The Town FilesTipton, Indiana
City in Tipton County · population 5,275 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $161,700
- Household income
- $59,828
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 26 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 26
- Median age
- 37.0
Tipton is a city of 5,275 people in Tipton County, Indiana. The median home is worth $161,700, above the typical Indiana town ($150,400). It ranks better for cycling than 99% of Indiana towns, more walkable than 93% of Indiana towns, more vibrant than 91% of Indiana towns.
How Tipton 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 Tipton is worth $161,700, above the typical Indiana town ($150,400). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $59,828, which is more affordable than 42% of Indiana towns. Median rent is $848 a month. 67.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Tipton | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $161,700 | $150,400 |
| Median rent | $848 | $888 |
| Median household income | $59,828 | $61,953 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 67.4% | 73.4% |
| Median year built | 1952 | 1966 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Tipton
| People | Tipton | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.0 | 38.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.0% | 17.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.1% | 17.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.7% | 11.6% |
| Veterans | 7.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.2% | — |
| Work from home | 7.4% | 6.2% |
| Average commute | 26.1 min | 24.7 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.4% | 89.2% |
Weather in Tipton
July highs average 84.7°F and January lows 17.0°F. About 42.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 25.8 inches of snow (typical Indiana town: 21.1 in). Expect about 15 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 132 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tipton since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Indiana town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 11, 1965 about 7.9 miles from the town center and killed 6. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 8 deaths and 51 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 31, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 33 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on April 3, 1974.
Severe weather in Tipton County since 1996
Tipton County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| 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 |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4515: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3456: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Tipton County
Tipton County had 4,454 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,768 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Tipton itself the ACS puts it at 1.7%.
Public schools in Tipton
3 public schools with 1,409 students, about 13.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tipton Elementary School | PK-5 | 645 | 15.0 |
| Tipton High School | 9-12 | 454 | 12.6 |
| Tipton Middle School | 6-8 | 310 | 11.9 |
Towns near Tipton
- Elwood, IN10.9 mi · 8,410 people · home $97,800
- Cicero, IN11.1 mi · 5,301 people · home $282,100
- Sheridan, IN11.5 mi · 3,106 people · home $195,600
- Kokomo, IN13.4 mi · 59,604 people · home $137,400
- Noblesville, IN17.1 mi · 69,604 people · home $349,700
- Westfield, IN18.0 mi · 46,410 people · home $425,700
- Alexandria, IN19.5 mi · 5,149 people · home $97,800
- Fishers, IN22.5 mi · 98,977 people · home $391,000
Tipton questions
Is Tipton, Indiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Tipton scores better for retirees than 89% of Indiana towns and quieter than 32%. 23.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.0).
How much does a house cost in Tipton?
The median owner-occupied home in Tipton is valued at $161,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $59,828, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $848 a month.
What is the weather like in Tipton?
July highs average 84.7°F and January lows 17.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.4 inches of precipitation a year and 25.8 inches of snow.
Does Tipton get tornadoes?
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tipton 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)