric Indiana flag IN Ohio flag OH
Capital City
 Indianapolis Columbus
State Color
 Solid Red Solid Red
Population
 6,785,528
11,799,448
Median Income
 $67,173
$66,990
Cost of Living
 91.3
91.0
Median Housing Value
 $201,800
$196,200
Property Tax
 0.74%
1.31%
State Income Tax
 3.15%
3.75%
Minimum Wage
 $7.25/hr
$10.45/hr
Gas Price
 $3.905/gal
$3.751/gal
Electricity Rates
 16.19 c/kWh
17.59 c/kWh
Livability Score
 51.17
51.61
Average Temperature
 51.7°F
50.7°F
Sunny Days
 88 days
72 days
Land Area
 36,420 sq mi
44,826 sq mi
Population Density
 186.3 per sq mi
263.2 per sq mi
Statehood
 December 11, 1816 (#19)
March 1, 1803 (#17)
Population -> Median Income -> Cost of Living -> Median Housing Value -> Property Tax -> State Income Tax -> Minimum Wage -> Gas Price -> Electricity Rates -> Livability Score -> Average Temperature -> Sunny Days -> Land Area -> Population Density ->

Intent-Oriented

Which state fits your priorities better?

Use these cards as decision shortcuts for common goals like saving money, buying a home, finding better weather, or optimizing for work and family life.

6 of 18 shown
Saving Money

Ohio is cheaper overall

Overall cost-of-living index: 91.0 vs 91.3 in Indiana. On a national baseline of 100, the lower score usually means cheaper day-to-day expenses.

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Gas Price

Ohio is cheaper at the pump

Average regular gas price: $3.751/gal in Ohio vs $3.905/gal in Indiana. Lower pump prices can cut everyday driving costs.

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Minimum Wage

Ohio has the higher minimum wage

State minimum wage: $10.45/hr in Ohio vs $7.25/hr in Indiana. That matters most for hourly, entry-level, and part-time workers.

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Electricity Rates

Indiana has cheaper electricity

Average residential electricity rate: 16.19 c/kWh in Indiana vs 17.59 c/kWh in Ohio. Lower cents-per-kWh pricing can help keep utility bills down.

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Buying a Home

Ohio is more attainable for buyers

Home-value-to-income ratio: 2.93x in Ohio vs 3.00x in Indiana. A lower ratio means the median home is easier to afford on a median income.

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Renting

Indiana is easier for renters

Rent-to-income ratio: 17.9% in Indiana vs 18.6% in Ohio. A lower percentage means rent takes a smaller bite out of a typical household budget.

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Detailed Metric Pages

Grouped tabs keep the deep-dive links tighter and easier to scan.

Population
Ohio has a larger population than Indiana by 5,013,920 people.
Population Density
Ohio is more densely populated than Indiana.
Bachelor's Degree
Ohio has a higher college-educated share than Indiana.
Advanced Degree
Ohio has a higher advanced-degree share than Indiana.

People Also Ask

Indiana vs Ohio - Common Questions

Q Is Indiana cheaper to live in than Ohio?

Ohio has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Ohio scores 91.0 versus 91.3 for Indiana - a gap of 0.3 points.

Q Where does $100 go further - Indiana or Ohio?

$100 goes further in Indiana. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $110.68 in Indiana, compared with $109.91 in Ohio.

Q Which state is bigger - Indiana or Ohio?

Ohio is larger, covering 44,826 sq mi compared with 36,420 sq mi for Indiana - roughly 1.2x the size.

Q Does Indiana or Ohio have more people?

Ohio has the larger population at 11,799,448, compared with 6,785,528 in Indiana.

Q Which state has higher household income - Indiana or Ohio?

Indiana has the higher median household income at $67,173, versus $66,990 in Ohio.

Q Which state has lower income taxes - Indiana or Ohio?

Indiana has the lower state income tax top rate at 3.15%, compared with 3.75% in Ohio.

Q Is housing cheaper in Indiana or Ohio?

Homes are cheaper in Ohio, where the median home value is $196,200, versus $201,800 in Indiana.

Q Which state is more densely populated - Indiana or Ohio?

Ohio is more densely populated at 263.2 per sq mi people per sq mi. Indiana is more spread out at 186.3 per sq mi people per sq mi.

Related Comparisons

Illinois flag Illinois vs Ohio Ohio flag Iowa flag Iowa vs Ohio Ohio flag

Methodology

All figures are sourced from U.S. government datasets and updated annually. Page last updated: April 2026.

Core demographic data comes from the 2020 U.S. Census, with land area from U.S. Census Bureau TIGER files and statehood dates from the National Archives. Income, housing, affordability, and tax fields are maintained in our comparison dataset; purchasing-power figures use BEA Regional Price Parities. Minimum wage data comes from the U.S. Department of Labor, gas prices from AAA, and electricity rates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Political control and election fields use 2024 presidential results together with National Conference of State Legislatures data. Gun-law labels use the Giffords scorecard, alcohol system data comes from NABCA, and marijuana status uses NCSL's state cannabis laws tracker. See our editorial policy for how we review and update these pages.