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COUNTY

Jay County

Indiana · 20,118 residents (2025 est.) · 383.905 sq mi
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The short version

Jay County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $54,969. Population has declined 7% since 2000. 13% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $117,500.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 39.5
US median: 38.9
Less educated
13% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
20,229
−7%since 2000
from 21,806 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
53 / sq mi
−7%since 2000
from 57 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
39.5
+8%since 2000
from 36.7 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:20,118 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
20K21K21K21K22K1990201020202024Jay County
202420K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$54,969
−15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $35,700 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$27,634
+66%since 2000
from $16,686 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
36.6%
+18.6 ptssince 2009
from 18.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
14.4%
+5.3 ptssince 2000
from 9.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.411
+8%since 2010
from 0.379 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade30.2%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade10.4%
US avg: 6.9%
Information7.8%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance5.8%
US avg: 5.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing5.6%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction5.6%
US avg: 1.2%
Professional, scientific, technical5.4%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services1.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration1.5%
US avg: 4.8%
Arts, entertainment, food1.2%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing0.5%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services0.5%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$117,500
−2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $66,100 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$770
+9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $387 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
79.9%
+2.2 ptssince 2000
from 77.7% in 2000
20.1% rent
Vacancy rate
12.3%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 10.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
19.6%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 19.7% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
42.7%
+1.9 ptssince 2009
from 40.8% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.1
+15%since 2000
from 1.9 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
15
RELATED:See current rent listings in Jay County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic96.9%(21,131)
Black0.2%(54)
Hispanic / Latino1.8%(390)
Asian0.3%(74)
Other0%
Diversity Score5.9%(1,279)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic92.8%(18,768)
Black0.3%(67)
Hispanic / Latino4.6%(922)
Asian0.1%(11)
Other2.3%(461)
Diversity Score17.1%(3,455)
Segregation Score32.2%(6,516)
Diversity Score
17
+191%since 2000
from 6 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
32
+13%since 2020
from 29 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
13.3%
+3.4 ptssince 2000
from 9.9% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
86.0%
+7.4 ptssince 2000
from 78.5% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
5.1%
+1.0 ptssince 2000
from 4.1% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
22.5 min
+44%since 2000
from 15.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
76.5%
−3.5 ptssince 2009
from 80.0% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
10.2%
−2.6 ptssince 2009
from 12.9% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.4%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
7.7%
+3.9 ptssince 2009
from 3.8% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.3%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 2.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.2%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
8.2%
+3.3 ptssince 2009
from 4.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.4%
−5.4 ptssince 2011
from 9.8% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
59.4%
−7.0 ptssince 2011
from 66.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
10.0%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 10.7% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
24.7%
−33.3 ptssince 2009
from 58.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.7%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 49.3% in 2009
Female
49.3%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 50.7% in 2009
Foreign born
1.1%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.0%
−42.7 ptssince 2009
from 48.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
18.4%
+2.7 ptssince 2012
from 15.7% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
10.8%
−76.3 ptssince 2013
from 87.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
82.8%
+21.4 ptssince 2017
from 61.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
93.1%
−2.6 ptssince 2016
from 95.7% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.4%
−0.6 ptssince 2016
from 2.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Jay County

Yell County
Pop 19,956
Conway County
Pop 21,393
Columbia County
Pop 21,894
Mitchell County
Pop 20,467
Places similar to Jay County
Head to head

Compare Jay County to nearby counties

JAY COUNTY VS
Blackford County
Income$51,326−7%
Home value$107,500−9%
Population11,730−42%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
JAY COUNTY VS
Randolph County
Income$60,791+11%
Home value$113,400−3%
Population24,438+21%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
JAY COUNTY VS
Mercer County
Income$76,782+40%
Home value$210,600+79%
Population42,737+112%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
JAY COUNTY VS
Adams County
Income$65,289+19%
Home value$178,400+52%
Population36,650+82%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Jay County, Indiana?

Jay County, Indiana has about 20,229 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Jay County, Indiana?

The typical household in Jay County, Indiana earns about $54,969 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Jay County, Indiana expensive?

In Jay County, Indiana, the median home is worth about $117,500, and the typical rent is about $770 a month.

How educated are people in Jay County, Indiana?

About 13.3% of adults age 25 and over in Jay County, Indiana hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Jay County, Indiana?

About 14.4% of people in Jay County, Indiana live below the federal poverty line.

Has Jay County, Indiana grown since 1990?

Yes, Jay County, Indiana has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 1,283 residents, a change of about -6 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

7 census tracts
Census Tract 9631Census Tract 9627Census Tract 9628Census Tract 9629Census Tract 9632Census Tract 9630Census Tract 9633
6 ZIP codes
ZIP 47371ZIP 47336ZIP 47373ZIP 47326ZIP 47369ZIP 47381
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →