
Muncie, IN
The numbers that matter most
What an investor checks first when sizing up a new metro — affordability ratio, rent vs income, cap rate proxy, and where the market is moving. Each metric shown vs. state and national medians for instant context.
affordable
Price to income
2.24×
The single most-cited 'is this market still cheap' check. Below 3× and you're in an affordability tailwind.
- vs Indiana
- 2.80×-0.56
- vs U.S.
- 3.43×-1.19
Benchmark
ACS median home value ÷ median HHI
comfortable
Rent to income
22.0%
What share of a typical household's income goes to rent. Below 30% means tenants can absorb modest rent increases.
- vs Indiana
- 21.8%
- vs U.S.
- 23.3%-1.3
Benchmark
(HUD FMR 2BR × 12) ÷ median HHI
solid
Cap rate proxy
6.38%
Rough first-pass yield assuming a 35% expense ratio. Not an underwriting number — a 'is this even worth modeling' filter.
- vs Indiana
- 4.86%+1.52
- vs U.S.
- 4.35%+2.03
Benchmark
(FMR 2BR × 12 × 0.65) ÷ ACS median home value
steady
Net migration
+0.01%
Forward-looking demand signal. Positive net migration drives rent growth and absorbs new supply.
- vs Indiana
- -0.01%+0.02
- vs U.S.
- 0.03%
Benchmark
IRS net migration ÷ population
normal
Permit pipeline
2.84
permits per 1,000 residents
Forward-supply indicator. Above ~5 means the metro is building meaningfully relative to its size; below 2 means supply is tight.
- vs Indiana
- 2.82+0.02
- vs U.S.
- 3.52
Benchmark
Census BPS permits TTM ÷ population × 1,000
healthy
Unemployment
3.0%
Tighter unemployment means higher wages, more rental demand, lower vacancy.
- vs Indiana
- 2.6%
- vs U.S.
- 3.9%-0.9
Benchmark
BLS LAUS, latest month
Where prices are and where they've been
5-year price appreciation
+60.4%
homeValues.yearOverYear
+6.6%
Median home value
$127,600
The rent ladder
| Bedroom | Monthly | Annual | % of median HHI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 BR | $845 | $10,140 | 17.8% |
| 2 BR | $1,043 | $12,516 | 22.0% |
| 3 BR | $1,349 | $16,188 | 28.4% |
Labor market direction
Unemployment
3.0%
Median household income
$56,932
What's being built
Total TTM
319
+262.5% YoY
Single-family
102
2–4 unit
2
5+ unit
215
All 1 counties, ranked by population
| County | Population | Home value | Median HHI | Permits TTM | YoY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware County | 112,156 | $127,600 | $56,932 | 319 | +262.5% |
Similar metros nationally
| Metro | Pop | Med HHI | P/I | Cap proxy | HPI 5y | Permits/1k | Unemp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ★Muncie | 112,156 | $56,932 | 2.24× | 6.38% | +60.4% | 2.84 | 3.0% |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | 116,536 | $57,149 | — | — | +53.0% | — | 5.0% |
| Anniston-Oxford, AL | 116,162 | $55,826 | — | — | +53.4% | — | 2.5% |
| Goldsboro, NC | 117,480 | $58,082 | — | — | +64.0% | — | 3.5% |
| Beckley, WV | 114,848 | $52,345 | — | — | +58.5% | — | 5.0% |
| Sebring-Avon Park, FL | 102,339 | $55,581 | — | — | +74.3% | — | 6.3% |
Where people are moving in from
Net migration
+11
+0.01% of population
| Origin county | Tax returns |
|---|---|
| Madison County, IN | 389 |
| Marion County, IN | 226 |
| Henry County, IN | 161 |
| Randolph County, IN | 136 |
| Hamilton County, IN | 125 |
| Jay County, IN | 95 |
Who lives in Muncie
- Median age
- 36
- Bachelor's+
- 25.7%
- Owner-occupancy
- 66.5%
- Vacancy rate
- 10.6%
- Rent burdened (30%+)
- 47.7%
- Median household income
- $56,932
This page shows federally sourced data. A full editorial analysis with charts and investment commentary is in progress.
