County · Indiana

Jay County, Indiana

Jay County, Indiana. Jay County had 20,118 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 1.8% since 2020, while Indiana grew 2.8%. It holds 18 places (6 cities, villages and boroughs and 12 towns and townships) and 7 census tracts. GEOID 18075.

Residents, July 2025 estimate

20,118

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 20,478 · ACS 2020-2024: 20,229

Median household income

$54,969

±$3,017 (90% margin)
Indiana: $71,957

Median home value

$117,500

±$7,058 (90% margin)
Indiana: $218,200

Median gross rent

$770

±$28 (90% margin)
Indiana: $1,062

How many people live in Jay County, and is it growing?

The 2020 Census counted 20,478 residents in Jay County. The Census Bureau estimates 20,118 for July 1, 2025, down 1.8% since 2020, while Indiana grew 2.8%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 20,229 over 384 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 −186 (20,294)
2021→2022 −156 (20,138)
2022→2023 −41 (20,097)
2023→2024 +162 (20,259)
2024→2025 −141 (20,118)

Jay County in Indiana. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Jay County	Indiana	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	20,229	6,851,073	−611
Households	7,807±249	2,716,009	−367
Average household size	2.56±0.08	2.46	no clear change
Housing units	8,904±29	2,976,568	−349

Jay County's population since 2000

From 21,806 in 2000 to 20,118 in 2025: down 7.7%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. 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.

2000 Census 21,806
2005 (estimate) 21,595
2010 Census 21,253
2015 (estimate) 21,135
2020 Census 20,478
2025 (estimate) 20,118

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); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov

What cities and towns are in Jay County?

Jay County holds 18 places: 6 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places) and 12 towns and townships (county subdivisions with their own government). The largest is Wayne Township, Jay County with 7,915 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.

Places in Jay County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

Wayne Township, Jay County	township	7,987	7,942±24	$59,403	$111,400	15.0%	100%
Portland	city	6,320	6,416±331	$51,513	$96,700	17.3%	100%
Richland Township, Jay County	township	4,005	3,915±28	$50,160	$88,700	24.5%	100%
Dunkirk	city	2,164	1,861±340	$46,339	$81,100	22.6%	94%
Bearcreek TownshipGEOID 1807503844	township	1,587	1,678±372	$76,750	$164,600	1.7%	100%
Penn Township, Jay County	township	1,133	1,052±246	$38,917	$150,000	17.3%	100%
Redkey	town	1,100	1,332±342	$42,986	$85,400	34.6%	100%
Jackson Township, Jay CountyGEOID 1807537152	township	991	535±242	$43,086	$302,000	8.6%	100%
Greene Township, Jay CountyGEOID 1807529466	township	926	1,404±259	$91,528	$184,200	10.4%	100%
Pike Township, Jay CountyGEOID 1807559724	township	828	737±171	$73,125	$144,100	3.3%	100%
Jefferson Township, Jay CountyGEOID 1807538034	township	684	803±193	$78,500	$181,300	4.2%	100%
Noble Township, Jay CountyGEOID 1807554072	township	675	488±260	$57,656	$142,000	27.9%	100%
Madison Township, Jay CountyGEOID 1807545972	township	643	929±373	$56,786	$117,100	3.8%	100%
Pennville	town	621	619±173	$50,388	$84,100	19.4%	100%
Wabash Township, Jay CountyGEOID 1807579316	township	542	360±211	$39,423	not published	0.3%	100%
Knox TownshipGEOID 1807540356	township	477	386±176	$42,837	$201,700	35.5%	100%
BryantGEOID 1808704	town	239	258±150	$58,295	$66,000	8.5%	100%
SalamoniaGEOID 1867302	town	151	218±102	$44,464	$83,800	11.0%	100%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in Jay County?

The median resident of Jay County is 39.5 years old; 25.6% are under 18 and 18.3% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 92.8%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 4.6%. 1.1% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin and education, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure	Jay County	Indiana	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	39.5±1.2	38.1	no clear change
Under 18 years	25.6%±0.1 pts	23.3%	–
65 years and over	18.3%±0.2 pts	16.8%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	4.6%	8.6%	+1.5 pts
White alone, not Hispanic	92.8%±0.1 pts	75.4%	−2.1 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	0.3%±0.1 pts	9.1%	no clear change
Asian alone, not Hispanic	0.1%±0.1 pts	2.6%	–
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic	0.1%±0.1 pts	0.1%	–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic	0.0%±0.2 pts	0.0%	–
Two or more races, not Hispanic	2.2%±0.2 pts	3.8%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.0%±0.2 pts	0.4%	–
Born outside the United States	1.1%±0.4 pts	6.3%	no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	6.9%±2.2 pts	10.3%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	6.0%±1.1 pts	6.3%	–
With a disability	18.4%±1.8 pts	14.2%	–
No health insurance coverage	10.8%±2.4 pts	7.4%	no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	86.0%±2.2 pts	90.4%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	13.3%±1.8 pts	29.5%	no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	5.1%±1.1 pts	10.8%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	1.5%±0.8 pts	2.1%	–

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 Jay County earn?

