The Town FilesDale, Indiana
Town in Spencer County · population 1,544 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $127,200
- Household income
- $61,953
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 9 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 34.8
Dale is a town of 1,544 people in Spencer County, Indiana. The median home is worth $127,200, below the typical Indiana town ($150,400). It ranks easier by car than 99% of Indiana towns, better for families than 84% of Indiana towns, better for retirees than 76% of Indiana towns.
How Dale 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 Dale is worth $127,200, below the typical Indiana town ($150,400). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $61,953, which is more affordable than 73% of Indiana towns. Median rent is $848 a month. 73.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Dale | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $127,200 | $150,400 |
| Median rent | $848 | $888 |
| Median household income | $61,953 | $61,953 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 73.4% | 73.4% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1966 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Dale
| People | Dale | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.8 | 38.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.0% | 17.1% |
| Under 18 | 31.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.1% | 17.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.6% | 11.6% |
| Veterans | 7.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 12.2% | — |
| Work from home | 2.7% | 6.2% |
| Average commute | 26.8 min | 24.7 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.2% | 89.2% |
Weather in Dale
July highs average 86.6°F and January lows 25.7°F. About 49.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 9.4 inches of snow (typical Indiana town: 21.1 in). Expect about 23 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 90 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dale since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Indiana town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on November 6, 2005 about 7.7 miles from the town center and killed 4. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 34 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 3, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 43 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on May 25, 2006.
Severe weather in Spencer County since 1996
Spencer County has been included in 15 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 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4515: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3456: Covid-19 |
| May 4, 2018 | Flood | DR-4363: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| June 23, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-1997: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And |
Jobs and pay in Spencer County
Spencer County had 6,990 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,388 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Dale itself the ACS puts it at 3%.
Public schools in Dale
1 public school with 299 students, about 16.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| David Turnham Education Center | PK-6 | 299 | 16.6 |
Towns near Dale
- Santa Claus, IN5.3 mi · 2,586 people · home $258,900
- Holland, IN5.5 mi · 619 people · home $117,900
- Ferdinand, IN7.4 mi · 2,157 people · home $187,900
- St. Meinrad, IN8.2 mi · 664 people · home $315,200
- Huntingburg, IN8.5 mi · 6,362 people · home $143,800
- Jasper, IN15.0 mi · 16,703 people · home $235,100
- Grandview, IN16.8 mi · 698 people · home $140,600
- Lewisport, KY17.7 mi · 1,767 people · home $138,200
Dale questions
Is Dale, Indiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Dale scores better for retirees than 76% of Indiana towns and quieter than 34%. 16.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.8).
How much does a house cost in Dale?
The median owner-occupied home in Dale is valued at $127,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $61,953, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $848 a month.
What is the weather like in Dale?
July highs average 86.6°F and January lows 25.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.6 inches of precipitation a year and 9.4 inches of snow.
Does Dale get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dale since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on November 6, 2005. 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)