Rensselaer, Indiana Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Rensselaer, Indiana had a total population of 5,573, the 121st largest city in Indiana, with a median household income of $60,331, which is 16% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 15.3%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Rensselaer Quick Facts
How Rensselaer 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 | 5,369 | 5,573 | +3.8% |
| Median household income | $61,648 | $60,331 | -2.1% |
| Median home value | $149,100 | $153,800 | +3.2% |
How Rensselaer 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+)
Rensselaer Rankings in Indiana
Explore Indiana Rankings
Other Cities in Jasper County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roselawn | 3,417 | $75,506 | 7.0% | $201,900 |
| Remington | 1,623 | $75,875 | 8.9% | $146,100 |
| Wheatfield | 792 | $73,375 | 14.3% | $196,700 |
Cities Similar to Rensselaer
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Westville | 5,279 | $60,794 | $139,300 | 7.9% | 11.4% |
| Tipton | 5,280 | $59,828 | $161,700 | 22.1% | 17.7% |
| Cicero | 5,509 | $66,934 | $282,100 | 41.0% | 11.5% |
| Monticello | 5,496 | $52,798 | $149,600 | 12.4% | 11.1% |
| Alexandria | 5,155 | $64,317 | $97,800 | 16.2% | 7.8% |
Population Overview
Rensselaer is a small city located in Indiana, within Jasper County. The total population is 5,573. It ranks as the 121st most populous out of 967 Census-designated places in Indiana.
Age Demographics
The median age in Rensselaer is 30.8 years. This is 19% lower than the state median of 38.1 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Rensselaer is $60,331. This is 16% lower than the state median of $71,957. It is also 25% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 15.3%. This is 24% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.3%. The unemployment rate is 5.8%. This is 35% higher than the state rate of 4.3%. The median home value is $153,800. Housing costs are 30% lower than the state median of $218,200. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.5x, Rensselaer is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 63.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 10% lower than the state average of 70.5%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Rensselaer is White (non-Hispanic), making up 76.5% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 15.4%. The Black or African American population (2.3%) is well below the state average of 9.1%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (15.4% vs 8.6%). The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 2.6%.
Education
18.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 37% 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 84.9%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Rensselaer, 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.
Free data download: Get all Indiana city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Rensselaer, Indiana?
Rensselaer, Indiana has a population of 5,573 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Rensselaer, IN?
The median household income in Rensselaer is $60,331, which is 25% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Rensselaer, IN?
The poverty rate in Rensselaer is 15.3%. This means approximately 793 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Rensselaer, Indiana?
Rensselaer's population is 76.5% White, 2.3% Black, 15.4% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.5% Asian.
What is the median home value in Rensselaer, IN?
The median home value in Rensselaer is $153,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 2.5x.
How educated is Rensselaer, Indiana?
18.4% of adults (25+) in Rensselaer hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 7.2% hold a graduate or professional degree.