Osceola-indiana-town-hall, 2005
Osceola’s story
189 years in pictures
Census counts: 129 in 1880, 2,590 in 2020. The archive holds 1 old photo or paper going back to 2005 and 3 maps from 1958 on.
- 1837Osceola is settled
OsceolaIN
A town of 2,586, settled in 1837.
Photo: Tysto · Public domain
Population
2,586
2025 Census estimate · −0.1% since 2020
Typical home
$294K
+5.5% in a year
Household income
$67K
median
Median age
38.9
years
Jobs based here
368
A commuter town
TownGrade
A
#59 of 585 in IN
Is Osceola a good place to live?
Few places in the country grade higher. Osceola earns an A, 59th among Indiana's 585 graded towns. Its schools rank ahead of 95% of Indiana towns, 11% of its land is conserved, and natural-hazard risk is low. Its lowest mark, a B−, is in incomes. Osceola’s trail density is 1.5 miles per square mile, against 0.2 in Indiana’s towns and 0.4 across U.S. towns. Only 78 of Indiana’s 1,043 towns score lower on civic life. Ferrettie/Baugo Creek County Park, at 63 acres with 1.2 miles of trail, is the biggest park or preserve.
What makes Osceola stand out
Where Osceola beats most towns.
Get outside
2 miles of trails in Osceola
11.4% of the town is conserved land, across 3 parks and preserves.
3
Fern Hunsberger Park6 acres
Trails © OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
How Osceola grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Indiana), ordered by how far Osceola is from typical.
SchoolsA+Open →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 19% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listA−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 8.7 of 20; 0.8% of households have no carB+Open →Cost of livingBOpen →HealthSaint Joseph Regional Medical Center 4 miles awayBOpen →Jobs & income$67K median household incomeB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors2 miles of trailsA+Open →HistoryB−Open →Civic life1.6 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsC−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 28 attractions →Notre Dame Stadium and 12 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Osceola. Close and well known come first.
Big draw8 mi Stadium & arenaNotre Dame Stadium
39 mi National ParkIndiana Dunes National Park2.6M visitors a year
9 mi CaveGrotto of Our Lady of Lourdes, Notre Dame
14 mi Ancient siteFort St. Joseph
10 mi MuseumStudebaker National Museum7 mi Zoo & aquariumPotawatomi ZooSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Notre Dame Stadium: Tysto, Public domain · Indiana Dunes National Park: J. Crocker, Attribution · Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes, Notre Dame: Know1one1, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Fort St. Joseph: Chris Light (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0 · Studebaker National Museum: Unknown, Public domain
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Osceola: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Osceola, and how to reach them.
PowerIndiana Michigan Power17.2¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterMishawaka UtilitiesNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet8 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Osceola’s trash rules yet
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 hereSt. Joseph Election and Voter Registration OfficeSt. Joseph County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2025
ZIP code4656146561 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 Osceola.
Osceola is healthier than towns with similar incomes and is one of Indiana’s best towns for the outdoors.
OutdoorsA+
11.4% of Osceola is conserved land
Its A+ for the outdoors ranks #3 of 593 in Indiana.
1.9 miles of trail in 3 parks and preserves.
#12for trails in IN
11.4%
conserved · 98 of 860 acres
1.9 mi
of trails · 1.5 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Ferrettie/Baugo Creek County Park | 1.2 mi | 63 |
| 2. Osceola Baseball & Softball Association | — | 18 |
| 3. Fern Hunsberger Park | — | 6 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade A−
Osceola faces a very low natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 81% of U.S. communities. Since 2008, 2 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Osceola.
19risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesTornadoes
2
paid flood claims since 2008
4
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B−
Fewer of Osceola’s working residents work locally than in the typical Indiana or U.S. town
0.8% of Osceola working residents work locally, below both Indiana’s towns (11%) and U.S. towns (8%). Since 2013, Osceola has added 23 jobs, to 368 in 2023. 15% of residents live below the poverty line in Osceola.
1%work in town
| Osceola | Indiana towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 0.8% | 11% | 8% |
| Below the poverty line | 15% | 10% | 9.6% |
| Average trip to work | 28 minutes | 24 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $67,000 | $71,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Osceola1%
Elkhart18%
South Bend16%
Mishawaka16%
Penn Township4%
9 mi
median commute distance
368
jobs based in Osceola
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
B+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 74% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
Osceola has four seasons and pleasant summers
Osceola has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers. July afternoons reach 83°, January nights drop to 17° and about 37 inches of snow falls in a winter.
