Starke County, Indiana Demographics 2026
Starke County, Indiana has a population of 23,365, the 65th most populous county in Indiana. The median household income is $63,960 and the median home value is $157,700. The poverty rate is 13.4%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Starke County Quick Facts
How Starke 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 | 23,300 | 23,365 | +0.3% |
| Median household income | $62,933 | $63,960 | +1.6% |
| Median home value | $148,400 | $157,700 | +6.3% |
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+)
Cities & Places in Starke County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knox | 3,479 | $48,931 | 28.6% | $140,300 |
| North Judson | 1,823 | $55,086 | 16.2% | $134,500 |
| Hamlet | 1,039 | $73,542 | 11.7% | $112,300 |
| Bass Lake | 983 | $73,086 | 0.7% | $324,600 |
| San Pierre | 727 | N/A | 1.8% | $193,600 |
Explore Indiana Rankings
Population Overview
Starke County is located in Indiana with a total population of 23,365. It is the 65th most populous county out of 92 in Indiana. The county encompasses 5 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Starke County is 42.1 years. This is 10% higher than the state median of 38.1 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Starke County is $63,960. This is 11% lower than the state median of $71,957. It is also 21% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 13.4%. This is 8% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.3%. The unemployment rate is 3.4%. This is 21% lower than the state rate of 4.3%. The median home value is $157,700. Housing costs are 28% lower than the state median of $218,200. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.5x, Starke County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 83.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 18% higher than the state average of 70.5%.
Race & Ethnicity
Starke County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 91.0% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 4.3%. The Black or African American population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 9.1%. The Asian population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 2.6%.
Education
12.5% 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 57% 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 87.1%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Starke 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 Starke County, Indiana?
Starke County has a population of 23,365, making it the 65th most populous county in Indiana.
What is the median income in Starke County?
The median household income in Starke County is $63,960 with a poverty rate of 13.4%.
How many cities are in Starke County, Indiana?
Starke County contains 5 Census-designated places.