County · Indiana

Starke County, Indiana

Starke County, Indiana. Starke County had 23,425 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 0.2% since 2020, slower than Indiana (+2.8%). It holds 18 places (3 cities, villages and boroughs, 9 towns and townships and 6 census-designated) and 7 census tracts. GEOID 18149.

Residents, July 2025 estimate

23,425

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 23,371 · ACS 2020-2024: 23,365

Median household income

$63,960

±$4,893 (90% margin)
Indiana: $71,957

Median home value

$157,700

±$7,067 (90% margin)
Indiana: $218,200

Median gross rent

$712

±$103 (90% margin)
Indiana: $1,062

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

The 2020 Census counted 23,371 residents in Starke County. The Census Bureau estimates 23,425 for July 1, 2025, up 0.2% since 2020, slower than Indiana (+2.8%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 23,365 over 309 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 −16 (23,381)
2021→2022 −144 (23,237)
2022→2023 +72 (23,309)
2023→2024 +97 (23,406)
2024→2025 +19 (23,425)

Starke County in Indiana. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Starke County	Indiana	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	23,365	6,851,073	+413
Households	8,983±275	2,716,009	+434
Average household size	2.59±0.08	2.46	no clear change
Housing units	11,273±40	2,976,568	+108

Starke County's population since 2000

From 23,556 in 2000 to 23,425 in 2025: down 0.6%. 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 23,556
2005 (estimate) 23,394
2010 Census 23,363
2015 (estimate) 22,864
2020 Census 23,371
2025 (estimate) 23,425

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 Starke County?

Starke County holds 18 places: 3 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places), 9 towns and townships (county subdivisions with their own government) and 6 census-designated places. The largest is Center Township, Starke County with 6,114 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 Starke County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

Center Township, Starke County	township	6,131	6,121±19	$56,556	$157,400	20.0%	100%
Wayne Township, Starke County	township	4,609	4,605±28	$60,250	$134,600	9.1%	100%
Knox	city	3,662	3,479±398	$48,931	$140,300	28.7%	100%
Oregon Township, Starke County	township	3,220	3,262±17	$71,094	$140,200	10.4%	100%
Washington Township, Starke County	township	2,944	3,001±17	$67,619	$194,000	16.6%	100%
California Township	township	2,165	2,167±393	$67,404	$200,800	7.2%	100%
North Judson	town	1,857	1,823±279	$55,086	$134,500	16.2%	100%
Koontz Lake	CDP	1,667	1,182±372	$80,538	$143,200	11.0%	93%
North Bend Township	township	1,504	1,407±395	$61,375	$157,000	23.6%	100%
Bass Lake	CDP	1,384	983±293	$73,086	$324,600	0.7%	100%
Railroad TownshipGEOID 1814962748	township	1,211	1,315±413	$90,000	$233,100	1.8%	100%
Davis Township, Starke County	township	1,002	1,120±377	$84,063	$127,300	8.8%	100%
Hamlet	town	773	1,039±348	$73,542	$112,300	11.7%	100%
Jackson Township, Starke CountyGEOID 1814937440	township	585	367±165	$45,313	$155,200	9.3%	100%
Hartz LakeGEOID 1832768	CDP	–	312±250	$45,360	not published	55.4%	100%
San PierreGEOID 1868004	CDP	153	727±433	not published	$193,600	1.8%	100%
GrovertonGEOID 1830150	CDP	–	111±100	not published	not published	70.3%	100%
OraGEOID 1856700	CDP	–	96±93	not published	$71,200	0.0%	66%

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 Starke County?

The median resident of Starke County is 42.1 years old; 22.5% are under 18 and 20.7% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 91.0%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 4.3%. 2.3% 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	Starke County	Indiana	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	42.1±0.7	38.1	no clear change
Under 18 years	22.5%±0.3 pts	23.3%	–
65 years and over	20.7%±0.3 pts	16.8%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	4.3%	8.6%	+0.5 pts
White alone, not Hispanic	91.0%±1.2 pts	75.4%	−3.2 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	0.5%±0.2 pts	9.1%	–
Asian alone, not Hispanic	0.3%±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	3.6%±1.2 pts	3.8%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.1%±0.2 pts	0.4%	–
Born outside the United States	2.3%±0.8 pts	6.3%	no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	3.0%±1.0 pts	10.3%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	7.4%±0.9 pts	6.3%	–
With a disability	19.7%±1.8 pts	14.2%	–
No health insurance coverage	7.8%±1.4 pts	7.4%	+2.6 pts
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	87.0%±2.2 pts	90.4%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	12.5%±1.8 pts	29.5%	no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	3.8%±1.1 pts	10.8%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	1.5%±0.6 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 Starke County earn?

