Muncie, IN Homes For Rent

Homes for Rent in Muncie, IN: What You Need to Know

Muncie in east-central Indiana is home to Ball State University. It’s sometimes called Middletown, the name of a sociological study in the 1920s that depicted the city as a typical American community. 

Schools and Higher Education

Ball State University was founded in 1918 as Indiana State Normal School. In 1965, the school became Ball State University, named after the five Ball brothers, the industrialists and philanthropists who helped shape Muncie. Today, the university is composed of seven colleges serving 21,884 students. There are 24 other universities within 50 miles of the city. In primary and secondary education, Muncie has 19 public schools with 9,325 students. Royerton Elementary School and Delta Middle School are among the top-ranked schools.

Local History

The Lenape people, who lived in the area in the 1770s, founded the towns along the White River. One of them was Munsee Town, which became Muncie when it was incorporated as a city in 1865. The word “Munsee” referred to a member of the Lenape tribe. The natural gas boom in the 1880s attracted many factories, including the Ball brothers. They relocated their glass factory from Buffalo, New York, to Muncie in March 1888. Ball Corp. helped spur Muncie’s growth throughout the years. In 1998, the company moved its headquarters to Colorado.

Things to Do in Muncie, IN

Prairie Creek Reservoir and Campgrounds, Muncie’s largest park, hosts popular outdoor events. The Annual Ron Bonham Day in July features free entertainment and a fireworks show. Prairie Creek also hosts triathlons and other races. The park is a great place for hiking, biking, fishing, boating, camping, and swimming. The Muncie Children’s Museum features interactive displays designed to make learning fun. Kids love the Discovery Park, an exhibit that helps them explore an array of subjects through science.

Cost of Living

In Muncie (population: 67,999), newcomers will come out ahead with a cost of living rate and housing costs that are 11.3% and 23.8% lower than the national average, respectively. The median gross rent is $709. Food cost is 0.1% higher than the national average. Hoosier State residents pay 3.23% in income tax and 7% in sales tax. Counties charge their own income taxes of up to 3.38%. 

Know Your Neighborhoods

Muncie, the seat of Delaware County, gets kudos for its welcoming community and small-town charm. A little over half (51%) of all residents in this college town are renters. Families in search of top-notch public schools should check out Yorktown and Hamilton Township, both about six miles from Muncie.