1st Advantage MortgageThe median Delaware County household earns $58,127, and 20% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Who lives in Delaware County
- Renting and owning in Delaware County
- How much Delaware County households make
- Work, industries and travel time in Delaware County
- How Delaware County compares with nearby counties
- Places inside Delaware County
- What a median Delaware County budget can carry
- Local borrowing considerations for Delaware County
- Who lives in Delaware County, in numbers
- Four steps for Delaware County borrowers
- Who licenses lenders for Delaware County residents
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Delaware County
Roughly 112,280 residents live in Delaware County, Indiana, 15th by population among the state's 92 counties and county equivalents. It covers 392 square miles of land, or about 286 people per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Muncie, IN metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 7 places in the county (7 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Muncie, with about 64,751 residents, or 58% of the county.
Renting and owning in Delaware County
Renters in Delaware County pay a median of $906 a month, 15% below the Indiana figure of $1,062. 50% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 31% spend half or more. With a median value of $139,400, a typical Delaware County house costs 2.4 times what the median household earns in a year. 66% of Delaware County households own their home and 34% rent. Median construction year: 1967.
| Delaware County | Indiana | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $906/mo | $1,062/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $139,400 | $218,200 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 66% | 71% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 50% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 18% | 20% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 4.7% | 4.4% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 10% | 9% | n/a |
Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
How much Delaware County households make
Half of Delaware County households take in less than $58,127 a year and half take in more, 19% below the Indiana median of $71,957. In the state ranking that is 83rd of 92.
| Band | Delaware County | Compared with Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 30.6% | +8.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.9% | +2.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.0% | -5.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.4% | -4.8 pts |
The spread is wide: 23% of Delaware County households make $100,000 or more, and 31% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 19.6%, 7 points higher than the state's 12.3%. None of these numbers decides a Delaware County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Work, industries and travel time in Delaware County
Education and health care employs 30% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 12%. Compared with Indiana, the county leans toward education and health care (30% against 23%). Averaged over the five survey years, 5.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 12% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Industry | Share of Delaware County workers | vs Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 29.5% | +6.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.1% | +1.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 11.4% | -6.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 11.2% | +3.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.1% | -1.1 pts |
| Construction | 6.1% | -0.5 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
How Delaware County compares with nearby counties
Six nearby counties, 17 to 25 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. 3 of the six report a higher median household income than Delaware County; Henry County is highest at $63,150 and Blackford County lowest at $51,326.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware County | - | $58,127 | $906/mo | 66% |
| Blackford County, IN | 17 mi | $51,326 | $699/mo | 74% |
| Madison County, IN | 18 mi | $63,037 | $939/mo | 70% |
| Henry County, IN | 21 mi | $63,150 | $820/mo | 76% |
| Randolph County, IN | 21 mi | $60,791 | $723/mo | 77% |
| Grant County, IN | 24 mi | $53,522 | $853/mo | 73% |
| Jay County, IN | 25 mi | $54,969 | $770/mo | 80% |
Places inside Delaware County
The table lists the 7 largest of 7 Census places in Delaware County, by population. Together all 7 hold about 84,118 people, so roughly 25% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $81,674 at the median in Yorktown, $44,471 in Muncie. None of the 7 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muncie | city | 64,751 | $44,471 | $904 | 2 mi |
| Yorktown | town | 11,699 | $81,674 | $926 | 7 mi |
| Albany | town | 2,907 | $58,026 | $683 | 10 mi |
| Eaton | town | 1,630 | $54,531 | $690 | 7 mi |
| Daleville | town | 1,584 | $50,795 | $779 | 11 mi |
| Selma | town | 837 | $58,214 | $910 | 7 mi |
| Gaston | town | 710 | $52,292 | $789 | 8 mi |
What a median Delaware County budget can carry
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Delaware County's medians:
- Monthly gross at the median, Delaware County: $4,844
- 19% goes to median rent ($906)
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $838 left for all other debt payments
- At 43%, room after rent is $1,177 a month
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Local borrowing considerations for Delaware County
Where the Delaware County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Lower-cost alternatives. In a county with 20% in poverty, nonprofit credit counseling may beat a loan (options).
- Rent squeeze. 50% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
Who lives in Delaware County, in numbers
College graduates make up 26% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 6.8%, against 7.4% for Indiana.
| Delaware County | Indiana | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.8 | 38.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 26.2% | 29.5% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.5% | 9.6% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.8% | 7.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.2% | 6.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.7% | 10.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 19.6% | 12.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.8% | 4.3% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Delaware County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 43.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 33.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 11.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.1% |
| 60+ min | 7.5% |
Four steps for Delaware County borrowers
Before you apply, wherever you live in Delaware County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Delaware County.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Indiana.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Who licenses lenders for Delaware County residents
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Delaware County borrowers answers to the Indiana Department of Financial Institutions. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. See the Indiana state guide for the statewide picture.
Related local guides
The Indiana guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Delaware County earn?
The median is $58,127; 23% earn $100,000 or more and 31% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is Delaware County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $906 against $1,062 statewide, and 50% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I live in a small Delaware County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Muncie, Yorktown, Albany, Eaton, Daleville and 2 more.
Is the fit check different in Delaware County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Where can someone in Delaware County check a lender's license?
With the Indiana Department of Financial Institutions. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.