Patoka, Indiana Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 737, Patoka'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

Patoka is a small community located in Indiana, within Gibson County. The total population is 737. It ranks as the 423rd most populous out of 967 Census-designated places in Indiana.

Age Demographics

The median age in Patoka is 37.2 years. This is 2% lower than the state median of 38.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Patoka is $48,958. This is 32% lower than the state median of $71,957. It is also 39% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 26.5%. This is 114% 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 2.1%. This is 52% lower than the state rate of 4.3%. The median home value is $99,000. Housing costs are 55% lower than the state median of $218,200. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.0x, Patoka is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 78.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 12% higher than the state average of 70.5%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Patoka is White (non-Hispanic), making up 84.9% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 2.9%. The Black or African American population (2.9%) is well below the state average of 9.1%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.4%) is well below the state average of 8.6%. The Asian population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 2.6%.

Education

11.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 62% 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 85.8%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Patoka, 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.