37″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter20–35°
Spring38–59°
Summer60–82°
Fall42–62°
Oct 23
typical first frost
Apr 23
typical last frost
+1.4°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
HousingCost of living grade B
Osceola’s typical home value is about $294K
The typical Osceola home is worth about $294,000, up 5.5% in a year, 14% above the Indiana typical home. Osceola’s median rent is $1,654 a month.
$294KZillow home value
| Osceola | Indiana towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,654 a month | $946 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 83% | 76% | 73% |
Typical home value
Osceola$294K
Indiana$257K
+5.5%
value change, 1 year
2
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Safety
Crime reported in Osceola
Osceola's reported crime rate is below Indiana's. Most reported incidents are property crimes, mainly thefts. Violent crime is rare: 3 reported in 2025.
| Osceola | Indiana towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 1.2 per 1,000 residents | 1.4 | 1.6 |
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 10.4 per 1,000 residents | 8.6 | 9.9 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Osceola1.2
Indiana3
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Osceola10.4
Indiana12.5
U.S.15.5
3
violent crimes reported in 2025
27
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Who lives here
More middle-aged adults than Indiana overall
Adults 35 to 64 are 42% of residents (37% statewide); adults 18 to 34 are 19% of residents (23% statewide). 29% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 30% across Indiana.
38.9median age · IN 38.1
| Osceola | Indiana towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 29% | 22% | 29% |
| Median age | 38.9 years | 39.5 years | 40.5 years |
OsceolaIndianaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
15%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma6%
High school39%
Some college14%
Associate’s13%
Bachelor’s24%
Graduate4%
Women and men · all residents
52% women, 48% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±5.1 points. Across Indiana, 50.4% of residents are women. Among residents 45 to 54, 70% are men (IN 50%).
| Osceola | IN | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 11.8% | 12.4% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 11.3% | 10.9% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 7% | 9.6% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 11.7% | 13.1% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 15.4% | 12.7% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 14% | 12% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 12.1% | 12.5% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 10.3% | 10.1% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 6.5% | 6.7% | 7% |
| No diploma | 5.8% | 9.6% | 10.4% |
| High school | 38.9% | 32.5% | 26% |
| Some college | 13.8% | 19.3% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 12.8% | 9.1% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 24.3% | 18.7% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 4.3% | 10.8% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 2,600, single groups can be off by several points
HealthB
Osceola ranks healthier than 57% of the country’s towns
Against the 10,144 U.S. towns with household incomes like Osceola’s, it is healthier than 76%, so its B isn’t only a matter of income. Within Indiana it is healthier than 80% of the 589 graded towns: much of Indiana scores lower on these measures.
Osceola beats the Indiana average on 1 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 1. 29% of Osceola adults have been diagnosed with depression.
57%healthier than U.S. townsBHealth Grade
| Osceola | Indiana towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 29% | 26% | 23% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 16% | 16% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 34% | 39% | 35% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 13% | 15% | 14% |
32 measures vs. Indiana
1 better30 too close to call1 worse
| What stands out | Osceola | IN |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 11.6% | 14.7% |
| More adults with depression | 28.5% | 25.1% |
Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center
4 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: primary care, mental health
80th
percentile among IN towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Osceola
19pages on Osceola
The big questions
SchoolsA+Beat 95% of IN districtsSafety1.2 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthBBetter than IN on 1 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingB$294K typical home · up 5.5% in a yearWork & commuteB−$67K median household income · 368 jobs hereNatural hazardsA−FEMA risk higher than 19% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
After high school
Colleges nearby
8 within 15 miles of the center of Osceola
Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical SeminaryUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Elkhart5.5 miBethel UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Mishawaka6.1 mi$34,600 tuitionIndiana University-South BendUniversity or college · Public · South Bend7.4 mi$8,424 in-state tuition
About 3 of every 100 Osceola residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Indiana.
A commuter town
99% of working residents leave Osceola for work
Where Osceola’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
368jobs based in Osceola
1%of working residents work in town
9 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Osceola
Town in Indiana, United States
Osceola is a town in Penn Township, St. Joseph County, in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of the 2020 census, Osceola had a population of 2,590. It is part of the South Bend–Mishawaka, IN-MI, Metropolitan Statistical Area.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1837
- Area
- 1.4 sq mi
- Elevation
- 738 ft
- ZIP code
- 46561
- Area code
- 574
Questions about Osceola
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Osceola, IN a good place to live?
Yes, by almost any measure. Osceola grades A overall, better than 92% of U.S. towns and #59 of 585 in Indiana. It grades B for health and A+ for schools.
Is Osceola, IN expensive?
Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades B.