The Town FilesLake Santee, Indiana
Community in Decatur County · population 889 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $245,500
- Household income
- $158,140
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 16 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 46.8
Lake Santee is a community of 889 people in Decatur County, Indiana. The median home is worth $245,500, above the typical Indiana town ($150,400). It ranks better for retirees than 97% of Indiana towns, easier by car than 79% of Indiana towns, better for families than 76% of Indiana towns.
How Lake Santee 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 Lake Santee is worth $245,500, above the typical Indiana town ($150,400). Homes cost about 1.6 times the median household income of $158,140, which is more affordable than 94% of Indiana towns. 94.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lake Santee | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $245,500 | $150,400 |
| Median rent | — | $888 |
| Median household income | $158,140 | $61,953 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.6× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 94.2% | 73.4% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1966 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 24.5% | — |
Who lives in Lake Santee
| People | Lake Santee | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.8 | 38.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.1% | 17.1% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.6% | 17.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.3% | 11.6% |
| Veterans | 6.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 10.2% | 6.2% |
| Average commute | 33.2 min | 24.7 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.2% | 89.2% |
Weather in Lake Santee
July highs average 84.5°F and January lows 21.6°F. About 47.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 15.9 inches of snow (typical Indiana town: 21.1 in). Expect about 16 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 109 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake Santee since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Indiana town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on July 9, 1980 about 8.3 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 20 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 7, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 28 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on May 25, 2011.
Severe weather in Decatur County since 1996
Decatur County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 25, 2026 | Flood | DR-4933: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| August 15, 2026 | Flood | EM-3651: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3641: Severe Winter Storm |
| July 22, 2025 | Flood | DR-4882: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4515: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Decatur County
Decatur County had 13,840 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,092 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Lake Santee itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Towns near Lake Santee
- Oldenburg, IN7.4 mi · 647 people · home $276,100
- Batesville, IN9.3 mi · 7,202 people · home $225,400
- Milroy, IN10.5 mi · 628 people · home $132,100
- Greensburg, IN11.1 mi · 12,312 people · home $191,400
- Brookville, IN15.9 mi · 2,622 people · home $180,700
- Rushville, IN16.2 mi · 6,208 people · home $127,300
- Sunman, IN16.6 mi · 914 people · home $194,500
- St. Paul, IN17.2 mi · 960 people · home $112,200
Lake Santee questions
Is Lake Santee, Indiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lake Santee scores better for retirees than 97% of Indiana towns and quieter than 37%. 26.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.8).
How much does a house cost in Lake Santee?
The median owner-occupied home in Lake Santee is valued at $245,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $158,140, so homes cost about 1.6 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Lake Santee?
July highs average 84.5°F and January lows 21.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.0 inches of precipitation a year and 15.9 inches of snow.
Does Lake Santee get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake Santee since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on July 9, 1980. 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)