Parke County, Indiana Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Parke County is located in Indiana with a total population of 16,346. It is the 78th most populous county out of 92 in Indiana.

Age Demographics

The median age in Parke County is 42.5 years. This is 12% higher than the state median of 38.0 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Parke County is $66,776. This is 5% lower than the state median of $70,051. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 15% lower. The poverty rate stands at 17.2%. This is 41% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.2%. The unemployment rate is 5.2%. This is 21% higher than the state rate of 4.3%. The median home value is $139,300. Housing costs are 31% lower than the state median of $201,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.1x, Parke County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 81.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 16% higher than the state average of 70.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

Parke County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 94.4% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 2.3%. The Black or African American population (2.3%) is well below the state average of 9.1%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.6%) is well below the state average of 8.4%.

Education

14.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 51% 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 84.1%.