Elkhart, IN Local Data & Statistics

State: IN

Total population: 53,733 Household income: $51,028 Rent: $998

Overview

Total population

53,733

Rent

$998

Year built

1965

Household income

$51,028

Per capita income

$28,189

Poverty rate

18.2%

Unemployment rate

5.1%

Household size

2.5 persons

Rent over 30% of income

43.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Indiana

Total population

53,733

Adults over 25

34,088

Total households

21,552

Household size

2.5 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$51,028

Per capita income

$28,189

Poverty rate

18.2%

Unemployment rate

5.1%

Rent over 30% of income

43.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$998

Year built

1965

Households that rent

46.8%

Households that own

53.2%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.1

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

60.2%

Black

12.5%

Asian

0.5%

Two or more races

11.4%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

27%

Not Hispanic or Latino

73%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

96.8%

Commute time to work

18 mins

Work from home

3.2%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

33.5%

High school graduate or GED

38.8%

Some college or associate degree

10%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

17.7%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Elkhart, IN with: Indiana United States

Elkhart, IN

Total population53,733

Rent$998

Year built1965

Household income$51,028

Per capita income$28,189

Poverty rate18.2%

Unemployment rate5.1%

Indiana State

Total population6,851,073

Rent$1,062

Year built1976

Household income$71,957

Per capita income$38,351

Poverty rate12.3%

Unemployment rate4.2%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityElkhart, IN	StateIndiana	CountryUnited States
Total population	53,733	6,851,073	334,922,499
Rent	$998	$1,062	$1,413
Year built	1965	1976	1980
Household income	$51,028	$71,957	$80,734
Per capita income	$28,189	$38,351	$44,673
Poverty rate	18.2%	12.3%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	5.1%	4.2%	4%

View the complete comparison of Elkhart, IN, Indiana and United States →

Summary for Elkhart, IN

Elkhart is located in Indiana.

Rent & Income

In Elkhart, the typical monthly rent is $998 and the typical household income is $51,028. Rent here is lower than in both Indiana and the U.S., and household income is also lower than in both. The estimated poverty rate is 18.2%, which is higher than in both Indiana and national.

Housing & Affordability

Renters make up about 46.8% of households, indicating a relatively balanced mix of renters and owners. About 43.6% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Only about 17.7% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher, indicating lower levels of formal education. The local unemployment rate is 5.1%, which is higher than both Indiana and the national rate.

Elkhart, IN — Rent vs Household Income

Elkhart, IN — Poverty vs Unemployment

How Elkhart, IN compares in Indiana (21 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$998	6 / 21	from lower rent	$904 – $1,712
Household income	$51,028	16 / 21	from higher income	$38,731 – $141,505
Poverty rate	18.2%	13 / 21	from lower poverty	3.6% – 33.1%
Unemployment rate	5.1%	17 / 21	from lower unemployment	3% – 9.2%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in Indiana with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for Elkhart, IN

Rent

For typical rent levels, Elkhart is ranked 6th out of 21 major areas in Indiana. Statewide values span from $904 in Muncie, IN to $1,712 in Carmel, IN.

Household income

For median household income, Elkhart is ranked 16th out of 21 large areas. Statewide incomes span from $38,731 in Gary, IN to $141,505 in Carmel, IN.

Poverty rate

In poverty comparisons, Elkhart ranks 13th out of 21 large places. Statewide rates vary from 3.6% in Westfield, IN to 33.1% in Gary, IN.

Unemployment rate

Unemployment levels put Elkhart in 17th place among 21 large places. Statewide unemployment spans from 3% in Fishers, IN to 9.2% in Gary, IN.

💰 Rent in Elkhart, IN (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $998 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Elkhart, IN

Annual Household Income: $51,028

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Elkhart, IN

Estimated Rate: 18.2%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Elkhart, IN

In Elkhart, IN, households that rent: 10,086 (46.8%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	10,086	46.8%
Owner-Occupied	11,466	53.2%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Elkhart, IN

In Elkhart, IN, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 4,393 (43.6%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	4,393	43.6%
Other renter households	5,693	56.4%
Total renter households	10,086	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Elkhart, IN

Less than High School: 11,406 people (33.5%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 13,234 people (38.8%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 3,419 people (10%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 6,029 people (17.7%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 34,088

📊 Unemployment Rate in Elkhart, IN

Estimated Rate: 5.1%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

Diamond Bar, CA53,750 Colton, CA53,798 Huntington Park, CA53,658 Spring Hill, TN53,585 Logan, UT53,923 Manhattan, KS53,951 Pensacola, FL54,011 Wheaton, IL53,453 Pinellas Park, FL53,423 Kentwood, MI54,114

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.