Is Greencastle Safe, Pros and cons of living in Greencastle

Is it Safe to Live in Greencastle?

Greencastle, Indiana, has a crime rate that is 13% lower than the national average (as reported by AreaVibes). Violent crimes in Greencastle are 5% lower than the national average (as reported by AreaVibes). Residents have a 1 in 55 chance of becoming a victim of crime in Greencastle (as reported by AreaVibes). The city is considered safer than 28% of cities in the United States (as reported by AreaVibes).

However, other data suggests a different perspective. Greencastle has a crime rate of 29 per one thousand residents, which is considered high compared to communities of all sizes in America (as reported by NeighborhoodScout). Within Indiana, over 96% of communities have a lower crime rate than Greencastle (as reported by NeighborhoodScout). NeighborhoodScout also indicates that Greencastle’s crime rate, combining both violent and property crimes, is significantly higher than average when compared to communities of similar population size (as reported by NeighborhoodScout). The violent crime rate in Greencastle is 4 per one thousand inhabitants, with a chance of becoming a victim of violent crime at 1 in 236 (as reported by NeighborhoodScout). Property crimes, including burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft, and arson, occur at a rate of 25 per one thousand population, making the chance of becoming a victim 1 in 41 (as reported by NeighborhoodScout). CrimeGrade.org assigns Greencastle a “B-” grade for violent crime, indicating it is slightly lower than the average US city, and ranks it in the 60th percentile for safety (as reported by CrimeGrade.org).

Demographics and Population

Greencastle, Indiana, has an estimated population of 9,864 residents, showing a slight increase from the 2020 Census figure of 9,820 (as reported by Census Bureau data). The population is predominantly White, making up 83.9% of residents, which is a higher percentage than the state average of 75.4% (as reported by Census Bureau data). The city has become more racially diverse since the 2020 Census, with a diversity index of 29.0% (as reported by Census Bureau data).

The Black or African American population in Greencastle constitutes 5.1% of the residents, a notable increase from previous years (as reported by Census Bureau data). Hispanic or Latino residents represent 3.55% of the population (as reported by Census Bureau data). The median age in Greencastle is 27.5 years, with a slightly higher male population (111.4 males per 100 females) (as reported by World Population Review).

Cost of Living and Housing

The cost of living in Greencastle is approximately 11% less expensive than the national average and 1% less expensive than the average city in Indiana (as reported by ERI Economic Research Institute). This affordability is largely driven by housing costs, which are about 33.9% lower than the national average (as reported by Salary.com). The median home price in Greencastle is around $154,000 (as reported by ERI Economic Research Institute), though other sources place the median listing price at $232,500 (as reported by Realtor.com®) or an average home value of $243,386 (as reported by Zillow).

The median rent for a home in Greencastle is approximately $1,200 per month (as reported by Realtor.com®). Rental prices can range from $614 to $1,713 per month, with an average of $882 per month (as reported by RentalSource). This is significantly lower than the national average rent of $1,788 per month (as reported by RentalSource).

Job Market and Economy

Greencastle’s economy employs approximately 4.76k people, with a slight decline of 3.99% from the previous year (as reported by Data USA). The primary employment sectors for Greencastle residents are Educational Services, employing 949 people, followed by Manufacturing with 869 employees, and Retail Trade with 560 employees (as reported by Data USA). The average salary in Greencastle is approximately $65,258 annually, with an hourly rate of $31 (as reported by ERI Economic Research Institute). However, other sources indicate a median wage of $40.6K per year and an average per capita income of $42,794 (as reported by ZipRecruiter and World Population Review).

Major employers in the Greencastle area include DePauw University, Walmart Distribution Center, Putnamville Correctional Facility, and Putnam County Hospital (as reported by Hoosiers by the Numbers). Other significant businesses include International Automotive Components (IAC) and Heartland Automotive (as reported by Putnam County Chamber of Commerce). The unemployment rate in Putnam County was 3.4% as of March 2026 (as reported by STATS Indiana).

Climate and Weather

Greencastle experiences a climate characterized by long, warm, humid, and wet summers, contrasted by short, freezing, snowy, and windy winters. It is partly cloudy throughout the year (as reported by Weather Spark). The warm season typically lasts from late May to late September, with average daily high temperatures exceeding 75°F. July is the hottest month, with average highs around 84°F and lows of 66°F (as reported by Weather Spark).

The cold season extends from December to March, with average daily high temperatures below 45°F. January is the coldest month, experiencing average lows of 22°F and highs of 36°F (as reported by Weather Spark). The average annual rainfall in Greencastle is approximately 46 inches, and the average annual snowfall is around 25 inches (as reported by Livability.com).

Education and Schools

Greencastle Community School Corporation serves the city, operating as an above-average public school district (as reported by Niche). It has approximately 1,790 students in grades Pre-K through 12, with a student-teacher ratio of 14 to 1 (as reported by Niche). State test scores indicate that 36% of students are proficient in math and 36% are proficient in reading (as reported by Niche). Greencastle Senior High School, part of this district, has a student-teacher ratio of 14 to 1, with 21% of students proficient in math and 46% proficient in reading (as reported by Niche). DePauw University, a private liberal arts university, is also located in Greencastle and is a significant part of the city’s educational landscape (as reported by Wikipedia).