Hamilton County municipalities, townships and districts had $2.3 billion dollars of debt outstanding at the end of 2022. That amounts to $6,300 per resident. Carmel entities accounted for $1.05 billion, or $10,300 per resident. The other 8 townships owed $1.26 billion, or $4,800 per resident. The other 91 Indiana counties’ 6.5 million citizens owed $30.5 billion, or $4,700 per resident.
Municipalities have significantly less resources and taxing authority than states. Hence their bond ratings are lower. 16 states have AAA ratings, 9 have AA+, 5 AA-, 15 AA and 5 lower ratings.
Hamilton County’s Per Capita Personal Income exceeded $80,000 in 2020.
This ranks above the 97th percentile of the 3,100 U.S. counties.
Hamilton County ranks first in Indiana and would rank first in 30 other states.
Nationally, Hamilton County ranks 42nd among the 600 counties with populations of 100,000+ people. These counties represent 80% of the U.S. population.
Hamilton County’s per capita income is 72% higher than the median county ($46,600) in the U.S.
One of the “control centers” at MISO Energy in Hamilton County.
Hamilton County’s unemployment rate has averaged 3.1% since 1990, a little more than one-half of the nation’s 5.8% average. The Indy metro area has averaged 4.6%. In the last decade, Hamilton County has still averaged 2.0% lower than the national average of 5.3%.
Hamilton County serves as a resource for central Indiana, offering entertainment and community building options for everyone. It promotes 70 festivals and events across the year. It hosts 10 farm markets. It provides 100 ticketed and 100 community concerts each year.
The national average for municipal and state offices is reported at about 32%. Hamilton County elects 25% more women to office than the national average.
Indiana ranks below average on the somewhat inconsistent summary data available. In general, municipal elections are similar to state legislature results.
This source rates neighboring states as follows: Michigan 5th highest, Illinois 14th, Indiana 32nd, Ohio 43rd and Kentucky 47th.
Individual sources point to Indiana (27%), Ohio (29%), Kentucky (30%), Michigan (35%) and Illinois (41%) as the percentage of women office holders. Indiana is relatively low for the Midwest. Hamilton County is relatively high.
Although Democrats have begun to stand up candidates for more offices and have won a small number of races, Hamilton County remains a Republican oriented county. Congresswoman Spartz won 54% and 58% of the vote in her 2 congressional races. Governor Holcomb won 61% in his 2020 re-election victory. President Trump received 52% of the local vote in his losing 2020 effort. US Senator Todd Young won 54% of the vote in his 2022 re-election campaign.
For a Republican leaning county, Hamilton County has a greater than expected share of women office holders. In Congress, women are one-third of Democratic seats and just one-sixth of Republican seats.
Many notable officeholders have set the example for women in leadership in Hamilton County. Patricia Logan and Mary Sue Rowland led Noblesville from 1980-1991. Jane Reiman and Dorothy Hancock led Carmel from 1980-1995.
Hamilton County has been a Republican stalwart. Although women have been underrepresented by Republicans nationally, Hamilton County has elected many more Republican women to office than the overall national average.
Hamilton County residents enjoy the outdoors benefits of the 2,000 acre Geist Reservoir, 1,500 acre Morse Reservoir and 25 miles along the White River.
Hamilton County has redeveloped 20 miles of rail-trails along the Monon Railroad corridor, 100 miles of dedicated trails and 500 miles of designated sidewalks/pathways for bikes and pedestrians.
Hamilton County residents enjoy easy access to nearly 10 square miles of parks and nature preserves. Conner Prairie and Grand Park stand out as national/regional assets offering 1,400 acres to youth sports participants and those interested in Midwest history.
Hamilton County punches above its weight for outdoor amenities. Indiana is truly heartland and flatlands, but it is also blessed by water resources, woodlands and history. Waterparks, trails, woods, golf courses, creek stomping, bell towers, fishing, trails, wells, plazas, agriculture, sailing, canoeing, civic centers, wooden bridges, beaches and campgrounds. Yeah, we’ve got you covered.
Hamilton County offers 28 hiking trails of one mile or longer. The 3 major rail-trails: Monon, Nickle Plate and Midland Trace, combined with the Strawtown Koteewie Park trails account for 46 of the county’s 100+ miles of major trails.
When shorter trails and neighborhood roads and pathways are included, the county offers 500 miles of trails for hikers and cyclists!
In general, Hamilton County’s costs are similar to those of the Indy metro area. It’s 357,000 residents account for just 17% (1 in 6) of the formal Indy metro area’s 2,075,000.
Solid county level data is not available for all areas, but limited comparisons helped to identify goods and services that might differ between Hamilton County and the Indy average.
