1st Advantage MortgageAbout 69% of Allen County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $70,737. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Allen County, IN: the basics
- Income in Allen County compared with Indiana
- How Allen County residents earn a living
- Rent, home values and ownership in Allen County
- The communities that make up Allen County
- How Allen County compares with nearby counties
- A Allen County household budget, worked through
- Reading the Allen County data as a borrower
- Allen County households compared
- Who licenses lenders for Allen County residents
- Four steps for Allen County borrowers
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Allen County, IN: the basics
Roughly 392,378 residents live in Allen County, Indiana, 3rd by population among the state's 92 counties and county equivalents. Packed into 657 square miles, that is close to 597 residents for every square mile of land. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Fort Wayne, IN metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. Of the 9 Census places inside Allen County, Fort Wayne leads by population with about 268,589; 7 of the 9 are incorporated.
Income in Allen County compared with Indiana
The median household income in Allen County is $70,737; statewide it is $71,957, so Allen County runs 2% below Indiana as a whole. Only 37 Indiana counties post a higher median.
| Band | Allen County | Compared with Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 22.3% | -0.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.5% | +2.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.3% | -1.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.8% | -0.4 pts |
About 22% of households earn under $35,000, while 32% clear $100,000. 12.5% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 12.3%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.449 here. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
How Allen County residents earn a living
Education and health care employs 24% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 19%. The survey's unemployment rate for Allen County averages 4.7% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.3%). 7% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 9% work from home. 6.8% of households have no vehicle.
| Top industries | Allen County share | +/- vs Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.5% | +1.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 18.7% | +0.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.5% | +0.7 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.6% | -0.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.5% | -0.3 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 6.2% | +0.9 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Rent, home values and ownership in Allen County
A typical Allen County rental runs $1,021 a month including utilities, which is 4% below Indiana. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 46% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $214,900, about 3.0 times the median household income. 69% of Allen County households own their home and 31% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1976.
| Home costs | Allen County | Indiana | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,021/mo | $1,062/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $214,900 | $218,200 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 69% | 71% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 46% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 18% | 20% | n/a |
The communities that make up Allen County
9 Census places fall mainly inside Allen County; the 9 biggest are below. They account for 304,953 residents, leaving about 22% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Leo-Cedarville has the highest median household income on the list ($116,375) and Monroeville the lowest ($56,302), counting places with at least 500 residents. No Allen County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 9.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Wayne | city | 268,589 | $61,422 | $999 | 4 mi |
| New Haven | city | 15,698 | $70,970 | $998 | 3 mi |
| Huntertown | town | 11,379 | $109,432 | $1,550 | 10 mi |
| Leo-Cedarville | town | 3,695 | $116,375 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Woodburn | city | 1,263 | $65,938 | $939 | 12 mi |
| Harlan | CDP | 1,254 | $75,313 | $894 | 11 mi |
| Monroeville | town | 1,122 | $56,302 | $883 | 13 mi |
| Grabill | town | 1,108 | $66,563 | $850 | 10 mi |
| Hoagland | CDP | 845 | $61,563 | n/a | 10 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
How Allen County compares with nearby counties
Six nearby counties, 21 to 28 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $65,289 in Adams County to $78,083 in Whitley County; 3 of these neighbors top Allen County's median. The list crosses into Ohio, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allen County | - | $70,737 | $1,021/mo | 69% |
| DeKalb County, IN | 21 mi | $74,331 | $861/mo | 82% |
| Whitley County, IN | 23 mi | $78,083 | $934/mo | 82% |
| Adams County, IN | 25 mi | $65,289 | $833/mo | 83% |
| Paulding County, OH | 26 mi | $67,731 | $812/mo | 80% |
| Wells County, IN | 26 mi | $71,957 | $813/mo | 76% |
| Huntington County, IN | 28 mi | $66,301 | $879/mo | 77% |
A Allen County household budget, worked through
Allen County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $70,737 a year is $5,895 of gross monthly income
- 17% goes to median rent ($1,021)
- With a 36% ceiling, about $1,101 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Two-income households and single earners in Allen County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Reading the Allen County data as a borrower
Where the Allen County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Tight rental budgets. With 46% of Allen County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
Allen County households compared
College graduates make up 32% of the adult population. About 8% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Allen County | Indiana | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.2 | 38.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 31.6% | 29.5% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.7% | 9.6% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.3% | 7.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.8% | 6.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.2% | 10.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.5% | 12.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.7% | 4.3% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Allen County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 27.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 50.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 14.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.0% |
| 60+ min | 4.2% |
Who licenses lenders for Allen County residents
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Allen County, check the Indiana Department of Financial Institutions. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. More on Indiana: Indiana personal loans.
Four steps for Allen County borrowers
Before you apply, wherever you live in Allen County:
- Price the Allen County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- A Indiana license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Indiana guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Allen County household make?
About $70,737 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 2% below the Indiana median.
How much is rent in Allen County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,021 a month; 46% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I live in a small Allen County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Fort Wayne, New Haven, Huntertown, Leo-Cedarville, Woodburn and 4 more.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Allen County or elsewhere in Indiana, the same rules apply.
Who regulates personal lenders for Allen County residents?
The Indiana Department of Financial Institutions licenses consumer lenders in Indiana; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.