1st Advantage MortgageHenry County households have a median income of $63,150 and median rent of $820 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- Henry County by the numbers
- Paychecks and income spread in Henry County
- How Henry County residents earn a living
- Renting and owning in Henry County
- Places inside Henry County
- How Henry County compares with nearby counties
- What a median Henry County budget can carry
- People and households in Henry County
- Reading the Henry County data as a borrower
- Who licenses lenders for Henry County residents
- A Henry County borrower's checklist
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Henry County by the numbers
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Henry County's population at 48,970; only 28 of Indiana's 92 county-level areas are larger. It covers 392 square miles of land, or about 125 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Henry County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 16 Census places inside Henry County, New Castle leads by population with about 17,367; 16 of the 16 are incorporated.
Paychecks and income spread in Henry County
Henry County households have a median income of $63,150 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 68th of 92 in Indiana.
| Income band | Share in Henry County | Difference from Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.1% | +3.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 47.2% | +3.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.7% | -3.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.9% | -4.3 pts |
About 26% of households earn under $35,000, while 27% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 13.6%, 1 point higher than the state's 12.3%. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
How Henry County residents earn a living
By the Census industry count, 23% of employed Henry County residents work in education and health care and 20% in manufacturing. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.7% in Henry County. Long commutes are common here: 19% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Sector | Henry County | Compared with Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.4% | -0.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 19.6% | +1.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.6% | +0.8 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.6% | -0.7 pts |
| Construction | 7.4% | +0.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.5% | -1.3 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Henry County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Renting and owning in Henry County
Renters in Henry County pay a median of $820 a month, 23% below the Indiana figure of $1,062. By the Census definition, 41% of Henry County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $154,400, a typical Henry County house costs 2.4 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 76% of homes.
| Henry County | Indiana | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $820/mo | $1,062/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $154,400 | $218,200 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 76% | 71% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 41% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 20% | 20% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
Places inside Henry County
The table lists the 14 largest of 16 Census places in Henry County, by population. Together all 16 hold about 27,223 people, so roughly 44% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $67,083 at the median in Shirley, $49,792 in Knightstown. Median rent ranges from $615 in Shirley to $930 in Knightstown. None of the 16 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Castle | city | 17,367 | $51,606 | $781 | 2 mi |
| Knightstown | town | 2,241 | $49,792 | $930 | 12 mi |
| Middletown | town | 2,235 | $56,008 | $867 | 12 mi |
| Shirley | town | 1,022 | $67,083 | $615 | 10 mi |
| Spiceland | town | 840 | $65,875 | $789 | 6 mi |
| Mount Summit | town | 713 | n/a | $875 | 5 mi |
| Mooreland | town | 493 | $60,714 | $982 | 9 mi |
| Sulphur Springs | town | 454 | $51,250 | $993 | 5 mi |
| Kennard | town | 415 | $58,125 | $1,089 | 7 mi |
| Lewisville | town | 282 | $50,208 | $875 | 9 mi |
| Straughn | town | 229 | $73,125 | $1,708 | 10 mi |
| Cadiz | town | 226 | $101,000 | $920 | 5 mi |
| Dunreith | town | 204 | $57,250 | $1,250 | 9 mi |
| Greensboro | town | 178 | n/a | n/a | 5 mi |
How Henry County compares with nearby counties
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Henry County's, from 21 to 24 miles away. 2 of the six report a higher median household income than Henry County; Hancock County is highest at $93,186 and Wayne County lowest at $55,692.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Henry County | - | $63,150 | $820/mo | 76% |
| Delaware County, IN | 21 mi | $58,127 | $906/mo | 66% |
| Wayne County, IN | 21 mi | $55,692 | $815/mo | 69% |
| Hancock County, IN | 21 mi | $93,186 | $1,203/mo | 80% |
| Rush County, IN | 22 mi | $66,473 | $873/mo | 75% |
| Fayette County, IN | 23 mi | $59,321 | $791/mo | 72% |
| Madison County, IN | 24 mi | $63,037 | $939/mo | 70% |
What a median Henry County budget can carry
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Henry County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Start: $5,262 gross per month ($63,150 / 12)
- Median rent: $820, or 16 cents of every gross dollar
- $1,285: what a 40% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
People and households in Henry County
17% of Henry County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 6% go without health insurance.
| Henry County | Indiana | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.2 | 38.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 17.5% | 29.5% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.5% | 9.6% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.7% | 7.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.7% | 6.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.3% | 10.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 13.6% | 12.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.7% | 4.3% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 36.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 26.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 10.3% |
| 60+ min | 9.1% |
Reading the Henry County data as a borrower
Based on the Henry County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Keeping the car running. At 19% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Henry County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
Who licenses lenders for Henry County residents
The Indiana Department of Financial Institutions is the place to verify any lender's Indiana license. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. Statewide data and rules: Indiana guide.
A Henry County borrower's checklist
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Indiana borrowers.
- Ask a Henry County credit union about member loans.
Related local guides
The Indiana guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Henry County a high-income county?
Its $63,150 median ranks 68th of 92 Indiana counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How does Henry County rent compare with Indiana?
$820 locally versus $1,062 for the state, 23% below.
I own my home in Henry County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 76% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Which towns does the Henry County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 16 Census places: New Castle, Knightstown, Middletown, Shirley, Spiceland.
Can Henry County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Indiana county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.