The Town FilesMedora, Indiana
Town in Jackson County · population 635 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $82,300
- Household income
- $69,231
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 17 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 31.8
Medora is a town of 635 people in Jackson County, Indiana. The median home is worth $82,300, below the typical Indiana town ($150,400). It ranks quieter than 100% of Indiana towns, easier by car than 82% of Indiana towns, better transit than 71% of Indiana towns.
- #1 in The 25 Quietest Small Towns in Indiana
- #4 in The 25 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Indiana With Mild Winters
- #6 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Indiana
- #7 in The 25 Best Affordable Small Towns for Remote Workers in Indiana
- #8 in The 25 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Indiana
- #21 in 25 Small Towns in Indiana With the Cheapest Homes
How Medora 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 Medora is worth $82,300, below the typical Indiana town ($150,400). Homes cost about 1.2 times the median household income of $69,231, which is more affordable than 99% of Indiana towns. Median rent is $1,018 a month. 91.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Medora | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $82,300 | $150,400 |
| Median rent | $1,018 | $888 |
| Median household income | $69,231 | $61,953 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.2× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 91.3% | 73.4% |
| Median year built | 1951 | 1966 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.3% | — |
Who lives in Medora
| People | Medora | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 31.8 | 38.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.5% | 17.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 6.9% | 17.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.3% | 11.6% |
| Veterans | 3.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 13.9% | 6.2% |
| Average commute | 26.3 min | 24.7 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.7% | 89.2% |
Weather in Medora
July highs average 86.6°F and January lows 24.3°F. About 46.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 16.7 inches of snow (typical Indiana town: 21.1 in). Expect about 25 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 104 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Medora since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Indiana town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 2, 1990 about 4.5 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 30 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 15, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 15 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on November 18, 2025.
Severe weather in Jackson County since 1996
Jackson County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| 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 |
| June 23, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-1997: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And |
| March 5, 2009 | Severe Storm | DR-1828: Severe Winter Storm |
Jobs and pay in Jackson County
Jackson County had 22,633 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,520 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Medora itself the ACS puts it at 0.9%.
Public schools in Medora
2 public schools with 196 students, about 11.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medora STEM Academy | PK-5 | 100 | 16.7 |
| Medora Jr & Sr High School | 6-12 | 96 | 8.7 |
Towns near Medora
- Brownstown, IN7.6 mi · 3,025 people · home $146,600
- Campbellsburg, IN12.9 mi · 529 people · home $150,400
- Salem, IN15.7 mi · 6,371 people · home $144,700
- Bedford, IN17.3 mi · 13,792 people · home $152,400
- Seymour, IN17.4 mi · 21,569 people · home $162,800
- Mitchell, IN17.5 mi · 3,933 people · home $114,500
- Crothersville, IN17.9 mi · 1,509 people · home $120,300
- Orleans, IN18.9 mi · 2,108 people · home $117,500
Medora questions
Is Medora, Indiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Medora scores better for retirees than 70% of Indiana towns and quieter than 100%. 13.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 31.8).
How much does a house cost in Medora?
The median owner-occupied home in Medora is valued at $82,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $69,231, so homes cost about 1.2 times income. Median rent is $1,018 a month.
What is the weather like in Medora?
July highs average 86.6°F and January lows 24.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.9 inches of precipitation a year and 16.7 inches of snow.
Does Medora get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Medora since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 2, 1990. 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)