The Town FilesTri-Lakes, Indiana
Community in Whitley County · population 1,329 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $323,500
- Household income
- $115,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 21 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 54.1
Tri-Lakes is a community of 1,329 people in Whitley County, Indiana. The median home is worth $323,500, above the typical Indiana town ($150,400). It ranks better for a vacation home than 98% of Indiana towns, quieter than 92% of Indiana towns, better for families than 86% of Indiana towns.
How Tri-Lakes 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 Tri-Lakes is worth $323,500, above the typical Indiana town ($150,400). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $115,250, which is more affordable than 34% of Indiana towns. 98.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Tri-Lakes | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $323,500 | $150,400 |
| Median rent | — | $888 |
| Median household income | $115,250 | $61,953 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 98.3% | 73.4% |
| Median year built | 1985 | 1966 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 23.9% | — |
Who lives in Tri-Lakes
| People | Tri-Lakes | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 54.1 | 38.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.0% | 17.1% |
| Under 18 | 15.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 41.8% | 17.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.7% | 11.6% |
| Veterans | 0.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 16.5% | 6.2% |
| Average commute | 28.5 min | 24.7 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.1% | 89.2% |
Weather in Tri-Lakes
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
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tri-Lakes since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Indiana town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 2, 1990 about 4.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 30, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 52 times; the largest was 9.99 inches on May 6, 1961.
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 Tri-Lakes itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Towns near Tri-Lakes
- Columbia City, IN6.2 mi · 9,892 people · home $189,100
- Churubusco, IN7.1 mi · 1,870 people · home $152,300
- Albion, IN10.2 mi · 2,222 people · home $142,700
- Pierceton, IN13.5 mi · 928 people · home $117,600
- North Webster, IN13.7 mi · 998 people · home $204,500
- Avilla, IN13.9 mi · 2,438 people · home $210,200
- South Whitley, IN14.6 mi · 1,818 people · home $134,100
- Huntertown, IN15.4 mi · 9,141 people · home $298,200
Tri-Lakes questions
Is Tri-Lakes, Indiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Tri-Lakes scores better for retirees than 65% of Indiana towns and quieter than 92%. 24.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 54.1).
How much does a house cost in Tri-Lakes?
The median owner-occupied home in Tri-Lakes is valued at $323,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $115,250, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Tri-Lakes?
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 Tri-Lakes get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tri-Lakes since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 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)