1st Advantage MortgageMedian rent in Grant County is $853 a month against a median household income of $53,522, about 19% of income (ACS 2020-24). Borrow only what the expense needs, pick the shortest affordable term, and walk away from any lender asking a Grant County applicant for an upfront fee.
On this page
- Population and place: Grant County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Grant County
- Grant County income bands
- What stands out in Grant County
- Employment and commuting in Grant County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Grant County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Age, degrees and coverage in Grant County
- Borrowing situations common in Grant County
- Room for a loan payment in Grant County
- Verifying a lender from Grant County
- Steps before you apply in Grant County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Population and place: Grant County
Roughly 66,295 residents live in Grant County, Indiana, 26th by population among the state's 92 counties and county equivalents. Density: about 160.1 residents per square mile across 414 square miles of land. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Marion is the biggest of its 17 Census places, at roughly 27,531 people (42% of the county total).
Rent, home values and ownership in Grant County
Half of Grant County renters pay more than $853 a month and half pay less; the Indiana midpoint is $1,062. By the Census definition, 42% of Grant County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $122,300, a typical Grant County house costs 2.3 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 73% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1963. Nationally, Grant County's $853 rent is 3% below the middle county.
| Cost | Grant County | Indiana figure | Higher or lower |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $853/mo | $1,062/mo | 20% lower |
| Median home value | $122,300 | $218,200 | 44% lower |
| Owners | 73% | 71% | +2.2 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 42% | 48% | -5.7 pts |
| Burdened owners | 26% | 20% | +6.2 pts |
| Mobile homes | 5.8% | 4.4% | +1.4 pts |
| Vacant units | 10% | 9% | +1.7 pts |
In an owner-heavy county like Grant County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
Grant County income bands
Half of Grant County households take in less than $53,522 a year and half take in more, 26% below the Indiana median of $71,957.
| Income band | Share in Grant County | Difference from Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 31.4% | +8.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.8% | +2.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 19.8% | -6.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.0% | -5.3 pts |
Some 31% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 23% have six-figure incomes. Grant County counts about 13,147 residents below the poverty line, 19.8% of the population. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.448 here. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
What stands out in Grant County
The 3 Grant County numbers that rank furthest from typical in Indiana, and what each means for a borrower:
- Grant County ranks 2nd highest of 92 Indiana counties for the poverty rate: 19.8%, against 12.3% statewide. Free help, such as utility and rent assistance, should come before any loan.
- On median household income, Grant County sits near the bottom of Indiana at $53,522, 4th lowest of 92. Where incomes run low, free assistance and credit-union small-dollar loans deserve a look first.
- Few Indiana counties match Grant County on the share of households earning $100,000 or more: 23% here, 34% for the state, ranking 4th lowest of 92. Few six-figure households means smaller loans are the norm.
Employment and commuting in Grant County
By the Census industry count, 30% of employed Grant County residents work in education and health care and 16% in manufacturing. Compared with Indiana, the county leans toward education and health care (30% against 23%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 6.3% in Grant County. Long commutes are the exception here: 13% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Top industries | Grant County share | +/- vs Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 30.1% | +6.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 16.0% | -2.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.9% | +2.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.0% | +0.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.6% | -2.6 pts |
| Construction | 5.3% | -1.2 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Grant County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 17 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 70% of Grant County residents live in one of the 17. Incomes vary by place: $83,839 at the median in Upland, $43,343 in Marion. From Marion to the smallest crossroads, Grant County residents share this guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marion | city | 27,531 | $43,343 | $805 | 2 mi |
| Gas City | city | 6,076 | $55,982 | $901 | 4 mi |
| Upland | town | 3,918 | $83,839 | $982 | 9 mi |
| Fairmount | town | 2,662 | $51,739 | $1,026 | 7 mi |
| Jonesboro | city | 1,578 | $45,833 | $975 | 3 mi |
| Sweetser | town | 1,061 | $80,625 | $1,063 | 7 mi |
| Swayzee | town | 846 | $65,391 | $925 | 9 mi |
| Converse | town | 813 | $65,536 | $569 | 12 mi |
| Van Buren | town | 782 | $47,692 | $816 | 11 mi |
| Matthews | town | 501 | $50,048 | $867 | 12 mi |
| Herbst | CDP | 309 | $40,366 | n/a | 7 mi |
| Mier | CDP | 210 | n/a | n/a | 10 mi |
| Fowlerton | town | 185 | $52,679 | $814 | 9 mi |
| Sims | CDP | 98 | n/a | n/a | 11 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Blackford County is closest, 18 miles from center to center; the sixth, Madison County, is 24 miles off. 5 of the six report a higher median household income than Grant County; Wabash County is highest at $66,806 and Blackford County lowest at $51,326.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grant County | - | $53,522 | $853/mo | 73% |
| Blackford County, IN | 18 mi | $51,326 | $699/mo | 74% |
| Huntington County, IN | 23 mi | $66,301 | $879/mo | 77% |
| Wabash County, IN | 24 mi | $66,806 | $762/mo | 80% |
| Delaware County, IN | 24 mi | $58,127 | $906/mo | 66% |
| Howard County, IN | 24 mi | $64,027 | $937/mo | 71% |
| Madison County, IN | 24 mi | $63,037 | $939/mo | 70% |
Age, degrees and coverage in Grant County
In Grant County, 20% of adults have at least a four-year degree (29% in Indiana). The uninsured rate is 6.8%, against 7.4% for Indiana.
| Measure | Grant County | Gap to Indiana | Gap to typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 20.3% | -9.1 pts | -1.8 pts |
| Poverty rate | 19.8% | +7.5 pts | +6.7 pts |
| Work from home | 7.8% | -2.9 pts | -0.9 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.3% | +2.0 pts | +1.9 pts |
| No high school diploma | 10.7% | +1.0 pts | n/a |
| Median age | 38.7 | +0.6 yrs | -2.8 yrs |
| No health insurance | 6.8% | -0.5 pts | -1.0 pts |
| No vehicle | 6.4% | +0.1 pts | +1.0 pts |
| One-way commute | Share of Grant County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 44.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 32.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 10.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.6% |
| 60+ min | 7.2% |
Borrowing situations common in Grant County
Based on the Grant County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Before borrowing. At 19.8% poverty, Grant County has local aid programs worth checking (options).
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
Room for a loan payment in Grant County
How much room does a median Grant County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $53,522 a year is $4,460 of gross monthly income
- Median rent: $853, or 19 cents of every gross dollar
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,065 left for all other debt payments
If your rent is above $853, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Verifying a lender from Grant County
Consumer lenders serving Grant 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.
Steps before you apply in Grant County
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Indiana guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is $53,522 a good income in Grant County?
It is the county median, so half of Grant County households earn more and half less; 23% earn $100,000 or more.
What do renters pay in Grant County?
$853 a month at the median, about 19% of median household income.
I own my home in Grant County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 73% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Is Landess covered?
Yes. Landess is one of 17 Census places in Grant County, and this guide covers all of them.
Is the fit check different in Grant County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.