At a Glance
Median Income
$61,648
$31,288 per capita
Home Value
$149,100
Zillow: $254,102
Median Rent
$868/mo
26.9% of income on rent
Bachelor's Degree+
17.7%
89.8% high school+
Unemployment
3.4%
3.9% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
40.8%
16.9% smoking rate
How Rensselaer Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Rensselaer's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Rensselaer a Good Place to Live?
B+
3.8 / 5.0 - Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Rensselaer residents earn a median household income of $61,648 , which is 18% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $31,288. The unemployment rate stands at 3.4% (6% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 3.9% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 291 business establishments, including 25 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Rensselaer is $149,100 , 47% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $254,102. Median rent is $868/month, with 26.9% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 93.3 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1960.
Education
17.7% of adults in Rensselaer hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(47% below the national average).
89.8% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.8/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Rensselaer has an average annual temperature of 51°F (10°C).
Winters average 24°F in January while summers reach 74°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 40.1 inches.
Data Overview
People
Population5,369
Median Age36.4 yrs
Density751/mi²
Male / Female47% / 53%
Foreign Born3.2%
Veterans6.4%
Economy
A
Median Income$61,648
Per Capita$31,288
Unemployment3.4%
Poverty3.9%
County GDP$504M
Avg Weekly Wage$936
Housing
A+
Home Value$149,100
Rent$868
Ownership66.7%
Zillow$254,102
Housing Units2,439
Rent Burden26.9%
Health
Obesity40.8%
Diabetes10.7%
Smoking16.9%
Heart Disease5.8%
Premature Death10,914/100K
Climate
Avg Temp51°F
Rain40.1 in/yr
Elevation661 ft
Education
C
Bachelor's+17.7%
High School+89.8%
Graduate+8.2%
School Score5.8/10
Community
2024 VoteR 78% / D 21%
Commute18 min
Broadband88.8%
Internet Speed65 Mbps
EV Stations4
Libraries6
Did You Know?
Rensselaer was founded in 1839.
The median home in Rensselaer was built in 1960.
The nearest airport is Porter County Regional (37 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.395 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Very Low" by FEMA.
19.0% of the population has a disability.
The county recorded 4 fatal vehicle crashes.