Van Buren, Indiana Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Van Buren, Indiana had a total population of 782, the 412th largest town in Indiana, with a median household income of $47,692, which is 34% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 19.7%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Household income is 34% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
- Only 9.8% of adults have a bachelor's degree, well below the national average of 35.7%.
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.5x.
Van Buren Quick Facts
How Van Buren 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 | 858 | 782 | -8.9% |
| Median household income | $49,000 | $47,692 | -2.7% |
| Median home value | $65,600 | $69,800 | +6.4% |
How Van Buren 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+)
Van Buren Rankings in Indiana
Explore Indiana Rankings
Other Cities in Grant County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marion | 27,531 | $43,343 | 29.6% | $85,300 |
| Gas City | 6,076 | $55,982 | 16.8% | $119,300 |
| Upland | 3,918 | $83,839 | 9.7% | $203,200 |
| Fairmount | 2,662 | $51,739 | 25.7% | $103,200 |
| Jonesboro | 1,578 | $45,833 | 16.3% | $79,500 |
| Sweetser | 1,061 | $80,625 | 11.8% | $153,400 |
| Swayzee | 846 | $65,391 | 10.8% | $121,000 |
| Converse | 813 | $65,536 | 18.9% | $103,800 |
| Matthews | 501 | $50,048 | 15.5% | $80,100 |
| Herbst | 309 | $40,366 | 20.4% | N/A |
Cities Similar to Van Buren
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grandview | 757 | $50,987 | $140,600 | 17.1% | 8.7% |
| Patoka | 737 | $48,958 | $99,000 | 11.3% | 26.5% |
| San Pierre | 727 | N/A | $193,600 | 9.3% | 1.8% |
| Walton | 827 | $45,660 | $98,600 | 9.6% | 20.8% |
| La Fontaine | 837 | $49,464 | $96,300 | 18.7% | 9.8% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 782, Van Buren'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
Van Buren is a small community located in Indiana, within Grant County. The total population is 782. It ranks as the 412th most populous out of 967 Census-designated places in Indiana.
Age Demographics
The median age in Van Buren is 47.3 years. This is 24% higher than the state median of 38.1 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Van Buren is $47,692. This is 34% lower than the state median of $71,957. It is also 41% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 19.7%. This is 60% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.3%. The unemployment rate is 7.7%. This is 81% higher than the state rate of 4.3%. The median home value is $69,800. Housing costs are 68% lower than the state median of $218,200. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.5x, Van Buren is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 81.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 15% higher than the state average of 70.5%.
Race & Ethnicity
Van Buren has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 91.3% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 1.8%. The Black or African American population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 9.1%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.8%) is well below the state average of 8.6%.
Education
9.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 67% 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 91.3%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Van Buren, 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Van Buren, Indiana?
Van Buren, Indiana has a population of 782 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Van Buren, IN?
The median household income in Van Buren is $47,692, which is 41% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Van Buren, IN?
The poverty rate in Van Buren is 19.7%. This means approximately 154 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Van Buren, Indiana?
Van Buren's population is 91.3% White, 0.6% Black, 1.8% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Van Buren, IN?
The median home value in Van Buren is $69,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 1.5x.
How educated is Van Buren, Indiana?
9.8% of adults (25+) in Van Buren hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 3.5% hold a graduate or professional degree.