Starke County, Indiana Income Statistics
Starke County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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D
Starke County Well below averageLess wealthy than 81% of counties in Indiana
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Starke County | Indiana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $63,863 | $71,967 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $49,624 | $55,757 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.0% | 4.5% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 5.3% | 10.2% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 2.1% | 8.2% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Starke County is about 11% lower than in Indiana. Income has been growing faster in Starke County (5.0%/yr) than in Indiana (4.5%/yr).
About 5% of adults in Starke County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Indiana average of 10%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Starke County, Indiana grew by 65.4% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $63,863 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.0% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Starke County
| Metric | Starke County | Indiana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.535 | 0.534 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $61,692 | $65,086 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $41,490 | $51,220 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 32.7% | 21.3% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Starke County, it is 0.535, about the same as Indiana's 0.534, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 49% more than women's income in Starke County, Indiana. Over a 35-year career, a 49% wage gap accumulates to roughly $707,070 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Starke County, Indiana has widened from about 24% to 33% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 35% in 2019, and was narrowest at 23% in 2010. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $10,934 since 2009.
Sharply against the trend: the pay gap in Starke County widened by 8.9 points while Indiana's narrowed by 6.3 points.
Employment
| Metric | Starke County | Indiana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% | 4.3% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 4.8% | 10.7% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 25 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 347 people are unemployed in Starke County, Indiana.
The average commute time in Starke County is 25 minutes, longer than the 21 minutes in Indiana.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Starke County, Indiana has fallen from 13.6% to 3.4% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 14.4% in 2013.
Starke County, IN Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Starke County, IN is the 4th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 23,365 residents against a local median of 46,284. Starke County, IN's unemployment, at 3.4%, runs 28% below the 4.7% typical of the counties around it. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 5.0% on unemployment, so Starke County, IN sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Starke County, IN has the 3rd lowest unemployment of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starke County, IN | 23,365 | $63,863 #5/6 | 5.0%/yr #1/6 | 3.4% #3/6 | 0.535 #4/6 |
| Pulaski County, IN | 12,441 | $65,446 | 4.9%/yr | 1.8% | 0.515 |
| LaPorte County, IN | 111,917 | $70,422 | 4.8%/yr | 4.8% | 0.558 |
| Marshall County, IN | 46,284 | $71,929 | 4.8%/yr | 2.6% | 0.524 |
| Fulton County, IN | 20,312 | $61,794 | 3.8%/yr | 6.8% | 0.520 |
| Porter County, IN | 174,798 | $86,949 | 3.7%/yr | 4.7% | 0.543 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Starke County, Indiana has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it about on par with Indiana, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Starke County, Indiana.
How Rich Is Starke County, Indiana?
Starke County has a wealth index grade of D. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a D grade means residents are somewhat worse off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $63,863, about 11% lower than the Indiana average of $71,967.
How fast is household income rising in Starke County, Indiana?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Starke County, Indiana rose 65%, from $38,614 to $63,863. Over the same years, income here outpaced Indiana as a whole: +65% against +52%.
What was the median household income in Starke County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Starke County, Indiana was $62,849, up 5% from $59,921 in 2022. The Indiana median that year was $70,115.
What was the median household income in Starke County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Starke County, Indiana was $49,649. By 2024 it had risen 29% to $63,863.
What is the Gini coefficient in Starke County, Indiana?
The Gini coefficient in Starke County is 0.535. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Starke County, Indiana?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Starke County, Indiana has widened from about 24% to 33% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 35% in 2019, and was narrowest at 23% in 2010. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $10,934 since 2009.
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