Sullivan County, Indiana Demographics 2026

Name: Sullivan County, Indiana Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Sullivan County, Indiana has a population of 20,780, the 69th most populous county in Indiana. The median household income is $56,204 and the median home value is $131,100. The poverty rate is 13.9%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Sullivan County Quick Facts

Population 20,780

Median Household Income $56,204

Median Home Value $131,100

Poverty Rate 13.9%

Unemployment Rate 4.5%

Median Age 41.7 years

Homeownership Rate 76.4%

Affordability Ratio 2.3x

Bachelor's Degree+ 14.5%

High School Graduation 89.0%

Cities/Places 7

Population 20,780 69th of 92

Median Income $56,204 22% lower than state

Poverty Rate 13.9%

Unemployment 4.5%

How Sullivan 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	20,766	20,780	+0.1%
Median household income	$54,985	$56,204	+2.2%
Median home value	$122,200	$131,100	+7.3%

Median Household Income

Sullivan

$56,204

$71,957

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Sullivan

$131,100

$218,200

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 18.6%

$25K-$50K 24.7%

$50K-$100K 34.0%

$100K+ 22.7%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

6.5%

$10K-$15K

3.7%

$15K-$20K

4.0%

$20K-$25K

4.4%

$25K-$30K

5.7%

$30K-$35K

4.6%

$35K-$40K

4.3%

$40K-$45K

4.4%

$45K-$50K

5.9%

$50K-$60K

9.1%

$60K-$75K

10.8%

$75K-$100K

14.1%

$100K-$125K

6.6%

$125K-$150K

3.8%

$150K-$200K

8.7%

$200K+

3.5%

Employment

4.5% Unemployment Rate State: 4.3%|National: 5.2%

54.8% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 76.4%

Renter 23.6%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

2.3x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $829/mo 17.7% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

18.8%

18-34

21.3%

35-54

27.3%

55-74

24.7%

75+

7.9%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Very Low Diversity

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 Sullivan County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Sullivan	4,252	$46,551	19.6%	$128,100
Shelburn	1,264	$46,458	24.7%	$73,700
Farmersburg	1,166	$53,750	12.7%	$78,000
Hymera	937	$47,102	13.0%	$90,500
Dugger	783	$60,688	9.1%	$87,800
Carlisle	726	$45,750	25.6%	$73,000
Merom	285	$43,750	2.8%	N/A

Explore Indiana Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Sullivan County is located in Indiana with a total population of 20,780. It is the 69th most populous county out of 92 in Indiana. The county encompasses 7 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Sullivan County is 41.7 years. This is 9% higher than the state median of 38.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Sullivan County is $56,204. This is 22% lower than the state median of $71,957. It is also 30% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 13.9%. This is 12% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.3%. The unemployment rate is 4.5%. This is 4% higher than the state rate of 4.3%. The median home value is $131,100. Housing costs are 40% lower than the state median of $218,200. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.3x, Sullivan County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 76.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 8% higher than the state average of 70.5%.

Race & Ethnicity

Sullivan County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 90.4% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 3.0%. The Black or African American population (3.0%) is well below the state average of 9.1%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.9%) is well below the state average of 8.6%. The Asian population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 2.6%.

Education

14.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 51% 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 89.0%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Sullivan 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 Sullivan County, Indiana?

Sullivan County has a population of 20,780, making it the 69th most populous county in Indiana.

What is the median income in Sullivan County?

The median household income in Sullivan County is $56,204 with a poverty rate of 13.9%.

How many cities are in Sullivan County, Indiana?

Sullivan County contains 7 Census-designated places.