There are all types when it comes to being a snob in Indiana. You’ve got your Wine Snobs, Book Snobs, and, of course, Clothes Snobs. Then there are the Technology Snobs, Car Snobs, and yes, even City Snobsas in, I’m better than you because I live in (insert snooty city here).
How can we tell which Indiana cities are the snobbiest? By measuring snobby things, that’s how.
We used Saturday Night Science to look at things like expensive homes, high incomes, and overly educated populations by city in Indiana. These are the criteria you’d argue with a friend over a foodie dinner about who’s snobbier.
After analyzing 116 of the state’s most populous areas over 5,000 people, we came up with this ranking of the ten snobbiest places in the state of Indiana.
The Hoosier in these places aren’t snobby, they just know they’re better than you.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Snobbiest Places In Indiana
Don’t freak out.
What’s the snobbiest place in Indiana? The snobbiest place in Indiana is Carmel based on the data. If we had their wealth and lifestyle, we’d probably be a little snobby, too.
The most laid back? That would be East Chicago.
We’re not so full of ourselves as to make this ranking up from nowhere. So here’s a look at the top ten and more on how we did it. And if you’re curious, Indiana is the 43rd snobbiest in the United States.
For more Indiana reading, check out:
The 10 Snobbiest Places In Indiana For 2024
/10
% Highly Educated: 74.0%
Median Income: $132,859
Median Home Price: $519,540
More on Carmel: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
% Highly Educated: 70.0%
Median Income: $152,788
Median Home Price: $571,985
More on Zionsville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
% Highly Educated: 56.0%
Median Income: $117,519
Median Home Price: $431,094
More on Westfield: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
% Highly Educated: 59.0%
Median Income: $113,000
Median Home Price: $354,378
More on Whitestown: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
% Highly Educated: 55.0%
Median Income: $103,539
Median Home Price: $349,911
More on Mccordsville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
% Highly Educated: 40.0%
Median Income: $123,799
Median Home Price: $429,337
More on St. John: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
% Highly Educated: 46.0%
Median Income: $102,045
Median Home Price: $413,710
More on Bargersville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
% Highly Educated: 35.0%
Median Income: $124,091
Median Home Price: $472,135
More on Winfield: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
% Highly Educated: 50.0%
Median Income: $99,458
Median Home Price: $358,434
More on Noblesville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
% Highly Educated: 49.0%
Median Income: $101,883
Median Home Price: $329,814
More on Brownsburg: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Methodology: How we determined the snobbiest cities in the Hoosier State
Do you think wed just come up with this list willy-nilly? Not a chance – we only use Saturday Night Science around here.
We gathered up all of the places in Indiana with populations of 5,000 people or more. This left us with a total of 116 places. Then, we looked at each place in terms of these snoot-er-iffic criteria (And no, its not a word. English snob.):
- Median home price (Higher is snobbier)
- Median household income (Higher is snobbier)
- Percent of population with a college degree (Higher is snobbier)
Incomes and college education levels come from the American Community Survey. Home prices come from Zillow.
Turned out this simple criteria was much better at sniffing out the snobby places then more snobby criteria like:
- Libaries per capita (Higher is snobbier)
- Museums per capita (Higher is snobbier)
- Private schools per capita (Higher is snobbier)
From there, we ranked each of our 116 places in each category with scores from one to 116. We then averaged each places ranking into one overall score, where the lowest score went to the snobbiest place in Indiana. So lets all flip a table in honor of Carmel (with our pinkies up, of course.)
Before you get upset and ruin your blowout or something drastic here, lets remember that this is all in good fun. Would we live in one of these 10 places if we had the chance? Of course, we would.
And it’s not like your real estate agent would ever point out how snobby the town you’re moving to is. We’re here to keep you grounded, even if you’re wearing a monocle.
There You Have It – Now That You’re On Your High Horse
When it comes to snobbery, these places in Indiana are heading ever upward. Residents in these communities are well educated, well paid, and appear to have all the sophisticated culture and entertainment of an Ernst Lubitsch film right at their fingertips.
Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
The snobbiest cities in Indiana are Carmel, Zionsville, Westfield, Whitestown, McCordsville, St. John, Bargersville, Winfield, Noblesville, and Brownsburg.
