City · Indiana
Elwood, Indiana
Elwood, city, mostly in Madison County (100.0% of its 2020 residents), with a part in Tipton County, Indiana. Elwood had 8,525 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 1.4% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 8,410 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 8,356 (±29). GEOID 1821070.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
8,525
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 8,410 · ACS 2020-2024: 8,356 ±29
Median household income
$53,280
±$3,126 (90% margin)
Indiana: $71,957
Median home value
$97,800
±$11,048 (90% margin)
Indiana: $218,200
Median gross rent
$860
±$82 (90% margin)
Indiana: $1,062
Where is Elwood and what county is it in?
Elwood is a city mostly in Madison County (100.0% of its 2020 residents), with a part in Tipton County, Indiana. It covers 4.0 square miles of land, 2,106 residents per square mile in 2020.
Elwood is in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 11 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Elwood lies mostly within Pipe Creek Township (Madison County), a township with its own local government (2020 census blocks).
| County | 2020 residents | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Madison County | 8,406 | 100.0% |
| Tipton County | 4 | 0.1% |
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Elwood, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 8,525 people lived in Elwood on July 1, 2025, up 1.4% since 2020, slower than Indiana (+2.8%). The 2020 Census counted 8,410 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 8,356 (±29).
| Measure | Elwood | Madison County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 8,356 ±29 | 131,900 | −85 |
| Households | 3,422 ±228 | 53,429 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.43 ±0.16 | 2.37 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 3,903 ±281 | 59,301 | no clear change |
Elwood's population since 2000
From 9,737 in 2000 to 8,525 in 2025: down 12.4%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Elwood as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Elwood?
The median resident of Elwood is 43.5 years old; 20.1% are under 18 and 15.4% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 91.4%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 4.0%.
| Measure | Elwood | Madison County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.5 ±2.5 | 40.9 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 20.1% ±3.2 pts | 21.4% | – |
| 65 years and over | 15.4% ±2.5 pts | 18.8% | – |
| Male | 49.2% ±3.7 pts | 50.4% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 3.5% ±2.6 pts | 5.4% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 91.4% ±3.5 pts | 82.0% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.7% ±0.9 pts | 6.1% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.3% ±0.6 pts | 0.7% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.4 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.4 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.0% ±2.0 pts | 5.4% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 0.5% ±0.5 pts | 2.1% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 3.1% ±2.3 pts | 4.8% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 6.6% ±1.9 pts | 8.0% | – |
| With a disability | 32.5% ±5.8 pts | 21.5% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 7.7% ±2.8 pts | 7.4% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 92.3% ±2.1 pts | 90.8% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 8.3% ±2.3 pts | 20.5% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 1.9% ±1.2 pts | 6.9% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 86.3% ±4.9 pts | 86.7% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.2% ±1.5 pts | 1.1% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Elwood earn?
Half of Elwood's 3,422 households earn less than $53,280 a year (±$3,126), against $63,037 in Madison County and $71,957 in Indiana. In 2015-2019 it was $51,415 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 19.5% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Elwood | Madison County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $53,280 ±$3,126 | $63,037 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $62,151 ±$5,773 | $81,039 | – |
| Per capita income | $27,101 ±$2,692 | $33,926 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 19.5% ±6.5 pts | 13.4% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 34.7% ±14.8 pts | 19.2% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 21.7% ±5.3 pts | 13.8% | – |
| Households with a computer | 94.0% ±2.6 pts | 94.4% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 88.3% ±3.6 pts | 89.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Elwood?
Owners occupy 65.2% of Elwood's occupied homes and renters 34.8%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $97,800 by its owner (±$11,048). The median renter pays $860 a month including utilities, and 26.7% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Elwood | Madison County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $97,800 ±$11,048 | $161,300 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $860 ±$82 | $939 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 26.7% ±10.2 pts | 38.8% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $949 ±$63 | $1,214 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 65.2% ±5.6 pts | 70.2% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 34.8% ±5.6 pts | 29.8% | – |
| Housing units | 3,903 ±281 | 59,301 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±1.6 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 7.3% ±6.6 pts | 5.7% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 79.7% ±5.0 pts | 77.6% | – |
| Mobile homes | 3.9% ±2.3 pts | 5.4% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.9% ±1.0 pts | 1.5% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 4.2% ±2.1 pts | 3.1% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 39.9% ±6.1 pts | 20.6% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 5.8% ±3.1 pts | 6.1% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Elwood building?
Builders took permits for 0 new housing units in Elwood in 2025 (0 in single-family houses), 0.0 per 1,000 residents against 4.2 across Indiana.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Elwood work and get to work?
78.6% of Elwood's workers drive alone and 4.5% work from home. The average trip to work takes 28.6 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 6.2%.
| Measure | Elwood | Madison County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 64.1% ±4.4 pts | 60.1% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 6.2% ±2.6 pts | 5.9% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 78.6% ±6.1 pts | 77.2% | – |
| Carpooled | 15.8% ±5.6 pts | 9.7% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±0.9 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Walked | 0.2% ±0.3 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Worked from home | 4.5% ±2.4 pts | 10.4% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 28.6 min ±3.5 | 26.3 min | +5.3 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Elwood?
2 census tracts lie mostly in Elwood, and 3 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $53,750 (Tract 102) to $54,524 (Tract 103).
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Elwood) · Census block assignment files
How does Elwood compare with other places in Indiana?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Elwood is the 3,584th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 93rd-most populous of 566 in Indiana.
Elwood ranks 942nd of 1,072 places in Indiana with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 93rd | 566 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 504th | 1,056 |
| Residents per square mile | 79th | 1,088 |
| Median household income | 942nd | 1,072 |
| Per capita income | 973rd | 1,087 |
| Median home value | 1,025th | 1,075 |
| Median gross rent | 552nd | 904 |
| Poverty rate | 95th | 736 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 995th | 1,029 |
| Median age | 344th | 1,083 |
| Owner-occupied share | 933rd | 1,087 |
| Work from home | 537th | 595 |
| Travel time to work | 304th | 1,088 |
Elwood's figures with every place in Indiana (CSV)
Every place in Indiana, sortable · Compare Elwood with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Elwood?
14 of the 57 figures for Elwood on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Elwood are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Elwood.