The Town FilesCarlisle, Indiana
Town in Sullivan County · population 625 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $73,000
- Household income
- $45,750
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 15 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 38.2
Carlisle is a town of 625 people in Sullivan County, Indiana. The median home is worth $73,000, below the typical Indiana town ($150,400). It ranks easier by car than 97% of Indiana towns, quieter than 81% of Indiana towns.
How Carlisle ranks
Percentile among Indiana towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Indiana towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Carlisle is worth $73,000, below the typical Indiana town ($150,400). Homes cost about 1.6 times the median household income of $45,750, which is more affordable than 94% of Indiana towns. Median rent is $825 a month. 82.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Carlisle | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $73,000 | $150,400 |
| Median rent | $825 | $888 |
| Median household income | $45,750 | $61,953 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.6× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 82.0% | 73.4% |
| Median year built | 1956 | 1966 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Carlisle
| People | Carlisle | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.2 | 38.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.3% | 17.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 6.2% | 17.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 25.6% | 11.6% |
| Veterans | 6.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 5.8% | 6.2% |
| Average commute | 24.8 min | 24.7 min |
| Homes with broadband | 75.7% | 89.2% |
Weather in Carlisle
July highs average 85.7°F and January lows 22.4°F. About 45.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 15.1 inches of snow (typical Indiana town: 21.1 in). Expect about 24 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 102 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Carlisle since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Indiana town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on March 31, 2023 about 7.7 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 8 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on February 19, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 24 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 16, 2025.
Severe weather in Sullivan County since 1996
Sullivan County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3641: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 15, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4704: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4515: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3456: Covid-19 |
| April 22, 2014 | Severe Storm | DR-4173: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Sullivan County
Sullivan County had 5,720 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,807 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Carlisle itself the ACS puts it at 17.3%.
Public schools in Carlisle
2 public schools with 286 students, about 11.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carlisle Elementary School | PK-5 | 203 | 10.7 |
| Carlisle Middle School | 6-8 | 83 | 11.9 |
Towns near Carlisle
- Oaktown, IN6.5 mi · 581 people · home $65,200
- Freelandville, IN8.2 mi · 617 people · home $92,000
- Sullivan, IN9.4 mi · 4,264 people · home $128,100
- Dugger, IN10.8 mi · 797 people · home $87,800
- Palestine, IL11.7 mi · 1,233 people · home $81,300
- Bicknell, IN13.8 mi · 3,029 people · home $66,300
- Linton, IN14.1 mi · 5,133 people · home $86,000
- Shelburn, IN15.1 mi · 1,107 people · home $73,700
Carlisle questions
Is Carlisle, Indiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Carlisle scores better for retirees than 54% of Indiana towns and quieter than 81%. 10.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.2).
How much does a house cost in Carlisle?
The median owner-occupied home in Carlisle is valued at $73,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $45,750, so homes cost about 1.6 times income. Median rent is $825 a month.
What is the weather like in Carlisle?
July highs average 85.7°F and January lows 22.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.4 inches of precipitation a year and 15.1 inches of snow.
Does Carlisle get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Carlisle since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on March 31, 2023. The typical Indiana town has had 23.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)