Carthage, Indiana Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Carthage, Indiana had a total population of 675, the 442nd largest town in Indiana, with a median household income of $51,731, which is 28% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 20.2%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Only 5.4% of adults have a bachelor's degree, well below the national average of 35.7%.
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.7x.
Carthage Quick Facts
How Carthage Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 754 | 675 | -10.5% |
| Median household income | $42,500 | $51,731 | +21.7% |
| Median home value | $88,900 | $89,800 | +1.0% |
How Carthage Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 41 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Carthage Rankings in Indiana
Explore Indiana Rankings
Other Cities in Rush County
Cities Similar to Carthage
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dana | 652 | $52,791 | $55,500 | 4.4% | 21.9% |
| St. Meinrad | 646 | $52,402 | $315,200 | 32.0% | 15.0% |
| Mount Summit | 713 | N/A | $214,100 | 17.2% | 4.9% |
| Gaston | 710 | $52,292 | $90,000 | 12.3% | 15.4% |
| Arlington | 678 | $57,841 | $131,300 | 19.3% | 13.1% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 675, Carthage's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.
Population Overview
Carthage is a small community located in Indiana, within Rush County. The total population is 675. It ranks as the 442nd most populous out of 967 Census-designated places in Indiana.
Age Demographics
The median age in Carthage is 39.2 years. This is 3% higher than the state median of 38.1 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Carthage is $51,731. This is 28% lower than the state median of $71,957. It is also 36% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 20.2%. This is 63% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.3%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 7.6%. This is 77% higher than the state rate of 4.3%. The median home value is $89,800. Housing costs are 59% lower than the state median of $218,200. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.7x, Carthage is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 67.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 5% lower than the state average of 70.5%.
Race & Ethnicity
Carthage has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 97.2% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 1.5%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.5%) is well below the state average of 8.6%.
Education
5.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 82% lower than the state rate of 29.5%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 84.2%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Carthage, Indiana is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Indiana state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 967 Census-designated places in Indiana. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Carthage, Indiana?
Carthage, Indiana has a population of 675 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Carthage, IN?
The median household income in Carthage is $51,731, which is 36% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Carthage, IN?
The poverty rate in Carthage is 20.2%. This means approximately 136 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Carthage, Indiana?
Carthage's population is 97.2% White, 0.0% Black, 1.5% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Carthage, IN?
The median home value in Carthage is $89,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 1.7x.
How educated is Carthage, Indiana?
5.4% of adults (25+) in Carthage hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 2.5% hold a graduate or professional degree.