If you’re also curious enough, here are the most laid back places in Indiana, according to science:
- East Chicago
- Logansport
- Gary
For more Indiana reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In Indiana
- Cheapest Places To Live In Indiana
- Most Dangerous Cities In Indiana
- Richest Cities In Indiana
- Safest Places In Indiana
- Worst Places To Live In Indiana
- Most Expensive Places To Live In Indiana
Table: The Snobbiest Cities In Indiana For 2024
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Prices | Adult Highly Educated |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carmel, IN | 99,453 | $132,859 | $519,540 | 74.0% |
| 2 | Zionsville, IN | 30,832 | $152,788 | $571,985 | 70.0% |
| 3 | Westfield, IN | 48,262 | $117,519 | $431,094 | 56.0% |
| 4 | Whitestown, IN | 10,253 | $113,000 | $354,378 | 59.0% |
| 5 | Mccordsville, IN | 9,098 | $103,539 | $349,911 | 55.0% |
| 6 | St. John, IN | 20,727 | $123,799 | $429,337 | 40.0% |
| 7 | Bargersville, IN | 9,520 | $102,045 | $413,710 | 46.0% |
| 8 | Winfield, IN | 7,219 | $124,091 | $472,135 | 35.0% |
| 9 | Noblesville, IN | 70,442 | $99,458 | $358,434 | 50.0% |
| 10 | Brownsburg, IN | 29,379 | $101,883 | $329,814 | 49.0% |
| 11 | Munster, IN | 23,731 | $101,851 | $329,921 | 48.0% |
| 12 | Avon, IN | 21,783 | $98,162 | $337,215 | 44.0% |
| 13 | Dyer, IN | 16,407 | $98,631 | $338,390 | 38.0% |
| 14 | Crown Point, IN | 33,735 | $92,810 | $333,979 | 33.0% |
| 15 | Chesterton, IN | 14,191 | $90,753 | $298,561 | 39.0% |
| 16 | Schererville, IN | 29,573 | $79,662 | $326,976 | 35.0% |
| 17 | Winona Lake, IN | 5,077 | $77,305 | $274,389 | 55.0% |
| 18 | Danville, IN | 10,842 | $90,686 | $301,935 | 31.0% |
| 19 | Plainfield, IN | 35,078 | $77,249 | $310,684 | 31.0% |
| 20 | Greenwood, IN | 63,579 | $75,398 | $308,640 | 32.0% |
| 21 | Cicero, IN | 5,356 | $63,288 | $356,053 | 32.0% |
| 22 | Ellettsville, IN | 6,653 | $79,455 | $254,601 | 36.0% |
| 23 | Valparaiso, IN | 33,991 | $59,943 | $328,211 | 42.0% |
| 24 | Columbus, IN | 50,896 | $75,114 | $251,458 | 42.0% |
| 25 | Cumberland, IN | 5,991 | $83,718 | $274,160 | 30.0% |
| 26 | Batesville, IN | 7,052 | $72,794 | $288,093 | 28.0% |
| 27 | Porter, IN | 5,204 | $77,222 | $278,522 | 28.0% |
| 28 | Cedar Lake, IN | 14,215 | $84,444 | $299,808 | 23.0% |
| 29 | Lawrence, IN | 49,218 | $70,762 | $252,234 | 33.0% |
| 30 | Sellersburg, IN | 9,948 | $67,230 | $284,292 | 29.0% |
| 31 | Fortville, IN | 5,206 | $79,806 | $279,914 | 21.0% |
| 32 | Angola, IN | 9,317 | $58,627 | $284,037 | 29.0% |
| 33 | Griffith, IN | 16,182 | $74,350 | $230,174 | 26.0% |
| 34 | Lowell, IN | 10,723 | $77,375 | $299,747 | 18.0% |
| 35 | New Whiteland, IN | 5,591 | $83,958 | $210,861 | 26.0% |
| 36 | Warsaw, IN | 16,473 | $57,931 | $251,585 | 33.0% |
| 37 | Mooresville, IN | 9,525 | $68,089 | $287,287 | 22.0% |
| 38 | Bloomington, IN | 79,006 | $46,543 | $290,880 | 59.0% |
| 39 | Charlestown, IN | 7,986 | $66,285 | $286,380 | 22.0% |
| 40 | Greenfield, IN | 23,669 | $69,571 | $247,376 | 23.0% |
| 41 | Jasper, IN | 16,488 | $62,657 | $236,375 | 27.0% |
| 42 | West Lafayette, IN | 44,861 | $30,317 | $327,065 | 72.0% |
| 43 | Franklin, IN | 26,073 | $72,344 | $255,388 | 21.0% |
| 44 | Indianapolis, IN | 882,006 | $59,110 | $218,415 | 32.0% |
| 45 | Jeffersonville, IN | 49,771 | $67,566 | $226,995 | 24.0% |