Half of Starke County's 8,983 households earn less than $63,960 a year (±$4,893), against $71,957 in Indiana. In 2015-2019 it was $62,999 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 13.4% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Starke County	Indiana	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$63,960±$4,893	$71,957	no clear change
Mean household income	$74,205±$3,849	$95,247	–
Per capita income	$29,104±$1,338	$38,351	no clear change
People below the poverty line	13.4%±2.6 pts	12.3%	no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line	17.0%±5.5 pts	16.0%	no clear change
Households receiving SNAP	12.5%±2.4 pts	9.1%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	84.5%±2.7 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 Starke County?

Owners occupy 83.0% of Starke County's occupied homes and renters 17.0%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $157,700 by its owner (±$7,067). The median renter pays $712 a month including utilities, and 24.2% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Starke County	Indiana	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$157,700±$7,067	$218,200	+$15,555
Median gross rent	$712±$103	$1,062	−$146
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	24.2%±8.2 pts	38.9%	no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$1,152±$44	$1,404	–
Owner-occupied homes	83.0%±2.3 pts	70.6%	no clear change
Housing units	11,273±40	2,976,568	+108
Homeowner vacancy rate	3.6%±1.9 pts	0.8%	–
Rental vacancy rate	3.9%±4.2 pts	5.6%	–
Single-family detached homes	84.3%±2.4 pts	72.6%	–
Mobile homes	9.4%±2.0 pts	4.4%	–
Built 2020 or later	1.1%±0.7 pts	1.7%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	16.5%±2.0 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 Starke County building?

Builders took permits for 58 new housing units across Starke County in 2025 (52 single-family), 2.5 per 1,000 residents.

2019 64 units
2020 59 units
2021 80 units
2022 67 units
2023 74 units
2024 55 units
2025 58 units

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

How do people in Starke County get to work?

81.5% of Starke County's workers drive alone and 4.8% work from home. The average trip to work takes 29.8 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.4%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Starke County	Indiana	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	55.1%±2.2 pts	63.8%	–
Unemployment rate	3.4%±1.2 pts	4.3%	no clear change
Drove alone to work	81.5%±3.2 pts	76.3%	–
Carpooled	10.4%±2.7 pts	9.1%	–
Public transportation	0.2%±0.2 pts	0.6%	–
Walked	1.5%±0.9 pts	1.9%	–
Worked from home	4.8%±1.6 pts	10.7%	+2.0 pts
Mean travel time to work	29.8 min±2.9	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 Starke County's census tracts?

Starke County is divided into 7 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $49,293 (Tract 9540) to $75,682 (Tract 9536).

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

Tract 953618149953600	Koontz Lake (42%)	2,611	2,258±243	$75,682	$146,300	$637	9.7%
Tract 953718149953700	Hamlet (21%)	3,561	4,109±449	$74,048	$148,100	$919	11.4%
Tract 953818149953800	Bass Lake (20%)	3,675	3,710±495	$58,295	$169,100	$1,125	17.5%
Tract 953918149953900	Bass Lake (36%)	2,172	2,119±385	$72,413	$213,200	$977	7.3%
Tract 954018149954000	Knox (97%)	3,711	3,666±360	$49,293	$139,600	$538	27.2%
Tract 954118149954100	Knox (2%)	3,592	3,560±393	$64,306	$144,700	$1,162	7.7%
Tract 954218149954200	North Judson (49%)	4,049	3,943±446	$61,343	$159,900	$768	9.3%

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

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

Starke County's rank among Indiana's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	65th of 92
Growth 2020-2025	69th of 92
Residents per square mile	52nd of 92
Median household income	67th of 92
Median home value	68th of 92
Median gross rent	87th of 92
Poverty rate	30th of 92
Bachelor's degree or higher	89th of 92
Median age	32nd 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 Starke 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.