Population 975,809 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Marion County
Household size in Marion County
| Period | Marion County | Indianapolis area | Indiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.50 | 2.60 | 2.57 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.55 | 2.63 | 2.59 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.59 | 2.63 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.53 | 2.59 | 2.54 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.03 | −0.01 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
The average household in Marion County has 2.53 people, a bit under the U.S. average of 2.65. Household size has crept up from 2.50 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell. Households are largest in the southwest and smallest in the center.
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 Marion County
| Period | Marion County | Indianapolis area | Indiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.2 | 36.3 | 37.5 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 35.4 | 37.0 | 38.4 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 35.9 | 37.7 | 39.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 35.9 | 38.2 | 39.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.8 | +1.9 | +1.7 | +2.3 |
With a median age of just 35.9, Marion County is far younger than the country as a whole (40.1), a population that tilts toward young adults, many of them living alone or as couples. Since 2006–10, the median age has crept up from 35.2, a smaller shift than nationally. Few Indiana counties are younger: only four of 92.
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 Marion County
| Period | Marion County | Indianapolis area | Indiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.8% | 12.7% | 11.8% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 15.9% | 12.8% | 12.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 14.0% | 12.0% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 14.4% | 11.8% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.4 pts | −0.9 pts | −0.1 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are more common in Marion County than nationally: 14.4%, against 11.6%. The single-parent share is down 1.4 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Only two of Indiana's 92 counties have a higher share of single-parent households.
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 Marion County
Renters in Marion County
| Period | Marion County | Indianapolis area | Indiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 41.2% | 31.4% | 28.5% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 44.7% | 34.2% | 30.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 46.1% | 34.8% | 30.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 43.5% | 33.2% | 29.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.3 pts | +1.8 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
More than four in ten households in Marion County rent their homes (43.5%), above the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 34.3% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is up 2.3 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Few Indiana counties have a higher share of renters: only two of 92.
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 Marion County
| Period | Marion County | Indianapolis area | Indiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.3% | 11.2% | 11.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 13.4% | 10.6% | 11.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 11.9% | 9.6% | 10.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 9.9% | 8.0% | 9.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −4.3 pts | −3.2 pts | −2.0 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Marion County is close to the national rate: 9.9% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. The rate is higher than in the Indianapolis area overall (8.0%). Vacancy is down 4.3 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Marion County
| Period | Marion County | Indianapolis area | Indiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1971 | 1978 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1971 | 1979 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1972 | 1980 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1974 | 1982 | 1977 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +5 | +5 | +6 |
Housing in Marion County leans older: the median home dates to 1974, against 1980 nationally. Newer construction is concentrated in the southeast, while the north has the oldest housing.
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 Marion County
| Period | Marion County | Indianapolis area | Indiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $817 | $877 | $763 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $892 | $946 | $819 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,004 | $1,060 | $903 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,288 | $1,368 | $1,146 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$470 | +$492 | +$384 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Marion County costs $1,288 a month with utilities, below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $470 a month since 2006–10, up 58%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 31.9% 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 east; 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 Marion County
Bachelor's degrees in Marion County
| Period | Marion County | Indianapolis area | Indiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.8% | 30.9% | 23.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 27.2% | 31.8% | 24.6% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 30.0% | 35.2% | 27.1% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 33.6% | 38.6% | 30.0% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.8 pts | +7.7 pts | +6.2 pts | +7.2 pts |
About a third of adults 25 and older in Marion County (33.6%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, close to the national share of 35.6%. The share is lower than in the wider Indianapolis area (38.6%). Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 6.8 points, mirroring the country.
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 Marion County
| Period | Marion County | Indianapolis area | Indiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 83.7% | 88.1% | 86.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 84.6% | 88.9% | 87.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 85.6% | 89.6% | 88.7% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 87.1% | 90.8% | 89.9% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.4 pts | +2.8 pts | +3.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in eight adults in Marion County never finished high school, a bit more than nationally: 87.1% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. The share with a diploma has risen 3.4 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Marion County has a lower share of high school graduates than the great majority of Indiana counties.
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 Marion County
| Period | Marion County | Indianapolis area | Indiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.2% | 7.9% | 8.4% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 11.5% | 9.0% | 8.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.5% | 4.9% | 4.9% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.3% | 4.1% | 4.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −5.0 pts | −3.7 pts | −4.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Marion County is close to the national rate: 5.3% of the labor force, against 5.4%. The rate is higher than in the wider Indianapolis area (4.1%). Unemployment has fallen 5.0 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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).
Marion 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marion County | 2.53 | 35.9 | 14.4% | 43.5% | 9.9% | 1974 | $1,288 | 33.6% | 87.1% | 5.3% |
| Hendricks County | 2.69 | 39.4 | 11.2% | 21.8% | 5.6% | 1996 | $1,445 | 39.9% | 93.1% | 2.6% |
| Hancock County | 2.53 | 40.9 | 8.2% | 20.5% | 4.3% | 1989 | $1,280 | 35.5% | 93.7% | 2.5% |
| Rush County | 2.48 | 42.9 | 8.3% | 25.1% | 9.1% | 1956 | $851 | 18.9% | 91.1% | 4.5% |
| Putnam County | 2.38 | 40.9 | 10.3% | 24.6% | 7.8% | 1978 | $977 | 20.6% | 92.8% | 3.1% |
| Fayette County | 2.51 | 43.6 | 13.4% | 27.9% | 14.5% | 1962 | $921 | 16.1% | 86.0% | 3.4% |
| Parke County | 2.54 | 44.0 | 11.1% | 17.6% | 21.0% | 1970 | $771 | 15.4% | 82.1% | 4.1% |
| Wayne County | 2.48 | 41.6 | 11.6% | 30.8% | 12.1% | 1960 | $814 | 19.9% | 87.3% | 5.6% |
| Union County | 2.41 | 41.8 | 11.4% | 20.2% | 10.8% | 1967 | $882 | 19.1% | 88.5% | 4.4% |
| Vermillion County | 2.36 | 44.0 | 9.1% | 24.8% | 10.7% | 1962 | $766 | 17.6% | 93.5% | 4.4% |
| Preble County | 2.44 | 43.7 | 11.2% | 20.3% | 8.3% | 1967 | $869 | 18.5% | 92.4% | 3.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Wayne County, MI · Palm Beach County, FL · Oakland County, MI · Franklin County, OH · Nassau County, NY · New York County, NY · Duval County, FL · Bronx County, NY · Honolulu County, HI · Mecklenburg County, NC
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 Marion 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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