1st Advantage MortgageThe median Boone County household earns $111,250, and 5% of residents live below the poverty line. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Indiana license first.
On this page
- Boone County, IN: the basics
- Paychecks and income spread in Boone County
- Jobs and commutes in Boone County
- Boone County housing compared with Indiana
- Counties near Boone County
- Towns and communities in Boone County
- A Boone County household budget, worked through
- Who lives in Boone County, in numbers
- Before borrowing in Boone County
- Before you sign
- Checking a lender's license in Indiana
- More guides for Boone County
- Frequently asked questions
Boone County, IN: the basics
Boone County is home to about 74,718 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 23rd most populous of 92 county-level areas in Indiana. Land area is 423 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 177 per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 7 places in the county (7 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Zionsville, with about 32,095 residents, or 43% of the county.
Paychecks and income spread in Boone County
Half of Boone County households take in less than $111,250 a year and half take in more, 55% above the Indiana median of $71,957. In the state ranking that is 2nd of 92.
| Yearly household income | Boone County | Gap to Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 13.8% | -8.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 30.3% | -13.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 32.8% | +7.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 23.1% | +14.9 pts |
The spread is wide: 56% of Boone County households make $100,000 or more, and 14% make less than $35,000. 4.5% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 12.3%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.472 here. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Jobs and commutes in Boone County
The biggest employer of Boone County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 26% of workers, followed by manufacturing (14%). Education and health care stands out: 26% of workers here, versus 23% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 2.8% in Boone County. 10% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 20% work from home. 2.4% of households have no vehicle.
| Top industries | Boone County share | +/- vs Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.9% | +2.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 14.1% | -3.9 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 11.2% | +2.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.6% | -1.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.6% | +0.8 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 7.2% | +2.0 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Boone County housing compared with Indiana
Renters in Boone County pay a median of $1,359 a month, 28% above the Indiana figure of $1,062. 40% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 16% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $376,200, about 3.4 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 79%.
| Home costs | Boone County | Indiana | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,359/mo | $1,062/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $376,200 | $218,200 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 79% | 71% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 40% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 17% | 20% | n/a |
Because most Boone County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
Counties near Boone County
Six nearby counties, 18 to 28 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $65,019 in Clinton County to $121,530 in Hamilton County; 1 of these neighbors top Boone County's median.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boone County | - | $111,250 | $1,359/mo | 79% |
| Clinton County, IN | 18 mi | $65,019 | $920/mo | 74% |
| Hendricks County, IN | 20 mi | $101,144 | $1,436/mo | 78% |
| Montgomery County, IN | 22 mi | $71,479 | $858/mo | 80% |
| Hamilton County, IN | 24 mi | $121,530 | $1,574/mo | 76% |
| Marion County, IN | 26 mi | $66,346 | $1,153/mo | 57% |
| Tipton County, IN | 28 mi | $76,156 | $842/mo | 81% |
Towns and communities in Boone County
The table lists the 7 largest of 7 Census places in Boone County, by population. Together all 7 hold about 65,234 people, so roughly 13% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $172,024 at the median in Zionsville, $65,154 in Lebanon. Median rent ranges from $907 in Jamestown to $1,842 in Whitestown. Live in one of these Boone County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zionsville | town | 32,095 | $172,024 | $1,792 | 9 mi |
| Lebanon | city | 17,812 | $65,154 | $962 | 2 mi |
| Whitestown | town | 12,466 | $123,643 | $1,842 | 8 mi |
| Thorntown | town | 1,212 | $73,750 | $928 | 9 mi |
| Jamestown | town | 1,107 | $71,048 | $907 | 12 mi |
| Advance | town | 390 | $64,500 | $1,042 | 9 mi |
| Ulen | town | 152 | n/a | n/a | 1 mi |
A Boone County household budget, worked through
Boone County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $9,271 a month: gross income for a household at the Boone County median
- Rent at the median, $1,359, takes 15% of that
- $2,627: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Who lives in Boone County, in numbers
Degree holders: 52% of adults over 25. 4.5% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Boone County | All of Indiana | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.8 | 38.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 51.7% | 29.5% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.1% | 9.6% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.5% | 7.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.4% | 6.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 20.2% | 10.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 4.5% | 12.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.8% | 4.3% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 28.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 36.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 25.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.1% |
| 60+ min | 3.2% |
Before borrowing in Boone County
Based on the Boone County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Consolidation math. With 56% at six figures, card consolidation is common; it pays only if total cost falls (guide).
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
Before you sign
A short checklist for Boone County borrowers:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Verify the Indiana license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Checking a lender's license in Indiana
Consumer lenders serving Boone County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Indiana that is the Indiana Department of Financial Institutions. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. See the Indiana state guide for the statewide picture.
More guides for Boone County
For statewide rules and data, see the Indiana guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Boone County a high-income county?
Its $111,250 median ranks 2nd of 92 Indiana counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Boone County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,359 against $1,062 statewide, and 40% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I live in a small Boone County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Zionsville, Lebanon, Whitestown, Thorntown, Jamestown and 2 more.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Boone County or elsewhere in Indiana, the same rules apply.
Is there a Boone County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Indiana it is the Indiana Department of Financial Institutions.