The Town FilesOsceola, Indiana
Town in St. Joseph County · population 2,590 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $196,900
- Household income
- $66,503
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 37 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 41
- Median age
- 38.9
Osceola is a town of 2,590 people in St. Joseph County, Indiana. The median home is worth $196,900, above the typical Indiana town ($150,400). It ranks better transit than 91% of Indiana towns, more of a college town than 74% of Indiana towns, better for cycling than 72% of Indiana towns.
How Osceola 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 Osceola is worth $196,900, above the typical Indiana town ($150,400). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $66,503, which is more affordable than 25% of Indiana towns. Median rent is $1,654 a month. 82.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Osceola | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $196,900 | $150,400 |
| Median rent | $1,654 | $888 |
| Median household income | $66,503 | $61,953 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 82.5% | 73.4% |
| Median year built | 1959 | 1966 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Osceola
| People | Osceola | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.9 | 38.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.7% | 17.1% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.6% | 17.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.5% | 11.6% |
| Veterans | 12.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.1% | — |
| Work from home | 14.1% | 6.2% |
| Average commute | 28.1 min | 24.7 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.4% | 89.2% |
Weather in Osceola
July highs average 83.0°F and January lows 17.1°F. About 40.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 36.9 inches of snow (typical Indiana town: 21.1 in). Expect about 17 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 133 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
41 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Osceola since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Indiana town. 14 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 11, 1965 about 8.5 miles from the town center and killed 31. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 65 deaths and 611 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 11, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 98 times; the largest was 3.25 inches on July 6, 2003.
Severe weather in St. Joseph County since 1996
St. Joseph County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 15, 2026 | Flood | EM-3651: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in St. Joseph County
St. Joseph County had 121,043 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,303 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Osceola itself the ACS puts it at 3%.
Public schools in Osceola
1 public school with 411 students, about 18.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moran Elementary School | K-5 | 411 | 18.7 |
Towns near Osceola
- Mishawaka, IN4.5 mi · 51,063 people · home $155,500
- Granger, IN5.7 mi · 30,337 people · home $331,100
- Elkhart, IN6.3 mi · 53,923 people · home $139,500
- Simonton Lake, IN8.3 mi · 4,710 people · home $266,800
- Dunlap, IN8.3 mi · 6,442 people · home $222,200
- Notre Dame, IN8.6 mi · 7,234 people · home —
- Ontwa, MI8.9 mi · 6,904 people · home $249,800
- South Bend, IN9.8 mi · 103,453 people · home $140,400
Osceola questions
Is Osceola, Indiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Osceola scores better for retirees than 70% of Indiana towns and quieter than 25%. 16.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.9).
How much does a house cost in Osceola?
The median owner-occupied home in Osceola is valued at $196,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $66,503, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $1,654 a month.
What is the weather like in Osceola?
July highs average 83.0°F and January lows 17.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.9 inches of precipitation a year and 36.9 inches of snow.
Does Osceola get tornadoes?
41 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Osceola since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 11, 1965. 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)