Jay County, Indiana Demographics 2026

Name: Jay County, Indiana Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Jay County, Indiana has a population of 20,229, the 72nd most populous county in Indiana. The median household income is $54,969 and the median home value is $117,500. The poverty rate is 14.4%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Jay County Quick Facts

Population 20,229

Median Household Income $54,969

Median Home Value $117,500

Poverty Rate 14.4%

Unemployment Rate 4.4%

Median Age 39.5 years

Homeownership Rate 79.9%

Affordability Ratio 2.1x

Bachelor's Degree+ 13.3%

High School Graduation 86.0%

Cities/Places 6

Population 20,229 72nd of 92

Median Income $54,969 24% lower than state

Poverty Rate 14.4%

Unemployment 4.4%

How Jay County 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	20,281	20,229	-0.3%
Median household income	$54,114	$54,969	+1.6%
Median home value	$110,100	$117,500	+6.7%

Median Household Income

Jay

$54,969

$71,957

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Jay

$117,500

$218,200

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 20.1%

$25K-$50K 22.8%

$50K-$100K 34.5%

$100K+ 22.7%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

5.2%

$10K-$15K

4.0%

$15K-$20K

6.0%

$20K-$25K

4.9%

$25K-$30K

4.5%

$30K-$35K

5.5%

$35K-$40K

5.1%

$40K-$45K

4.6%

$45K-$50K

3.1%

$50K-$60K

10.4%

$60K-$75K

10.1%

$75K-$100K

13.9%

$100K-$125K

10.4%

$125K-$150K

4.7%

$150K-$200K

5.1%

$200K+

2.5%

Employment

4.4% Unemployment Rate State: 4.3%|National: 5.2%

59.4% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 79.9%

Renter 20.1%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

2.1x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $770/mo 16.8% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

25.6%

18-34

19.7%

35-54

23.3%

55-74

24.0%

75+

7.4%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Very Low Diversity

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+)

Cities & Places in Jay County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Portland	6,416	$51,513	17.3%	$96,700
Dunkirk	1,861	$46,339	22.6%	$81,100
Redkey	1,332	$42,986	34.6%	$85,400
Pennville	619	$50,388	19.4%	$84,100
Bryant	258	$58,295	8.5%	$66,000
Salamonia	218	$44,464	11.0%	$83,800

Explore Indiana Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Jay County is located in Indiana with a total population of 20,229. It is the 72nd most populous county out of 92 in Indiana. The county encompasses 6 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Jay County is 39.5 years. This is 4% higher than the state median of 38.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Jay County is $54,969. This is 24% lower than the state median of $71,957. It is also 32% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 14.4%. This is 17% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.3%. The unemployment rate is 4.4%. This is 3% higher than the state rate of 4.3%. The median home value is $117,500. Housing costs are 46% lower than the state median of $218,200. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.1x, Jay County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 79.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 13% higher than the state average of 70.5%.

Race & Ethnicity

Jay County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 92.8% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 4.6%. The Black or African American population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 9.1%. The Asian population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 2.6%.

Education

13.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 55% 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 86.0%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Jay County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Indiana and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Jay County, Indiana?

Jay County has a population of 20,229, making it the 72nd most populous county in Indiana.

What is the median income in Jay County?

The median household income in Jay County is $54,969 with a poverty rate of 14.4%.

How many cities are in Jay County, Indiana?

Jay County contains 6 Census-designated places.