County · Indiana

Sullivan County, Indiana

Sullivan County, Indiana. Sullivan County had 20,831 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 0.1% since 2020, slower than Indiana (+2.8%). It holds 23 places (7 cities, villages and boroughs, 9 towns and townships and 7 census-designated) and 8 census tracts. GEOID 18153.

Sullivan County is one of the 4 counties of the Terre Haute, IN metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).

Residents, July 2025 estimate

20,831

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 20,817 · ACS 2020-2024: 20,780

Median household income

$56,204

±$4,192 (90% margin)
Indiana: $71,957

Median home value

$131,100

±$10,580 (90% margin)
Indiana: $218,200

Median gross rent

$829

±$38 (90% margin)
Indiana: $1,062

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

The 2020 Census counted 20,817 residents in Sullivan County. The Census Bureau estimates 20,831 for July 1, 2025, up 0.1% since 2020, slower than Indiana (+2.8%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 20,780 over 447 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 −37 (20,783)
2021→2022 −119 (20,664)
2022→2023 +50 (20,714)
2023→2024 −21 (20,693)
2024→2025 +138 (20,831)

Sullivan County in Indiana. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Sullivan County	Indiana	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	20,780	6,851,073	+50
Households	7,832±207	2,716,009	no clear change
Average household size	2.39±0.06	2.46	no clear change
Housing units	8,791±31	2,976,568	−168

Sullivan County's population since 2000

From 21,751 in 2000 to 20,831 in 2025: down 4.2%. 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 21,751
2005 (estimate) 21,689
2010 Census 21,475
2015 (estimate) 20,874
2020 Census 20,817
2025 (estimate) 20,831

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 Sullivan County?

Sullivan County holds 23 places: 7 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places), 9 towns and townships (county subdivisions with their own government) and 7 census-designated places. The largest is Hamilton Township, Sullivan County with 7,086 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 Sullivan County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

Hamilton Township, Sullivan County	township	7,143	7,107±19	$54,885	$148,900	13.5%	100%
Sullivan	city	4,264	4,252±24	$46,551	$128,100	19.6%	100%
Haddon Township	township	3,762	3,739±16	$62,917	$125,000	15.0%	100%
Curry Township	township	3,398	3,402±34	$53,469	$95,500	15.1%	100%
Cass Township, Sullivan County	township	1,856	1,878±308	$61,285	$120,700	12.6%	100%
Jackson Township, Sullivan County	township	1,722	1,770±365	$50,288	$80,500	10.5%	100%
Shelburn	town	1,107	1,264±251	$46,458	$73,700	24.7%	100%
Farmersburg	town	1,069	1,166±250	$53,750	$78,000	12.7%	100%
Turman TownshipGEOID 1815376814	township	1,037	750±288	$54,167	$228,900	30.0%	100%
Gill TownshipGEOID 1815327666	township	823	1,269±316	$77,173	$180,100	3.1%	100%
Dugger	town	797	783±231	$60,688	$87,800	9.1%	100%
Fairbanks TownshipGEOID 1815322162	township	721	532±258	$68,250	$143,200	8.6%	100%
Hymera	town	653	937±296	$47,102	$90,500	13.0%	100%
Carlisle	town	625	726±185	$45,750	$73,000	25.6%	100%
Jefferson Township, Sullivan CountyGEOID 1815338214	township	355	333±123	$31,364	$120,000	39.9%	100%
New LebanonGEOID 1853118	CDP	–	281±170	not published	$138,300	2.8%	100%
PaxtonGEOID 1858500	CDP	–	269±179	$50,677	$96,500	9.3%	100%
MeromGEOID 1848474	town	208	285±179	$43,750	not published	2.8%	100%
FairbanksGEOID 1822180	CDP	–	147±180	not published	not published	0.0%	100%
PleasantvilleGEOID 1860732	CDP	–	127±89	$22,381	not published	42.5%	100%
GraysvilleGEOID 1829106	CDP	–	67±80	not published	not published	0.0%	100%
CassGEOID 1810774	CDP	–	65±60	$80,813	$66,300	32.3%	100%
LewisGEOID 1843020	CDP	–	560±635	not published	not published	73.8%	0%

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 Sullivan County?

