Gary Named the Cheapest Place to Live in Indiana

Hoosiers know it costs a lot of money to live in Indiana. We've just learned the cheapest place to live in the state, but there's a catch.

It's not a secret that the cost of living is high, and going up. Inflation has caused so many things to be more expensive than it has ever been in the past. It makes it hard to pay your bills, buy groceries, and fill up your gas tank when everything is getting more pricey, but your paycheck remains the same. We all have felt the sting of inflation and the prices you have to pay just to get by with the bare minimum necessities. It can be a struggle.

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Recently, the website Houzeo found the cheapest places to live in Indiana. They say that each city is evaluated based on key components of the Indiana real estate market: median home value, median house rent, and cost of living. That being said, while living somewhere that is more affordable does sound enticing, it comes with a catch when it comes to the cheapest place to live in the Hoosier State.

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Gary is the Cheapest Place to Live in Indiana

Yes, you read that correctly. Gary, Indiana, is the most affordable place to live in the Hoosier State. Below is the data that Houzeo had about Gary:

Median house rent is $1,233 | Rental prices range between $650 and $2,950.
Median home value of Gary is $82,844.
Cost of living in Gary is 12.7% cheaper than the national average.
3 Popular Zips in Gary, IN: 46307 | 46038 | 46143

Now, we all know about Gary's reputation. A lot has changed with the city of Gary, Indiana, since it was once praised in the classic musical "The Music Man."

We all have heard some not-so-pleasant things about Gary over the years. Recently, Gary was named one of the ugliest cities in America, as well as being named one of America's cities with the worst reputations. The question here is what can be done to fix the city's reputation and turn things around for the better?

That being said, Houzeo does highlight a few positive things about Gary:

Gary has a vibrant arts scene, popularized by the Miller Beach Arts & Creative District. Companies like Crown Corr and CWS Dedicated Service, Inc. contribute to the economy. Besides, the city’s proximity to natural attractions like the Indiana Dunes National Park enhances its appeal for families.

So, while Gary might be the cheapest place to live in Indiana, is it a place that you would want to live? That's completely up to you. Gary does have a bit of a bad reputation, but it can't be all bad, right?

16 Indiana Towns with Dirty-Sounding Names

A majority of these towns were given their names in the mid-to-late 1800s as settlers making their way across the country found unclaimed plots of land and decided to make them their own. While I imagine they thought the names they came up with were innocent, and perhaps a tribute to something in their lives, pop culture has warped our minds to the point since then that we can't help but think of something about the town that was never intended by its founders. Take a look at this list. I guarantee there's at least one name that will make you chuckle.

Gallery Credit: Ryan O'Bryan

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KEEP READING: 40 Real Indiana Towns with Quirky, Weird, and Funny Names

Outside the major cities, the Hoosier state is full of tiny little towns you've probably passed through on your way to one of those cities. Most of them are likely 100 to 150 years old, or older, and have been around far longer than the large metropolitan areas such as Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, South Bend, and Evansville. Typically, they were started by early settlers who found their way to the state and decided to make it home. Eventually, others would join them, and a community was formed. Over time, as the surrounding areas grew, most of them were folded into those areas and governed by the nearest city or county's governing body officially making them "unincorporated," meaning they did not have their own formally organized municipal government.

A scroll through Wikipedia's long list of unincorporated communities in Indiana shows several of them have names that by today's standards would be considered weird, quirky, or just downright right funny. These are my 40 favorities.

Gallery Credit: Ryan O'Bryan