| 46 | Lebanon, IN | 17,277 | $63,125 | $248,292 | 23.0% |
| 47 | Hobart, IN | 29,573 | $69,398 | $220,976 | 23.0% |
| 48 | Merrillville, IN | 36,214 | $62,221 | $221,307 | 25.0% |
| 49 | Speedway, IN | 13,646 | $52,627 | $227,778 | 33.0% |
| 50 | Fort Wayne, IN | 264,514 | $58,233 | $216,656 | 28.0% |
| 51 | New Haven, IN | 15,552 | $63,744 | $208,336 | 24.0% |
| 52 | Tipton, IN | 5,255 | $64,167 | $202,929 | 23.0% |
| 53 | Portage, IN | 37,737 | $71,317 | $252,850 | 14.0% |
| 54 | Goshen, IN | 34,704 | $52,233 | $249,417 | 25.0% |
| 55 | North Manchester, IN | 5,017 | $63,029 | $175,015 | 27.0% |
| 56 | Auburn, IN | 13,316 | $58,635 | $242,744 | 20.0% |
| 57 | Lafayette, IN | 70,828 | $50,674 | $228,005 | 28.0% |
| 58 | Greensburg, IN | 11,431 | $61,864 | $224,682 | 19.0% |
| 59 | Nappanee, IN | 7,276 | $68,750 | $258,421 | 12.0% |
| 60 | Boonville, IN | 6,670 | $59,229 | $199,651 | 23.0% |
| 61 | Greencastle, IN | 9,865 | $51,836 | $218,372 | 25.0% |
| 62 | New Albany, IN | 37,598 | $53,982 | $209,181 | 24.0% |
| 63 | La Porte, IN | 22,409 | $55,031 | $240,496 | 19.0% |
| 64 | Rochester, IN | 6,236 | $62,885 | $184,217 | 22.0% |
| 65 | Westville, IN | 5,885 | $57,889 | $328,475 | 5.0% |
| 66 | Rensselaer, IN | 5,330 | $58,659 | $210,086 | 19.0% |
| 67 | Martinsville, IN | 11,916 | $57,383 | $264,822 | 13.0% |
| 68 | Seymour, IN | 21,373 | $57,347 | $210,904 | 19.0% |
| 69 | Mount Vernon, IN | 6,480 | $58,370 | $198,511 | 20.0% |
| 70 | Madison, IN | 12,301 | $53,113 | $210,391 | 22.0% |
| 71 | Mishawaka, IN | 50,899 | $51,543 | $184,754 | 26.0% |
| 72 | Shelbyville, IN | 19,678 | $55,850 | $201,373 | 18.0% |
| 73 | Clarksville, IN | 22,087 | $53,620 | $184,231 | 22.0% |
| 74 | South Bend, IN | 103,084 | $49,056 | $168,507 | 28.0% |
| 75 | Lawrenceburg, IN | 5,140 | $41,557 | $213,549 | 24.0% |
| 76 | Plymouth, IN | 10,369 | $49,306 | $215,488 | 18.0% |
| 77 | Beech Grove, IN | 15,181 | $51,352 | $183,313 | 22.0% |
| 78 | Evansville, IN | 116,906 | $49,853 | $179,994 | 22.0% |
| 79 | Wabash, IN | 10,417 | $51,127 | $154,061 | 23.0% |
| 80 | Kendallville, IN | 10,176 | $59,971 | $193,691 | 11.0% |
| 81 | Garrett, IN | 6,434 | $61,814 | $159,068 | 15.0% |
| 82 | Decatur, IN | 9,718 | $54,369 | $196,644 | 12.0% |
| 83 | Bluffton, IN | 10,461 | $56,955 | $160,724 | 15.0% |
| 84 | Bedford, IN | 13,802 | $49,492 | $188,050 | 16.0% |
| 85 | Kokomo, IN | 59,534 | $53,967 | $152,700 | 16.0% |
| 86 | Huntingburg, IN | 6,480 | $50,023 | $211,855 | 12.0% |
| 87 | Elkhart, IN | 53,785 | $46,534 | $198,211 | 17.0% |
| 88 | Monticello, IN | 5,488 | $48,847 | $211,040 | 13.0% |
| 89 | Huntington, IN | 17,017 | $50,748 | $167,689 | 17.0% |
| 90 | Crawfordsville, IN | 16,335 | $46,918 | $197,840 | 16.0% |
| 91 | Rushville, IN | 6,412 | $53,110 | $174,687 | 14.0% |
| 92 | Alexandria, IN | 5,144 | $58,269 | $163,647 | 12.0% |
| 93 | Muncie, IN | 65,167 | $40,309 | $130,429 | 26.0% |
| 94 | Salem, IN | 6,330 | $48,205 | $188,974 | 15.0% |
| 95 | Hammond, IN | 77,390 | $52,368 | $158,375 | 15.0% |
| 96 | Princeton, IN | 8,344 | $56,378 | $164,290 | 11.0% |
| 97 | Terre Haute, IN | 58,599 | $41,230 | $140,182 | 23.0% |
| 98 | Frankfort, IN | 15,976 | $49,821 | $172,339 | 12.0% |
| 99 | Vincennes, IN | 16,715 | $47,376 | $145,860 | 15.0% |
