A recent post from 24/7 Wall Street published a list of the poorest municipalities in each state, and the findings are not only unexpected but also sad. The results are based on five-year forecasts from the United States Census Bureau’s 2021 American Community Survey.
The list only included cities, towns, and unincorporated communities with populations of 1,000 to 25,000 persons, ranked by median family income.
Keeping those population parameters in mind, do you have any ideas as to which town in Indiana is the poorest? I immediately came up with a few ideas, but I was mistaken. In fact, the poorest city in Indiana is one I’d never heard of – and I’ve been a Hoosier for almost 50 years.
And the Poorest Town in Indiana is…
This awful appellation belongs to the small town of AUSTIN in southeastern Indiana. The article provided the following data about Austin and how they relate to the rest of Indiana.
- Austin’s median household income is $27,008. The average for Indiana is $61,944.
- 10.8% of adults in Austin have a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared to 27.8% of adults in the rest of Indiana.
- 27.4% of Austin households receive SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits – that number is 9% for the rest of Indiana.
- The median home value in Austin is $74,200. The average for Indiana is $158,500
- Austin’s population is 3,921
- There were a total of 306 Indiana towns considered for this ranking.
Despite this regrettable designation, the town of Austin still has a lot to be proud of. This from CityofAustin.in.gov sums it up nicely…
Austin, Indiana has a rich and storied history. Since its establishment on May 3rd, 1853, and even before, the events that colored the development of our city can inspire and intrigue. This is where Morris Sarver envisioned a town built around the railroad, where the Morgans built their legacy, where 106 men picked up arms and joined the fight during the Civil War, where Axis POWs spent their time in captivity while WWII raged on, and more.