B-

Lamar, IN

Source:

Affordability Score: 66/100

Population: 854 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Lamar, IN aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 854 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 $80,625, median home value of $263,900, median rent of per month, and 23.9% 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 $956 per month (studio $659, 1BR $729, 3BR $1,330, 4BR $1,382).

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 Lamar, IN include rent. Pressure points are education. Unemployment currently reads 6.2% and poverty 1.9% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income B-
$80,625
Median household income
Education F
23.9%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing C
3.3x
Home value $263,900 vs income
Commute N/A
N/A
Average commute time
Rent A+
$956/mo
2BR fair market rent (14% 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
$80,625
▲ 30% vs national
Per Capita Income
$35,601
Unemployment Rate
6.2%
Poverty Rate
1.9%

Housing

Median Home Value
$263,900
▼ 4% vs national
Median Rent
Owner Occupied
96.1%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$956/mo
▼ 20% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$659
1BR
$729
2BR
$956
3BR
$1,330
4BR
$1,382

Safety

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

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
23.9%
▼ 6 ppt vs national
High School+
62.6%
Median Age
42.5
Avg. Commute

Childcare Costs

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

What This Means

Lamar, IN receives an overall affordability grade of B- (66/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 854. This area performs well in rent. Challenges include education. Data was unavailable for commute, safety, childcare — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

Explore Lamar ZIP Codes
View all 1 ZIP codes with demographics and individual scorecards
View ZIPs →

What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Lamar, IN affordable?
Lamar, IN receives an overall affordability grade of B- (66/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $80,625. Median home value is $263,900.
What is the cost of living in Lamar?
Key cost metrics: 2BR fair market rent $956/mo. Median home value $263,900.
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 →