Starke County, Indiana Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Starke County is located in Indiana with a total population of 23,300. It is the 66th most populous county out of 92 in Indiana.

Age Demographics

The median age in Starke County is 41.9 years. This is 10% higher than the state median of 38.0 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Starke County is $62,933. This is 10% lower than the state median of $70,051. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 20% lower. The poverty rate stands at 14.8%. This is 22% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.2%. The unemployment rate is 3.4%. This is 21% lower than the state rate of 4.3%. The median home value is $148,400. Housing costs are 26% lower than the state median of $201,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.4x, Starke County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 83.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 19% higher than the state average of 70.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

Starke County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 92.1% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 4.1%. The Black or African American population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 9.1%. The Hispanic or Latino population (4.1%) is well below the state average of 8.4%. The Asian population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 2.5%.

Education

12.6% 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 56% 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 85.9%.