B-

Carbon, IN

Source:

Affordability Score: 66/100

Population: 1,231 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Carbon, IN aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 1,231 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of B- (66/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $77,500, median home value of $201,500, median rent of $940 per month, and 13.7% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher. These four metrics alone explain most of the variance between city dashboards.

Cross-agency feeds widen the picture beyond Census demographics. HUD publishes a Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in this county at $1,094 per month (studio $859, 1BR $864, 3BR $1,312, 4BR $1,535).

Reading the overall grade requires reading all seven dimensions together. The score weights Income 20%, Safety 20%, Housing 15%, Rent 15%, Education 10%, Commute 10%, and Childcare 10%, with each sub-score benchmarked against national percentiles rather than state averages — so the grade is genuinely comparable across any city in the country. Strengths visible in the raw data for Carbon, IN include housing, rent. Pressure points are education. Unemployment currently reads 5.8% and poverty 5.8% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income C+
$77,500
Median household income
Education F
13.7%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing B+
2.6x
Home value $201,500 vs income
Commute N/A
N/A
Average commute time
Rent A
$1,094/mo
2BR fair market rent (17% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare N/A
N/A
Center-based infant care cost

Income & Employment

Median Income
$77,500
▲ 25% vs national
Per Capita Income
$40,788
Unemployment Rate
5.8%
Poverty Rate
5.8%

Housing

Median Home Value
$201,500
▼ 27% vs national
Median Rent
$940/mo
Owner Occupied
97.5%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,094/mo
▼ 9% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$859
1BR
$864
2BR
$1,094
3BR
$1,312
4BR
$1,535

Safety

Violent Crime Rate
Data Source
FBI UCR (county-level)

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
13.7%
▼ 16 ppt vs national
High School+
50.4%
Median Age
46.2
Avg. Commute

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
Toddler (Center)
Preschool (Center)
School-Age (Center)

What This Means

Carbon, IN receives an overall affordability grade of B- (66/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 1,231. This area performs well in housing and rent. Challenges include education. Data was unavailable for commute, safety, childcare — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

Explore Carbon ZIP Codes
View all 1 ZIP codes with demographics and individual scorecards
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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Carbon, IN affordable?
Carbon, IN receives an overall affordability grade of B- (66/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $77,500. Median home value is $201,500.
What is the cost of living in Carbon?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $940/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,094/mo. Median home value $201,500.
How is the affordability score calculated?
The score evaluates 7 dimensions weighted by importance: Income (20%), Safety (20%), Housing (15%), Rent (15%), Education (10%), Commute (10%), and Childcare (10%). Each metric is compared against national percentile benchmarks from Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data.

Data as of 2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates. Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report. Source: DOL National Database of Childcare Prices. Verify with HUD →