The median resident of Sullivan County is 41.7 years old; 18.8% are under 18 and 18.9% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 90.4%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 3.7%. 0.8% 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	Sullivan County	Indiana	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	41.7±0.5	38.1	no clear change
Under 18 years	18.8%±0.2 pts	23.3%	–
65 years and over	18.9%±0.1 pts	16.8%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	1.9%	8.6%	+0.2 pts
White alone, not Hispanic	90.4%±0.6 pts	75.4%	−1.5 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	3.0%±0.5 pts	9.1%	−0.9 pts
Asian alone, not Hispanic	0.4%±0.4 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	3.7%±0.7 pts	3.8%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.6%±0.5 pts	0.4%	–
Born outside the United States	0.8%±0.4 pts	6.3%	no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	1.5%±0.5 pts	10.3%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	7.7%±1.3 pts	6.3%	–
With a disability	19.0%±2.0 pts	14.2%	–
No health insurance coverage	6.8%±1.7 pts	7.4%	−3.0 pts
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	89.0%±1.6 pts	90.4%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	14.6%±2.1 pts	29.5%	no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	4.1%±1.1 pts	10.8%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	0.6%±0.4 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 Sullivan County earn?

Half of Sullivan County's 7,832 households earn less than $56,204 a year (±$4,192), against $71,957 in Indiana. In 2015-2019 it was $61,836 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 13.9% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Sullivan County	Indiana	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$56,204±$4,192	$71,957	no clear change
Mean household income	$75,919±$4,931	$95,247	–
Per capita income	$30,787±$1,833	$38,351	no clear change
People below the poverty line	13.9%±2.3 pts	12.3%	no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line	19.4%±6.9 pts	16.0%	no clear change
Households receiving SNAP	11.0%±2.6 pts	9.1%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	83.1%±2.5 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 Sullivan County?

Owners occupy 76.4% of Sullivan County's occupied homes and renters 23.6%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $131,100 by its owner (±$10,580). The median renter pays $829 a month including utilities, and 35.8% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Sullivan County	Indiana	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$131,100±$10,580	$218,200	+$25,260
Median gross rent	$829±$38	$1,062	no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	35.8%±8.0 pts	38.9%	no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$1,074±$45	$1,404	–
Owner-occupied homes	76.4%±2.7 pts	70.6%	no clear change
Housing units	8,791±31	2,976,568	−168
Homeowner vacancy rate	1.7%±1.5 pts	0.8%	–
Rental vacancy rate	6.0%±5.2 pts	5.6%	–
Single-family detached homes	76.9%±3.2 pts	72.6%	–
Mobile homes	11.3%±1.9 pts	4.4%	–
Built 2020 or later	1.1%±1.1 pts	1.7%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	22.4%±2.6 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 Sullivan County building?

Builders took permits for 15 new housing units across Sullivan County in 2025 (15 single-family), 0.7 per 1,000 residents.

2019 5 units
2020 5 units
2021 6 units
2022 6 units
2023 9 units
2024 4 units
2025 15 units

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

How do people in Sullivan County get to work?

80.3% of Sullivan County's workers drive alone and 5.6% work from home. The average trip to work takes 25.2 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.4%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Sullivan County	Indiana	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	54.8%±1.7 pts	63.8%	–
Unemployment rate	4.4%±1.5 pts	4.3%	no clear change
Drove alone to work	80.3%±3.2 pts	76.3%	–
Carpooled	10.6%±2.9 pts	9.1%	–
Public transportation	0.0%±0.1 pts	0.6%	–
Walked	2.1%±1.2 pts	1.9%	–
Worked from home	5.6%±1.8 pts	10.7%	+4.9 pts
Mean travel time to work	25.2 min±1.9	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 Sullivan County's census tracts?

Sullivan County is divided into 8 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $49,957 (Tract 501.02) to $76,310 (Tract 502).

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

Tract 501.0118153050101	Shelburn (34%)	3,026	2,927±242	$50,938	$100,700	$698	15.1%
Tract 501.0218153050102	Farmersburg (37%)	2,584	2,707±414	$49,957	$87,300	$934	11.6%
Tract 50218153050200	Merom (10%)	2,917	2,907±338	$76,310	$181,400	$1,256	11.0%
Tract 503.0118153050301	Sullivan (66%)	3,317	3,430±345	$51,250	$153,000	$918	19.1%
Tract 503.0218153050302	Sullivan (82%)	2,727	2,981±329	$62,154	$97,700	$847	8.2%
Tract 50418153050400	Dugger (30%)	2,217	2,052±298	$61,989	$145,300	$656	12.2%
Tract 505.0118153050501	Carlisle (1%)	2,993	2,740±193	$50,601	$130,200	$600	20.0%
Tract 505.0218153050502	Carlisle (38%)	1,036	1,036±221	$59,609	$123,800	$836	22.3%

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

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

Sullivan County's rank among Indiana's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	69th of 92
Growth 2020-2025	71st of 92
Residents per square mile	80th of 92
Median household income	86th of 92
Median home value	84th of 92
Median gross rent	66th of 92
Poverty rate	25th of 92
Bachelor's degree or higher	82nd of 92
Median age	37th 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 Sullivan 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.