| 100 | Richmond, IN | 35,642 | $46,356 | $134,820 | 18.0% |
So really, going by your criteria, the 10 most ideal places to live in Indiana. Got it.
But what I am wondering is why Gary Indiana is even on the list?!?!?!?
Where is the entire list as mentioned in the article? I would like to see this full list.
Contrary to this article, Zionsville is NOT named after the hill of Zion in the Bible. It is named after William Zion, our town’s founder way back in the 1850’s.
Really? What kind of person writes this drivel? Class warfare much? This is a really lame piece of attempted journalism. It qualifies more as the whining of a sad, twisted, little man.
Let me guess. You live in one of the ten. Haha. Lighten up. It was just fun.
So if you have art galleries you are “snobby”? How about you are showing the creative side of your residents? Maybe if we let people do stuff like that along with more art and music in the schools we actually would be a better society.
I went from being in one of these snobby towns to living in the country. Glad I made the switch! They are very snobby!
I never forgot a game at HS Girls Soccer, 2014 at Zionsville, Zionsville students yelled-make fun at Westfield goalie during the game action about his father having a cancer. I found this really that low I ever witness. Fans and players were paused at that moment… Snobbing? Nah Stupidity high class children…Guess their parents are too busy to raise them respectfully.
Zionsville is actually named after our founder, William Zion. Research next time. But it’s okay, we are still better than you.
still looking for the complete list of towns mentioned in your column.
It’s at the bottom of the article. Click the link on mobile.
Where was Plainfield in the list? Population 24,000.
I can tell you all for an absolute fact (regarding the longer version of the list) that Columbus is not nearly as snobby as it might be ranked. More pressing though is that Bloomington deserves to be top 5 (maybe #1) with great ease. The snobbiest and frankly most overrated place in Indiana
I know someone who moved to Carmel and she thinks she’s above everybody else. The bitch has been married 5 times. The only reason she lives there is she rents. She married a much older guy who she thinks has lots of money. When that well runs dry, she’ll be off to find number 6.
No Fishers? No Newburgh? And Linton is on the list ahead of Vincennes?
ding ding ding…back to the stats Mr. Author of the List. Me thinks you blew it….prove me wrong if you dare.
Stereotyping — all in good fun? 1500 students in the Carmel school district rely on free and reduced lunches. Fewer than other communities, maybe, but significant still, especially if you are one of the hungry ones. And those with wealth are not all snobs. Many people donate time and money, but are humble and don’t publicize it. Those “snobs” lift up communities, not break them down like your idiotic article.
Sad but true indeed as a Avon old timer watching it turn into something I despise, I have witnessed people live in empty homes and actually share meals just to have the prestigious addresses. Shame on the parents of those hungry children. As a central Indiana resident all my life yes sad but true the top 3 yes they nailed it not sure of the order of 1 and 2 but Avon strives to be the next Carmel.