Population 16,406 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Parke County
Household size in Parke County
| Period | Parke County | Indiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.43 | 2.57 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.55 | 2.59 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.55 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.54 | 2.54 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.11 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
The average household in Parke County has 2.54 people, a bit under the U.S. average of 2.65. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.43, even as the national average fell. Households are largest in the northeast 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 Parke County
| Period | Parke County | Indiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.9 | 37.5 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 42.5 | 38.4 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 43.7 | 39.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 44.0 | 39.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.2 | +1.7 | +2.3 |
Parke County skews older than the country: its median age is 44.0, against 40.1 nationally. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 40.9, as it has nationally. Residents skew youngest in the northeast and oldest in the southeast.
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 Parke County
| Period | Parke County | Indiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.1% | 11.8% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.7% | 12.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.4% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.1% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.0 pts | −0.1 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head just over one in ten households in Parke County (11.1%), close to the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has edged down 1.0 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Parke County
Renters in Parke County
| Period | Parke County | Indiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.5% | 28.5% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 17.9% | 30.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 21.3% | 30.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 17.6% | 29.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.1 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 17.6% of households in Parke County rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Among homeowners, 49.4% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the southeast. Few Indiana counties have a lower share of renters: only eight 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 Parke County
| Period | Parke County | Indiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.4% | 11.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 19.1% | 11.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 22.5% | 10.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 21.0% | 9.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | +3.7 pts | −2.0 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 21.0% of the housing in Parke County, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Vacancy has risen 3.7 points since 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 Parke County
| Period | Parke County | Indiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1965 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1968 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1972 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1970 | 1977 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +5 | +6 |
Parke County is a place of older homes: half were built before 1970, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. The median year built has moved up from 1965 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the east, while the west 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 Parke County
| Period | Parke County | Indiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $595 | $763 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $600 | $819 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $678 | $903 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $771 | $1,146 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$176 | +$384 | +$606 |
Rent in Parke County runs $771 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $176 a month since 2006–10, up 30%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 25.4% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the southwest; the highest are in the northwest.
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 Parke County
Bachelor's degrees in Parke County
| Period | Parke County | Indiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.9% | 23.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 14.0% | 24.6% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 12.4% | 27.1% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 15.4% | 30.0% | 35.6% |
| Change | +2.5 pts | +6.2 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Parke County: 15.4% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 2.5 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the east and least in the west.
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 Parke County
| Period | Parke County | Indiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 80.9% | 86.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 85.0% | 87.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 86.3% | 88.7% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 82.1% | 89.9% | 89.3% |
| Change | +1.2 pts | +3.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
Just over one in six adults in Parke County never finished high school, well above the national share: only 82.1% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. The share with a diploma is up 1.2 points from 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally. Few Indiana counties have a lower share of high school graduates: only four of 92.
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 Parke County
| Period | Parke County | Indiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.6% | 8.4% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.4% | 8.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.3% | 4.9% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.1% | 4.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.5 pts | −4.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little easier to find in Parke County than nationally: unemployment was 4.1%, against 5.4%. Unemployment is down 3.5 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current 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).
Parke 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parke County | 2.54 | 44.0 | 11.1% | 17.6% | 21.0% | 1970 | $771 | 15.4% | 82.1% | 4.1% |
| Vermillion County | 2.36 | 44.0 | 9.1% | 24.8% | 10.7% | 1962 | $766 | 17.6% | 93.5% | 4.4% |
| Putnam County | 2.38 | 40.9 | 10.3% | 24.6% | 7.8% | 1978 | $977 | 20.6% | 92.8% | 3.1% |
| Edgar County | 2.18 | 47.0 | 9.3% | 27.3% | 9.2% | 1961 | $826 | 19.2% | 88.2% | 4.4% |
| Hendricks County | 2.69 | 39.4 | 11.2% | 21.8% | 5.6% | 1996 | $1,445 | 39.9% | 93.1% | 2.6% |
| Douglas County | 2.61 | 39.5 | 9.4% | 23.1% | 9.6% | 1968 | $844 | 20.6% | 86.0% | 2.5% |
| Marion County | 2.53 | 35.9 | 14.4% | 43.5% | 9.9% | 1974 | $1,288 | 33.6% | 87.1% | 5.3% |
| Hancock County | 2.53 | 40.9 | 8.2% | 20.5% | 4.3% | 1989 | $1,280 | 35.5% | 93.7% | 2.5% |
| Moultrie County | 2.46 | 40.2 | 11.5% | 24.0% | 7.7% | 1970 | $810 | 19.5% | 83.9% | 2.2% |
| Macon County | 2.35 | 41.6 | 11.1% | 29.8% | 12.2% | 1965 | $890 | 24.4% | 92.8% | 7.4% |
| Rush County | 2.48 | 42.9 | 8.3% | 25.1% | 9.1% | 1956 | $851 | 18.9% | 91.1% | 4.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Powell County, KY · Lavaca County, TX · Lawrence County, AR · Lawrence County, IL · Lewis County, TN · Lexington City, VA · Platte County, WY · Pleasants County, WV · Pocahontas County, IA · Pointe Coupee Parish, LA
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 Parke 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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