Elkhart County, Indiana Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Elkhart County is located in Indiana with a total population of 206,868. It is the 6th most populous county out of 92 in Indiana. The county encompasses 1 Census-designated place.

Age Demographics

The median age in Elkhart County is 35.5 years. This is 7% lower than the state median of 38.0 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Elkhart County is $65,617. This is 6% lower than the state median of $70,051. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 16% lower. The poverty rate stands at 12.5%. This is 3% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.2%. The unemployment rate is 3.4%. This is 20% lower than the state rate of 4.3%. The median home value is $194,400. Housing costs are 4% lower than the state median of $201,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.0x. 71.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 1% higher than the state average of 70.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Elkhart County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 70.8% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 19.5%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (19.5% vs 8.4%). The Asian population (1.1%) is well below the state average of 2.5%.

Education

19.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 31% lower than the state rate of 28.8%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 82.2%.