Population 20,229 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Jay County
Household size in Jay County
| Period | Jay County | Indiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.59 | 2.57 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.59 | 2.59 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.56 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.60 | 2.54 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.01 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
At 2.60 people per household, Jay County sits close to the national average of 2.65. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the northeast. Jay County has larger households than at least four in five Indiana counties.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Jay County
| Period | Jay County | Indiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.5 | 37.5 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 39.7 | 38.4 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 40.5 | 39.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 39.0 | 39.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | −0.4 | +1.7 | +2.3 |
At 39.0, the median age in Jay County is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. The median age has edged down from 39.5 in 2006–10, even as the national median rose. The youngest areas are in the northeast, the oldest in the northwest.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Jay County
| Period | Jay County | Indiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.6% | 11.8% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.4% | 12.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 12.9% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.8% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.1 pts | −0.1 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head nearly one in eight households in Jay County (11.8%), close to the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged up 1.1 points, even as the national share fell.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Jay County
Renters in Jay County
| Period | Jay County | Indiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.0% | 28.5% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 24.9% | 30.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 27.0% | 30.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 20.1% | 29.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.9 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Jay County is largely a place of homeowners: only 20.1% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 39.6% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. The renter share is down 0.9 points from 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Jay County
| Period | Jay County | Indiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.3% | 11.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.2% | 11.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 12.0% | 10.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 12.6% | 9.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | +1.3 pts | −2.0 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy runs high in Jay County: 12.6% of homes are empty, against 9.6% nationally. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Vacancy is up 1.3 points from 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Jay County
| Period | Jay County | Indiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1953 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1954 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1961 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1959 | 1977 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +5 | +6 |
The housing in Jay County is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1959, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The median year built has moved up from 1953 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the northwest, the oldest in the center. Only seven of Indiana's 92 counties have older homes.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Jay County
| Period | Jay County | Indiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $494 | $763 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $618 | $819 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $678 | $903 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $781 | $1,146 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$287 | +$384 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Jay County costs $781 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $287 a month from 2006–10, a 58% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 30.8% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the center; the highest are in the north.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Jay County
Bachelor's degrees in Jay County
| Period | Jay County | Indiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.0% | 23.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.5% | 24.6% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 11.1% | 27.1% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 13.0% | 30.0% | 35.6% |
| Change | +2.1 pts | +6.2 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Jay County: 13.0% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 2.1 points, a smaller shift than nationally. Few Indiana counties have a lower share of college graduates: only four of 92.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Jay County
| Period | Jay County | Indiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 84.1% | 86.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 84.2% | 87.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 87.6% | 88.7% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 85.5% | 89.9% | 89.3% |
| Change | +1.5 pts | +3.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in seven adults in Jay County never finished high school, more than nationally: 85.5% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. The share with a diploma has edged up 1.5 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Only seven of Indiana's 92 counties have a lower share of high school graduates.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Jay County
| Period | Jay County | Indiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.4% | 8.4% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.8% | 8.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.8% | 4.9% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.2% | 4.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.1 pts | −4.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Jay County runs below the national rate: 4.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment is down 4.1 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Jay County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jay County | 2.60 | 39.0 | 11.8% | 20.1% | 12.6% | 1959 | $781 | 13.0% | 85.5% | 4.2% |
| Blackford County | 2.28 | 44.9 | 9.8% | 26.1% | 10.6% | 1958 | $757 | 15.2% | 90.4% | 3.7% |
| Mercer County | 2.62 | 40.2 | 7.9% | 20.4% | 9.8% | 1972 | $825 | 22.4% | 95.1% | 1.5% |
| Grant County | 2.30 | 40.4 | 13.9% | 27.3% | 11.1% | 1963 | $926 | 21.8% | 89.5% | 6.6% |
| Auglaize County | 2.44 | 41.8 | 9.6% | 21.9% | 6.5% | 1967 | $946 | 22.2% | 95.0% | 2.8% |
| Shelby County | 2.54 | 40.4 | 9.8% | 26.3% | 6.6% | 1973 | $944 | 21.4% | 91.7% | 3.9% |
| Tipton County | 2.42 | 45.6 | 10.3% | 18.6% | 9.9% | 1963 | $861 | 24.2% | 90.9% | 2.6% |
| Howard County | 2.35 | 40.6 | 13.4% | 29.4% | 11.0% | 1968 | $948 | 20.3% | 91.3% | 5.7% |
| Logan County | 2.39 | 42.2 | 11.5% | 22.4% | 14.3% | 1971 | $802 | 18.6% | 92.6% | 4.1% |
| Carroll County | 2.57 | 42.6 | 8.2% | 17.8% | 13.6% | 1964 | $900 | 17.2% | 89.0% | 3.5% |
| Tippecanoe County | 2.32 | 33.8 | 9.6% | 46.6% | 12.5% | 1984 | $1,199 | 43.5% | 88.2% | 3.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Dickinson County, IA · Skamania County, WA · San Juan County, UT · Franklin County, ID · Evans County, GA · Estill County, KY · Door County, WI · Dodge County, MN · Dixie County, FL · Dinwiddie County, VA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Jay County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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