County · Indiana

Whitley County, Indiana

Whitley County, Indiana. Whitley County had 35,046 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 2.5% since 2020, in line with Indiana (+2.8%). It holds 16 places (4 cities, villages and boroughs, 9 towns and townships and 3 census-designated) and 8 census tracts. GEOID 18183.

Whitley County is one of the 3 counties of the Fort Wayne, IN metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).

Residents, July 2025 estimate

35,046

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 34,191 · ACS 2020-2024: 34,618

Median household income

$78,083

±$4,394 (90% margin)
Indiana: $71,957

Median home value

$219,400

±$9,316 (90% margin)
Indiana: $218,200

Median gross rent

$934

±$41 (90% margin)
Indiana: $1,062

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

The 2020 Census counted 34,191 residents in Whitley County. The Census Bureau estimates 35,046 for July 1, 2025, up 2.5% since 2020, in line with Indiana (+2.8%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 34,618 over 336 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 +168 (34,505)
2021→2022 +125 (34,630)
2022→2023 +202 (34,832)
2023→2024 +100 (34,932)
2024→2025 +114 (35,046)

Whitley County in Indiana. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Whitley County	Indiana	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	34,618	6,851,073	+888
Households	14,029±249	2,716,009	no clear change
Average household size	2.44±0.04	2.46	no clear change
Housing units	15,030±35	2,976,568	+241

Whitley County's population since 2000

From 30,707 in 2000 to 35,046 in 2025: up 14.1%. 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 30,707
2005 (estimate) 32,182
2010 Census 33,292
2015 (estimate) 33,451
2020 Census 34,191
2025 (estimate) 35,046

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 Whitley County?

Whitley County holds 16 places: 4 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places), 9 towns and townships (county subdivisions with their own government) and 3 census-designated places. The largest is Columbia Township, Whitley County with 12,082 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 Whitley County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

Columbia Township, Whitley County	township	11,715	11,895±28	$70,071	$200,600	12.8%	100%
Columbia City	city	9,892	9,897±466	$68,089	$189,100	13.6%	100%
Smith Township, Whitley County	township	5,234	5,269±26	$81,761	$193,200	3.8%	100%
Thorncreek Township	township	4,159	4,213±35	$112,548	$331,400	4.8%	100%
Cleveland Township, Whitley County	township	3,324	3,345±18	$61,302	$164,200	16.9%	100%
Union Township, Whitley County	township	2,625	2,679±17	$78,125	$214,600	9.7%	100%
Jefferson Township, Whitley County	township	2,232	2,197±424	$105,481	$274,300	5.5%	100%
Churubusco	town	1,870	1,757±303	$65,086	$152,300	9.2%	100%
Etna-Troy TownshipGEOID 1818321520	township	1,863	2,006±499	$57,163	$241,300	16.8%	100%
South Whitley	town	1,818	1,660±325	$58,068	$134,100	13.8%	100%
Richland Township, Whitley County	township	1,786	1,759±320	$72,950	$240,700	10.6%	100%
Tri-LakesGEOID 1876526	CDP	1,329	1,025±264	$115,250	$323,500	4.7%	100%
Washington Township, Whitley CountyGEOID 1818381152	township	1,253	1,255±415	$107,096	$313,600	3.7%	100%
Larwill	town	273	425±143	$56,528	$101,400	15.6%	100%
CoesseGEOID 1814104	CDP	–	154±94	$93,750	$166,100	10.4%	100%
LaudGEOID 1842318	CDP	–	101±94	$118,295	not published	0.0%	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 Whitley County?

The median resident of Whitley County is 41.3 years old; 22.8% are under 18 and 19.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 91.9%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 3.9%. 1.0% 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	Whitley County	Indiana	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	41.3±1.0	38.1	no clear change
Under 18 years	22.8%±0.1 pts	23.3%	–
65 years and over	19.2%±0.2 pts	16.8%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	2.8%	8.6%	+0.7 pts
White alone, not Hispanic	91.9%±0.9 pts	75.4%	−3.5 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	0.2%±0.1 pts	9.1%	−0.2 pts
Asian alone, not Hispanic	0.3%±0.1 pts	2.6%	no clear change
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%±0.1 pts	0.0%	–
Two or more races, not Hispanic	3.9%±0.8 pts	3.8%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.7%±0.6 pts	0.4%	–
Born outside the United States	1.0%±0.4 pts	6.3%	no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	2.3%±0.8 pts	10.3%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	7.5%±1.1 pts	6.3%	–
With a disability	14.2%±1.3 pts	14.2%	–
No health insurance coverage	6.0%±1.6 pts	7.4%	no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	93.0%±1.5 pts	90.4%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	23.6%±2.3 pts	29.5%	no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	7.0%±1.3 pts	10.8%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	0.7%±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 Whitley County earn?