Hamilton County’s housing is 8% more expensive than the national average rather than 15-17% lower as seen in metro Indianapolis. The housing stock is also newer, larger and higher quality. The full housing price difference would increase the total cost of living measure by 7%. Considering one-half being due to age/quality and one-half due to prices adds 3.5% to 93.1% to yield a revised 96.6% cost of living ratio.
Indiana local taxes average 9.3% of income versus 10.2% nationally. This 10% savings on a 10% cost factor reduces the overall cost of living measure back down to 95.6%. State sales and income taxes do not vary by county. Hamilton County’s property and income taxes are lower than its large population peer group in Indiana.
Food Prices
Historically, Indianapolis has been a competitive grocery market. Kroger has a leading market share. Cub Foods and Marsh have left the market, but Meijer’s, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, Fresh Thyme, Fresh Market and Market District now compete with the others.
Hamilton County’s retail sales per capita figure is 14% above the national average, despite the very high concentration of retail stores in Marion County along 82nd/86th Street. The county is well served by retailers of all kinds.
Food away from home makes up almost 5% of the consumer price index. No restaurant food index is publicly available. However, the Big Mac price in Hamilton County is $4.59 versus the $4.39 national average price, a 5% premium. If this applied to all restaurant prices, the overall cost of living index would be 0.3 higher, 95.9. The average Indiana Big Mac price was just $4.11.
The Economic Policy Institute provides “modest income” food prices that are 19% higher in Hamilton County than in Marion County. Given the proximity of the counties and the long-standing coverage of “food deserts” in Indianapolis contrasted with nearly none in Hamilton County, this indicator is suspect.
Hamilton County has 1.8 hospital beds compared with the national average of 1.9 and the Indiana average of 3.3. It has 1.5 primary care physicians versus 1.0 nationally and 1.3 in Indiana. 10% of Hamilton County households have medical bills in collections compared with 17% nationally and 19% in Indiana. Access to health care is adequate.
The Best Places website uses a simple index of a standard hospital bed night, a doctor’s visit and a dentist’s visit indicating that Hamilton County health care costs are equal to the national average (100).
A Rand Corporation study indicates that Indy metro hospital rates are 25% higher than the national average. This is driving Indiana statehouse political battles with claims and counterclaims. Professional services fees were 25% below the national average.
Although health care is as much as 18% of GDP in the US, the share in the consumer price index is only 5%. If Hamilton County consumer costs are the same as the nation, this would increase the cost-of-living index by 0.6 points to 96.5.
Utilities
Best Places pegs Hamilton County’s utility costs at 93 rather than 107.
Indiana natural gas prices are more than 20% below the 50 state median.
Local utilities are probably at least 10% lower than in the summary statistics, so the COL index should be reduced by 0.9 points based on their share of spending, reducing the index to 95.6.
Transportation
Indiana used car prices are the lowest in the nation, 11% below the average.
The Economic Policy Institute and Indiana Family and Social Services Administration indicate that Hamilton County childcare costs are 13% higher than in Marion. Because childcare accounts for just 0.6% of spending, no adjustment is indicated.
Summary: Hamilton County Costs are 4% Lower than the National Average
County level housing, health care and grocery costs added more than 4% while lower taxes and utility costs subtracted almost 2% for a final score of 95.6, more than 4% below the national average.
The US Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) is the best publicly available data source for housing data at the county level. The most recent survey covers 2017-21.
The metro Indy area’s housing costs are just 85% of the national average. Hamilton County’s housing costs are 28% higher than the metro average, but only 8% higher than the national average.
Hamilton County’s 40th percentile rent for this period is $1,265, 24% higher than the metro area. The median monthly cost for a homeowner with a mortgage is $1,823, 28% higher than the metro area.
77% of Hamilton County residents own their homes versus 65% in the metro area and in the national average. Hamilton County contains 22% of the owner-occupied homes (110,000) and 12% of the rental units in the metro area (34,000).
The Economic Policy Institute estimates the cost of modest housing in Hamilton County to be 32% above Marion County, less than the 41% indicated by the 128% to 90% ratios to the nation.
The Washington Post reports rental data by county through June, 2023. This also shows a 27% premium between Hamilton County and the weighted average for the 6 main Indy metro counties.
Hamilton County total housing starts have doubled between 2019 and 2022, not as fast as the national average for apartment units, but fast enough to have a cooling impact on rising rental prices.
Hamilton County’s $105,000 median household income is 50% higher than the national level of $70,000. The 28% premium of average housing costs is not a significant burden for the median household income family.
On the other hand, families with the $70,000 national median income or lower income do struggle to find affordable housing in the rental and owner occupied housing markets locally.
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