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COUNTY

Starke County

Indiana · 23,425 residents (2025 est.) · 309.144 sq mi
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The short version

Starke County has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $63,960. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 13% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $157,700.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 42.1
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
23,365
−1%since 2000
from 23,556 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
76 / sq mi
Unchangedsince 2009
from 76 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
42.1
+14%since 2000
from 37.0 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:23,425 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
23K23K23K23K24K1990201020202024Starke County
202423K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 56.1%(1,434)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.2%(1,226)
US avg: 6%
10 to 147.1%(1,663)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 195.9%(1,378)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.3%(1,235)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3411.6%(2,718)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4411.4%(2,668)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5412.6%(2,936)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6414%(3,281)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7412.7%(2,969)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 845.5%(1,295)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.4%(562)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$63,960
−6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $37,243 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$29,104
+77%since 2000
from $16,466 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
41.0%
+23.1 ptssince 2009
from 17.9% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
13.4%
+2.3 ptssince 2000
from 11.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.395
Unchangedsince 2010
from 0.396 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade23.2%
US avg: 9.9%
Information11.1%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade10%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance7.5%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical6.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services2.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Arts, entertainment, food2%
US avg: 1.9%
Public administration2%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing1.4%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services1.4%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.9%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.7%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$157,700
+8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $80,500 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$712
−9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $431 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
83.0%
+2.1 ptssince 2000
from 80.9% in 2000
17.0% rent
Vacancy rate
20.3%
+3.7 ptssince 2009
from 16.6% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
18.0%
−10.7 ptssince 2009
from 28.6% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
31.8%
−11.4 ptssince 2009
from 43.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.5
−1%since 2009
from 2.5 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
44
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Starke County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic96.3%(22,685)
Black0.2%(51)
Hispanic / Latino2.2%(514)
Asian0.2%(47)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic91%(21,267)
Black0.5%(126)
Hispanic / Latino4.3%(1,016)
Asian0.3%(77)
Other3.8%(879)
Diversity Score
21
+81%since 2009
from 12 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
12
−30%since 2020
from 17 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican2.8%(660)
Puerto Rican0.4%(104)
Guatemalan0.4%(92)
Spaniard0.3%(75)
Cuban0.3%(73)
Asian origin
Filipino0.3%(72)
Chinese0%(5)
Ancestry
German17.3%(4,033)
Irish12.5%(2,914)
English9.8%(2,289)
American5.3%(1,243)
Polish4.6%(1,080)
Dutch2.9%(677)
Italian2.3%(530)
Scottish1.8%(416)
French1.6%(374)
Swedish1.6%(374)
Danish1%(242)
Czech1%(227)
+ 23 more ancestry groups with data
Ukrainian0.8%(187)
Hungarian0.7%(158)
Welsh0.6%(145)
Romanian0.5%(123)
Lithuanian0.5%(121)
Scotch-Irish0.4%(99)
Austrian0.4%(96)
Slovak0.4%(93)
Norwegian0.4%(86)
Serbian0.2%(51)
Croatian0.2%(48)
Greek0.2%(37)
Finnish0.1%(33)
Arab0.1%(24)
Russian0.1%(23)
Moroccan0.1%(21)
Bulgarian0.1%(20)
Slovene0.1%(13)
British0%(10)
Syrian0%(3)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest English population · Largest American population · Largest Polish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
12.5%
+4.1 ptssince 2000
from 8.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
87.0%
+15.1 ptssince 2000
from 72.0% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
3.8%
Unchangedsince 2000
from 3.8% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
29.8 min
+33%since 2000
from 22.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
81.5%
−2.4 ptssince 2009
from 83.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
10.4%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 11.1% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.2%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
4.8%
+2.4 ptssince 2009
from 2.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.5%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
6.6%
+2.2 ptssince 2009
from 4.4% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.4%
−10.3 ptssince 2011
from 13.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
55.1%
−2.1 ptssince 2011
from 57.2% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
10.6%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 9.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
27.2%
−25.7 ptssince 2009
from 52.9% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.4%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 49.4% in 2009
Female
49.6%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 50.6% in 2009
Foreign born
2.3%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 2.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.4%
−41.3 ptssince 2009
from 48.6% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
19.7%
+2.5 ptssince 2012
from 17.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
7.8%
−78.9 ptssince 2013
from 86.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
84.5%
+18.1 ptssince 2017
from 66.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
97.0%
+0.3 ptssince 2016
from 96.7% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.0%
−1.0 ptssince 2016
from 2.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married26.8%(2,569)
Married54.9%(5,254)
Widowed4.3%(414)
Divorced14%(1,338)
Women 15+
Never married23.5%(2,227)
Married54.3%(5,136)
Widowed8.5%(803)
Divorced13.7%(1,301)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Starke County to nearby counties

STARKE COUNTY VS
Pulaski County
Income$62,792−2%
Home value$156,400−1%
Population12,463−47%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
STARKE COUNTY VS
LaPorte County
Income$71,055+11%
Home value$195,500+24%
Population111,294+375%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
STARKE COUNTY VS
Marshall County
Income$71,808+12%
Home value$204,900+30%
Population46,599+99%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
STARKE COUNTY VS
Fulton County
Income$61,360−4%
Home value$156,500−1%
Population20,091−14%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Starke County, Indiana?

Starke County, Indiana has about 23,365 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Starke County, Indiana earns about $63,960 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Starke County, Indiana expensive?

In Starke County, Indiana, the median home is worth about $157,700, and the typical rent is about $712 a month.

How educated are people in Starke County, Indiana?

About 12.5% of adults age 25 and over in Starke County, Indiana hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Starke County, Indiana?

About 13.4% of people in Starke County, Indiana live below the federal poverty line.

Has Starke County, Indiana grown since 1990?

Yes, Starke County, Indiana has grown since 1990. The population has added about 618 residents, a change of about 3 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

7 census tracts
Census Tract 9537Census Tract 9542Census Tract 9538Census Tract 9540Census Tract 9541Census Tract 9536Census Tract 9539
5 ZIP codes
ZIP 46534ZIP 46366ZIP 46532ZIP 46531ZIP 46374
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →