The Town FilesSouth Whitley, Indiana
Town in Whitley County · population 1,818 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $134,100
- Household income
- $58,068
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 21 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 39.8
South Whitley is a town of 1,818 people in Whitley County, Indiana. The median home is worth $134,100, below the typical Indiana town ($150,400). It ranks easier by car than 83% of Indiana towns, more of a college town than 73% of Indiana towns.
How South Whitley 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 South Whitley is worth $134,100, below the typical Indiana town ($150,400). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $58,068, which is more affordable than 64% of Indiana towns. Median rent is $771 a month. 75.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | South Whitley | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $134,100 | $150,400 |
| Median rent | $771 | $888 |
| Median household income | $58,068 | $61,953 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 75.4% | 73.4% |
| Median year built | 1959 | 1966 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in South Whitley
| People | South Whitley | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.8 | 38.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.2% | 17.1% |
| Under 18 | 23.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.2% | 17.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.8% | 11.6% |
| Veterans | 6.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.1% | — |
| Work from home | 1.2% | 6.2% |
| Average commute | 22.4 min | 24.7 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.6% | 89.2% |
Weather in South Whitley
July highs average 82.5°F and January lows 16.2°F. About 39.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 21.4 inches of snow (typical Indiana town: 21.1 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 134 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Whitley since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Indiana town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 14, 2000 about 7.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 27, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 47 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on May 9, 2003.
Severe weather in Whitley County since 1996
Whitley County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for hurricane, snowstorm, biological.
| 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 |
| April 22, 2014 | Severe Storm | DR-4173: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| April 22, 2009 | Severe Storm | DR-1832: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Whitley County
Whitley County had 13,958 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,376 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in South Whitley itself the ACS puts it at 4.4%.
Public schools in South Whitley
2 public schools with 851 students, about 11.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whitko Jr/Sr High School | 7-12 | 556 | 10.1 |
| South Whitley Elementary School | PK-6 | 295 | 15.5 |
Towns near South Whitley
- Pierceton, IN8.9 mi · 928 people · home $117,600
- Columbia City, IN9.3 mi · 9,892 people · home $189,100
- North Manchester, IN9.6 mi · 5,277 people · home $138,200
- Laketon, IN13.3 mi · 606 people · home $162,500
- Winona Lake, IN13.4 mi · 5,053 people · home $274,500
- Silver Lake, IN14.0 mi · 875 people · home $112,000
- Tri-Lakes, IN14.6 mi · 1,329 people · home $323,500
- Roanoke, IN15.2 mi · 1,762 people · home $185,200
South Whitley questions
Is South Whitley, Indiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, South Whitley scores better for retirees than 16% of Indiana towns and quieter than 51%. 19.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.8).
How much does a house cost in South Whitley?
The median owner-occupied home in South Whitley is valued at $134,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $58,068, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $771 a month.
What is the weather like in South Whitley?
July highs average 82.5°F and January lows 16.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.1 inches of precipitation a year and 21.4 inches of snow.
Does South Whitley get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Whitley since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 14, 2000. 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)