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Talk to a Specialist →Indiana's Double Income Tax — State Plus County
Most people know Indiana has a low flat income tax at 3.05%. What they forget is the county income tax that stacks on top. Marion County (Indianapolis): 2.02%. Hamilton County (Carmel, Fishers): 1.0%. Allen County (Fort Wayne): 1.48%. Lake County (Gary, Crown Point): 1.5%. These county taxes are not optional — they're automatically withheld alongside the state tax. A couple with $80,000 in retirement income in Marion County pays approximately $4,056 in combined state and county income tax. Florida: $0.
Indiana does exempt Social Security from state income tax, but pensions, IRA distributions, and other retirement income are fully taxable at the combined state-plus-county rate. For retirees with significant non-Social-Security income, the combined tax can approach 5-6% — comparable to Illinois without the political dysfunction narrative.
The Equity Conversion — Indianapolis Money in Broward
Indianapolis metro home values are moderate — $250K-$350K for established suburbs like Carmel, Fishers, Greenwood, and Avon. A $300K home with $80K mortgage nets approximately $185,000-$200,000. In Broward: Century Village Pembroke Pines ($180K Jasmine), Hollybrook ($190K with golf), or a Kings Point condo with community amenities ($195K).
Fort Wayne and Evansville sellers at $180K-$250K net $110K-$160K — entry-level Century Village East, Sunrise Lakes, or budget Kings Point territory.
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Why Indiana Retirees Choose Broward Over the Gulf Coast
The traditional Indiana-to-Florida pipeline runs to the Gulf Coast — Sarasota, Fort Myers, Naples — partly because I-65 South makes the drive straightforward and partly because those markets have historically marketed to Midwest retirees. Broward County draws fewer Indiana transplants but offers advantages the Gulf Coast doesn't: more 55+ community options per square mile, lower entry prices at the large condo communities, and Atlantic beach access.
The flight from IND to FLL is 2.5 hours on Allegiant, Frontier, and Spirit — comparable to Gulf Coast airports. The time zone is the same (Eastern). The cultural adjustment from Indiana to Broward is moderate — Indiana's friendly, low-key social culture fits well in community settings, though the ethnic and cultural diversity of Broward County is significantly greater than most Indiana communities.
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