Elkhart County, Indiana Population 2026

Updated April 2026 · US Census ACS 2023 5-Year Estimates · 6th-largest in Indiana

The population of Elkhart County, Indiana is 206,868 as of the 2023 American Community Survey, making it the 6th-largest county in Indiana. The median household income is $65,617, the median home value is $194,400, and the median age is 35.5.

The population of Elkhart County has grown 5.1% since 2010 (197,453 → 207,436), a +0.35% annualized rate.

Elkhart County within Indiana · Source: US Census TIGER/Line via us-atlas

206,868

Population

+0.35%

Annual growth

447

People / sq mi

$65,617

Median Income

$194,400

Median Home Value

Elkhart County covers 463 sq mi of land at 446.6 people per square mile.

About Elkhart County, IN

Elkhart County is a county in Indiana with a population of 206,868. It ranks #6 among counties in Indiana by population. The median age is 35.5, younger than the national median. The population is 49.6% male and 50.4% female.

The median household income in Elkhart County is $65,617, below the US median of $74,580. 9.2% of residents live below the federal poverty level. Home values sit at a median of $194,400, with monthly rent averaging $1,023. The homeownership rate of 71.2% is higher than the national rate of 64.8%.

Educational attainment in Elkhart County reflects 19.7% of adults 25 and older holding a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national average of 34.3%. Roughly 4.8% of workers primarily work from home, below the national work-from-home rate of 14.2%. The average commute is 19.4 minutes each way.

Elkhart County Population History (2010-2024)

The county of Elkhart County had a population of 197,453 in 2010 and 207,436 in 2024, a 5.1% growth over 14 years. The peak was 207,436 in 2024. Average annual growth rate: 0.35%.

207,436

Population (2024)

197,453

Population (2010)

207,436

Peak (2024)

0.35%

Avg Annual Growth

Year	Population	Change	Annual %	Source
2010	197,453	-	-	estimate
2011	198,292	+839	+0.42%	estimate
2012	198,988	+696	+0.35%	estimate
2013	200,225	+1,237	+0.62%	estimate
2014	201,446	+1,221	+0.61%	estimate
2015	203,022	+1,576	+0.78%	estimate
2016	203,626	+604	+0.30%	estimate
2017	204,279	+653	+0.32%	estimate
2018	205,588	+1,309	+0.64%	estimate
2019	206,268	+680	+0.33%	estimate
2020	207,009	+741	+0.36%	estimate
2021	207,093	+84	+0.04%	estimate
2022	207,161	+68	+0.03%	estimate
2023	206,963	-198	-0.10%	estimate
2024	207,436	+473	+0.23%	estimate

Race & Ethnicity

White	75.3%
Black or African American	4.9%
Asian	0.0%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	1.3%
Two or More Races	0.0%

Age & Sex

35.5

Median Age

50.4%

Female

49.6%

Male

15.2%

Age 65+

Age Distribution

Under 5

7.3%

5–9

7.2%

10–14

8.2%

15–19

7.5%

20–24

6.5%

25–34

12.7%

35–44

12.1%

45–54

11.7%

55–59

6.0%

60–64

5.6%

65–74

8.8%

75–84

4.3%

85+

2.1%

Children (under 15): 22.7% · Seniors (65+): 15.2%

Income & Poverty

Median household income	$65,617$-4,434 vs state
Mean household income	$86,727
Per-capita income	$31,850
Poverty rate	9.2%+0.8% vs state
Unemployment rate	2.2%
Employment-to-population	62.8%

Top Industries by Employment

Manufacturing

34.8%

Professional & business services

19.2%

Education & health care

6.7%

Construction

5.5%

Finance & real estate

5.5%

Arts, entertainment & food

4.8%

Information

3.5%

Retail trade

3.4%

The largest employment sector in Elkhart County is manufacturing, accounting for 34.8% of workers.

How residents commute

0.3%

Drive alone

2.1%

Carpool

75.1%

Public transit

4.8%

Work from home

19.4 min

Avg commute

Housing

$194,400$-7,200 vs state

Median home value

$1,023

Median rent

71.2%

Homeownership rate

80,102

Total housing units

89.6%

Occupied

10.4%

Vacant

28.8%

Renter-occupied

Social & access

85.3%

With health insurance

91.8%

With broadband internet

21.8%

Foreign-born

5.0%

Veterans (18+)

12.1%

With a disability

77.4%

Speak language other than English at home

Education

82.2%

High School+

19.7%

Bachelor's+

Largest cities in Indiana

Indianapolis (882,043)Fort Wayne (266,235)Evansville (116,441)South Bend (102,866)Fishers (100,918)Carmel (100,501)Bloomington (78,791)Hammond (77,098)Noblesville (71,940)Lafayette (70,650)All Indiana cities →

Other counties in Indiana

Marion County (971,822)Lake County (498,990)Allen County (388,791)Hamilton County (357,176)St. Joseph County (272,574)Tippecanoe County (187,399)Vanderburgh County (179,908)Hendricks County (179,379)Porter County (174,150)Johnson County (163,983)All Indiana counties →

Part of Indiana

Indiana demographic profile All Indiana data →

Metro areas in Indiana

Chicago (9,359,555)Cincinnati (2,255,257)Indianapolis (2,106,327)Louisville/Jefferson County (1,361,847)Fort Wayne (451,440)South Bend (324,180)Evansville (269,721)Lafayette (225,019)All US metros →

County rankings

US Counties by Population Richest US Counties by Median Household Income Expensive US Counties by Home Value Educated US Counties Counties With Highest Poverty Rates Youngest US Counties by Median Age Oldest US Counties by Median Age Cheapest US Counties by Median Home Value Racially Diverse US Counties Counties With Largest Hispanic Population All rankings →

Frequently Asked Questions

Elkhart County, Indiana has a population of 206,868 according to the US Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, making it the 6th-largest county in Indiana. Population density is 447 people per square mile.

The population of Elkhart County has grown 5.1% since 2010 (197,453 → 207,436), a +0.35% annualized rate.

The median household income in Elkhart County, Indiana is $65,617, with mean (average) household income of $86,727 and per-capita income of $31,850. 9.2% of residents live below the federal poverty level.

In Elkhart County, the largest racial and ethnic groups are White (75.3%), Black or African American (4.9%), Hispanic or Latino (1.3%). Figures are from the US Census Bureau's 2023 ACS 5-year estimates and reflect self-reported responses.

The median age in Elkhart County, Indiana is 35.5 years. Residents are 50.4% female and 49.6% male.

The median home value in Elkhart County is $194,400 and median monthly rent is $1,023. 71.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. The county has 80,102 total housing units, 10.4% of which are vacant.

The largest employment sector in Elkhart County, Indiana is manufacturing, employing 34.8% of workers. The unemployment rate is 2.2%.

Indianapolis is among the largest cities associated with Elkhart County, Indiana, with a population of 882,043.