Half of Jay County's 7,807 households earn less than $54,969 a year (±$3,017), against $71,957 in Indiana. In 2015-2019 it was $58,652 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 14.4% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Jay County	Indiana	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$54,969±$3,017	$71,957	no clear change
Mean household income	$70,491±$3,489	$95,247	–
Per capita income	$27,634±$1,321	$38,351	no clear change
People below the poverty line	14.4%±2.8 pts	12.3%	no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line	20.7%±6.3 pts	16.0%	no clear change
Households receiving SNAP	9.7%±1.8 pts	9.1%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	82.8%±2.1 pts	89.9%	–

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 Jay County?

Owners occupy 79.9% of Jay County's occupied homes and renters 20.1%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $117,500 by its owner (±$7,058). The median renter pays $770 a month including utilities, and 36.9% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Jay County	Indiana	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$117,500±$7,058	$218,200	no clear change
Median gross rent	$770±$28	$1,062	−$63
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	36.9%±7.2 pts	38.9%	+13.1 pts
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$1,047±$44	$1,404	–
Owner-occupied homes	79.9%±2.7 pts	70.6%	+6.9 pts
Housing units	8,904±29	2,976,568	−349
Homeowner vacancy rate	0.5%±0.6 pts	0.8%	–
Rental vacancy rate	8.7%±5.4 pts	5.6%	–
Single-family detached homes	85.0%±2.6 pts	72.6%	–
Mobile homes	4.9%±1.6 pts	4.4%	–
Built 2020 or later	1.1%±0.9 pts	1.7%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	34.1%±3.1 pts	16.0%	–

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 Jay County building?

Builders took permits for 25 new housing units across Jay County in 2025 (25 single-family), 1.2 per 1,000 residents.

2019 16 units
2020 20 units
2021 17 units
2022 17 units
2023 17 units
2024 19 units
2025 25 units

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in Jay County get to work?

76.5% of Jay County's workers drive alone and 7.7% work from home. The average trip to work takes 22.5 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.4%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Jay County	Indiana	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	59.4%±2.0 pts	63.8%	–
Unemployment rate	4.4%±1.3 pts	4.3%	no clear change
Drove alone to work	76.5%±3.1 pts	76.3%	–
Carpooled	10.2%±1.9 pts	9.1%	–
Public transportation	0.4%±0.5 pts	0.6%	–
Walked	2.3%±1.0 pts	1.9%	–
Worked from home	7.7%±2.3 pts	10.7%	no clear change
Mean travel time to work	22.5 min±1.8	24.1 min	no clear change

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 are Jay County's census tracts?

Jay County is divided into 7 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $43,963 (Tract 9627) to $70,069 (Tract 9629).

Census tracts of Jay County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; sort by any column

Tract 962718075962700	Pennville (18%)	3,117	3,160±346	$43,963	$185,000	$921	15.6%
Tract 962818075962800	Bryant (11%)	3,379	3,132±385	$69,137	$184,000	$774	6.7%
Tract 962918075962900	Salamonia (9%)	2,812	2,770±447	$70,069	$143,500	$786	9.0%
Tract 963018075963000	Portland (94%)	2,315	2,429±274	$58,482	$104,600	$661	16.1%
Tract 963118075963100	Portland (86%)	4,306	4,056±327	$46,799	$98,800	$773	14.3%
Tract 963218075963200	Redkey (45%)	2,284	2,513±336	$56,950	$121,000	$758	21.2%
Tract 963318075963300	Dunkirk (87%)	2,265	2,169±302	$47,639	$85,100	$832	21.1%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov

How does Jay County compare with Indiana's other counties?

Jay County's rank among Indiana's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	72nd of 92
Growth 2020-2025	87th of 92
Residents per square mile	74th of 92
Median household income	88th of 92
Median home value	89th of 92
Median gross rent	79th of 92
Poverty rate	19th of 92
Bachelor's degree or higher	86th of 92
Median age	67th of 92

Every county in Indiana

Source: PlainCities ranks 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 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 Jay County 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' school search.