Discover the Poorest Town in Indiana

Indiana ranks 14th on the list of poorest states in the United States, based on data from the U.S. Census American Community Survey (ACS). Many places exist, large and small, with numerous people subsisting below the federal government’s official poverty line. However, the concept of poverty is complex enough that pinpointing a single most impoverished town is difficult. However, different indicators allow us to determine the poorest town in Indiana.

What is the Poorest Town in Indiana?

The small town of Austin is the poorest town in Indiana, based on two main factors. Two leading indicators of poverty were accessed to pinpoint the poorest town in Indiana. First, the overall poverty rate, which measures people living at or below the poverty line, was pulled from the American Community Survey (ACS). Second, average household income tells a lot about how well people can meet their basic needs compared to the price of food, housing, and other goods.

Austin had 24% of residents living at or below the poverty level as of 2022. Indiana’s overall percentage of people living below the poverty level is 12.6% for that same year. Compared to the rest of the state of Indiana, Austin’s poverty level was 49% greater. Residents of Austin had an average household income of $27,008. Compared to the state of Indiana’s median household income of $61,944, residents in Austin made less than half each year than other Hoosiers.

Where is Austin Located?

Austin is located in the Jennings Township of Scott County, in the southeastern part of Indiana. It is close to Indiana’s border with Ohio and Kentucky. The entirety of Austin fits into less than 3 square miles. Close to the town of Austin is the county seat of Scott County. Compared to Austin, Scottsburg occupies a larger area on the map and has more residents. Austin is also within 30 miles of Louisville, KY. 

What is the Population of Austin?

With a population of just over 4,000 people as of the 2020 U.S. Census, Austin is a small town and shrinking compared to the 2010 data. About 15% of Austin residents have less than a high school education. The majority of Austin residents identify as white, but a few identify as mixed race. 

Please note that for this article, towns were given preference. Large cities in Indiana, such as Bloomington, may experience a higher poverty rate than Austin. However, this article seeks to share information about towns with smaller populations.

HIV Crisis and Poverty

Another factor linked to Austin’s poverty is the HIV crisis that surged in Austin in 2015. Due to the injection of recreational drugs, cases of HIV took off rapidly in the small town. A mishandling of the crisis led to a prolonged period without action. Finally, the state and local governments took steps to control the outbreak using free treatment referrals, HIV testing, and other interventions.

High instances of drug use are often connected to poverty levels in the U.S. and around the world. Austin might not necessarily be the poorest town in Indiana due to drug use, but the circumstances of people living in the town are poorer due to drug use. Both they and their families face more difficulties affording basic needs due to drug addiction. Along with poverty, studies connect drug use in Austin to high unemployment rates, limited access to healthcare, and high number of individuals without a high school diploma.

Things to Do In And Around Austin

There are not a lot of exciting attractions in the town of Austin due to its small size. However, Austin is located near Scottsburg, IN, which has many historic places of note. For example, you can visit the Scott County Heritage Center and Museum. Austin is also four miles east of Hardy Lake, a large reservoir with plenty of fishing and hiking.

Additionally, Austin is located near the Indiana-Kentucky border, about a 35-minute drive down I-65. Austin residents can easily make the drive over to Louisville to visit the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory, the Kentucky Derby Museum, or the Louisville Zoo.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Huw Williams (Huwmanbeing), Public domain – License / Original