Oolitic town hall, 2010
Oolitic’s story
134 years in pictures
Census counts: 1,079 in 1910, 1,137 in 2020. The archive holds 4 old photos and papers going back to 2010 and 4 maps from 1935 on.
- 1892Oolitic is settled
OoliticIN
A town of 1,142, settled in 1892.
1 bordering townMap →
Photo: Quentin Melson · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
1,142
2025 Census estimate · +0.7% since 2020
Typical home
$179K
+3.4% in a year
Household income
$59K
median
Median age
46.9
years
Jobs based here
124
A commuter town
Is Oolitic a good place to live?
The best of Oolitic’s subject grades is an A+ for cost of living; the weakest is a C for walkability. Oolitic has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
What makes Oolitic stand out
Where Oolitic beats most towns.
Small town
1,142 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
East OoliticOolitic
How Oolitic grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Indiana), ordered by how far Oolitic is from typical.
Cost of livingA+Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 6.4 of 20; 5.5% of households have no car; 0.5% of workers walk, bike or ride transitCOpen →HealthIndiana University Health Bedford Hospital 2.4 miles awayBOpen →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listC+Open →SchoolsBeat 56% of Indiana districts on tests and graduationBOpen →Jobs & incomeB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
OutdoorsConserved land, trails and parksDOpen →HistoryC+Open →Civic life3.9 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsBOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Oolitic: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Oolitic, and how to reach them.
PowerDuke Energy15.0¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterOolitic Water Works9 health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet4 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNearest public drop-offRecycling transfer station, 3 miOpenStreetMap
Register to voteOnlineIn Indiana you can register online until 29 days before Election Day, in person until 29 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 29 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereLawrence County Voter RegistrationLawrence County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2025
ZIP code4745147451 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Oolitic.
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B−
Compared with most of Indiana and the rest of the country, fewer of Oolitic’s working residents work locally
3.1% of Oolitic residents live below the poverty line, below both the Indiana town median (10%) and the median of U.S. towns (9.6%). This Indiana town had 124 jobs in 2023, down 89 from 2013. Its typical household income comes in at $59,000. The top destinations are Bloomington (22%), Bedford (20%) and Indianapolis (6%).
1%work in town
| Oolitic | Indiana towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 3.1% | 10% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 0.9% | 11% | 8% |
| Median household income | $59,000 | $71,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 23 minutes | 24 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
In Oolitic1%
Bloomington22%
Bedford20%
Indianapolis6%
Richland Township5%
19 mi
median commute distance
124
jobs based in Oolitic
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
C
Walkability grade: more walkable than 25% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Who lives here
Oolitic skews older than Indiana
People 65 and older are 30% of residents (17% statewide); adults 35 to 64 are 32% of residents (37% statewide). Oolitic’s midpoint age is 46.9 years, against 39.4 years in Indiana’s towns and 40.5 years across U.S. towns. The share of residents in Oolitic who are under 18: 19%. 26% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 30% across Indiana.
46.9median age · IN 38.1
| Oolitic | Indiana towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.9 years | 39.4 years | 40.5 years |
| Under 18 | 19% | 23% | 22% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 26% | 22% | 29% |
OoliticIndianaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
21%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma11%
High school29%
Some college22%
Associate’s11%
Bachelor’s22%
Graduate4%
Women and men · all residents
55% women, 45% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±6.7 points. Across Indiana, 50.4% of residents are women.
| Oolitic | IN | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 9.9% | 12.4% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 9.1% | 10.9% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 9.2% | 9.6% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 9.6% | 13.1% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 10.6% | 12.7% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 10.3% | 12% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 11.1% | 12.5% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 21.4% | 10.1% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 8.7% | 6.7% | 7% |
| No diploma | 11% | 9.6% | 10.4% |
| High school | 29.2% | 32.5% | 26% |
| Some college | 22.4% | 19.3% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 11.4% | 9.1% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 22.4% | 18.7% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 3.6% | 10.8% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 1,100, single groups can be off by several points
HousingCost of living grade A+
The typical home in Oolitic: about $179K
Over the 12 months to September 2026, the typical home gained 3.4% in value. Oolitic’s median rent comes in at $814 a month. Also worth knowing: 68% of households own their home in the town.
$179KZillow home value
| Oolitic | Indiana towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $814 a month | $947 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 68% | 76% | 73% |
Typical home value
Oolitic$179K
Indiana$257K
+3.4%
value change, 1 year
3
homes sold in March
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Climate
Oolitic has four seasons and pleasant summers
July afternoons reach 86°, January nights drop to 21° and about 16 inches of snow falls in a winter.
16″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter24–42°
Spring42–65°
Summer62–85°
Fall44–67°
Oct 20
typical first frost
Apr 20
typical last frost
+0.9°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
HealthB
On CDC estimates, Oolitic is healthier than 63% of U.S. towns
CDC measures, 32 in all: Oolitic beats Indiana on 6 and trails on 1. 6.2% of Oolitic adults 18 to 64 have no health insurance. In Oolitic, 13% of adults smoke cigarettes, and 22% get no exercise outside work.
63%healthier than U.S. townsBHealth Grade
| Oolitic | Indiana towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food insecurity (CDC PLACES) | 9.4% | 14% | 14% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 13% | 17% | 14% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 22% | 26% | 25% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 18% | 17% |
32 measures vs. Indiana
6 better25 too close to call1 worse
| What stands out | Oolitic | IN |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 9.4% | 14.7% |
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 7.6% | 11.2% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 9.9% | 8.3% |
Indiana University Health Bedford Hospital
2.4 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C+
Oolitic has a moderate natural-hazard risk, chiefly from inland flooding
Federal aid has come to Oolitic households in 3 declared disasters; the latest was in 2008. On expected storm and flood damage, Oolitic sits above 55% of U.S. communities. Of the losses FEMA expects in the town, 56% come from inland flooding and 18% from tornadoes.
55risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesStrong wind
3
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Nearby attractions
All 18 attractions →Memorial Stadium and 7 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Oolitic. Close and well known come first.
20 mi Stadium & arenaMemorial Stadium
40 mi MuseumMiller House and Garden
20 mi Stadium & arenaSimon Skjodt Assembly Hall
29 mi National forestHoosier National Forest
19 mi MuseumEskenazi Museum of Art
19 mi TheatreIndiana University AuditoriumSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Memorial Stadium: Durin at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Miller House and Garden: Nyttend, Public domain · Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall: Sean Benham from Chicago, CC BY 2.0 · Hoosier National Forest: US Forest Service, Public domain · Eskenazi Museum of Art: Kzollman (Kevin J.S. Zollman)., CC BY-SA 3.0 · Indiana University Auditorium: Gottscho-Schleisner Collection, Public domain
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Oolitic
17pages on Oolitic
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Oolitic; the nearest are
Indiana University-BloomingtonUniversity or college · Public · Bloomington18.8 mi$12,144 in-state tuitionJefferson Community and Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · Louisville, KY61.2 mi$4,808 in-state tuition
About 1 of every 100 Oolitic residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Indiana.
A commuter town
99% of working residents leave Oolitic for work
Where Oolitic’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
124jobs based in Oolitic
1%of working residents work in town
19 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Oolitic
Town in Indiana, United States
Oolitic is a town in Indian Creek and Shawswick townships, Lawrence County, Indiana, United States. As of the 2020 census, Oolitic had a population of 1,137.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1896
- Area
- 0.8 sq mi
- Elevation
- 600 ft
- ZIP code
- 47451
- Area code
- 812
Questions about Oolitic
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Oolitic, IN expensive?
Not for the area. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades A+.