Half of Whitley County's 14,029 households earn less than $78,083 a year (±$4,394), against $71,957 in Indiana. In 2015-2019 it was $75,984 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 9.9% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Whitley County	Indiana	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$78,083±$4,394	$71,957	no clear change
Mean household income	$94,006±$4,982	$95,247	–
Per capita income	$38,313±$1,895	$38,351	no clear change
People below the poverty line	9.9%±1.9 pts	12.3%	no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line	16.5%±4.6 pts	16.0%	no clear change
Households receiving SNAP	6.5%±1.9 pts	9.1%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	89.5%±1.7 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 Whitley County?

Owners occupy 81.8% of Whitley County's occupied homes and renters 18.2%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $219,400 by its owner (±$9,316). The median renter pays $934 a month including utilities, and 32.8% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Whitley County	Indiana	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$219,400±$9,316	$218,200	+$43,288
Median gross rent	$934±$41	$1,062	no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	32.8%±7.3 pts	38.9%	no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$1,284±$58	$1,404	–
Owner-occupied homes	81.8%±2.3 pts	70.6%	no clear change
Housing units	15,030±35	2,976,568	+241
Homeowner vacancy rate	0.4%±0.4 pts	0.8%	–
Rental vacancy rate	4.2%±3.5 pts	5.6%	–
Single-family detached homes	84.0%±2.0 pts	72.6%	–
Mobile homes	5.6%±1.6 pts	4.4%	–
Built 2020 or later	1.6%±0.9 pts	1.7%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	22.4%±2.3 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 Whitley County building?

Builders took permits for 81 new housing units across Whitley County in 2025 (77 single-family), 2.3 per 1,000 residents.

2019 118 units
2020 92 units
2021 115 units
2022 92 units
2023 91 units
2024 100 units
2025 81 units

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

How do people in Whitley County get to work?

82.0% of Whitley County's workers drive alone and 8.1% work from home. The average trip to work takes 22.6 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.3%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Whitley County	Indiana	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	65.6%±2.0 pts	63.8%	–
Unemployment rate	3.3%±1.1 pts	4.3%	no clear change
Drove alone to work	82.0%±2.5 pts	76.3%	–
Carpooled	7.3%±1.7 pts	9.1%	–
Public transportation	0.2%±0.2 pts	0.6%	–
Walked	1.4%±0.6 pts	1.9%	–
Worked from home	8.1%±1.7 pts	10.7%	+3.8 pts
Mean travel time to work	22.6 min±1.1	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 Whitley County's census tracts?

Whitley County is divided into 8 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $62,385 (Tract 503) to $107,021 (Tract 507).

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

Tract 50118183050100	Churubusco (28%)	5,181	5,050±188	$81,790	$193,100	$725	3.9%
Tract 50218183050200	Tri-Lakes (17%)	5,433	5,470±533	$90,917	$293,000	$976	9.3%
Tract 50318183050300	South Whitley (23%)	5,219	5,115±316	$62,385	$189,700	$774	14.7%
Tract 504.0118183050401	Columbia City	3,635	3,387±338	$68,085	$167,900	$887	19.5%
Tract 504.0218183050402	Columbia City (45%)	4,281	5,028±486	$77,986	$243,100	$1,060	9.9%
Tract 50518183050500	Columbia City (39%)	4,940	4,929±422	$74,219	$206,400	$863	9.5%
Tract 50618183050600	–	2,068	2,243±260	$77,684	$195,500	$903	8.3%
Tract 50718183050700	–	3,434	3,396±434	$107,021	$282,900	$920	4.9%

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

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

Whitley County's rank among Indiana's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	47th of 92
Growth 2020-2025	22nd of 92
Residents per square mile	40th of 92
Median household income	17th of 92
Median home value	25th of 92
Median gross rent	30th of 92
Poverty rate	66th of 92
Bachelor's degree or higher	26th of 92
Median age	44th 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 Whitley 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.