The Town FilesVan Buren, Indiana
Town in Grant County · population 790 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $69,800
- Household income
- $47,692
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 25 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 47.3
Van Buren is a town of 790 people in Grant County, Indiana. The median home is worth $69,800, below the typical Indiana town ($150,400). It ranks easier by car than 99% of Indiana towns, better for first-time buyers than 93% of Indiana towns, better for cycling than 86% of Indiana towns.
How Van Buren 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 Van Buren is worth $69,800, below the typical Indiana town ($150,400). Homes cost about 1.5 times the median household income of $47,692, which is more affordable than 96% of Indiana towns. Median rent is $816 a month. 81.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Van Buren | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $69,800 | $150,400 |
| Median rent | $816 | $888 |
| Median household income | $47,692 | $61,953 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.5× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 81.4% | 73.4% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1966 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.0% | — |
Who lives in Van Buren
| People | Van Buren | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.3 | 38.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.9% | 17.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 9.8% | 17.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.7% | 11.6% |
| Veterans | 7.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.6% | — |
| Work from home | 3.4% | 6.2% |
| Average commute | 25.7 min | 24.7 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.1% | 89.2% |
Weather in Van Buren
July highs average 83.8°F and January lows 17.7°F. About 41.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 24.5 inches of snow (typical Indiana town: 21.1 in). Expect about 14 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 126 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Van Buren since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Indiana town. 12 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 11, 1965 about 6.7 miles from the town center and killed 8. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 10 deaths and 380 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 11, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 48 times; the largest was 2.25 inches on July 5, 1961.
Severe weather in Grant County since 1996
Grant County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| 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 15, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4704: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4515: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Grant County
Grant County had 27,333 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,883 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Van Buren itself the ACS puts it at 7.7%.
Public schools in Van Buren
2 public schools with 381 students, about 15.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastbrook North Elementary | K-5 | 315 | 15.8 |
| Early Childhood Center | PK-PK | 66 | 13.2 |
Towns near Van Buren
- Warren, IN6.5 mi · 1,182 people · home $110,900
- Marion, IN9.4 mi · 28,310 people · home $85,300
- Gas City, IN10.0 mi · 6,157 people · home $119,300
- Upland, IN10.6 mi · 3,821 people · home $203,200
- Jonesboro, IN11.5 mi · 1,516 people · home $79,500
- La Fontaine, IN12.1 mi · 798 people · home $96,300
- Montpelier, IN12.3 mi · 1,540 people · home $86,300
- Hartford City, IN13.1 mi · 6,086 people · home $83,400
Van Buren questions
Is Van Buren, Indiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Van Buren scores better for retirees than 36% of Indiana towns and quieter than 71%. 17.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.3).
How much does a house cost in Van Buren?
The median owner-occupied home in Van Buren is valued at $69,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $47,692, so homes cost about 1.5 times income. Median rent is $816 a month.
What is the weather like in Van Buren?
July highs average 83.8°F and January lows 17.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.8 inches of precipitation a year and 24.5 inches of snow.
Does Van Buren get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Van Buren 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)