1st Advantage MortgageIn Jennings County, Indiana, the typical household earns $69,322 a year and the typical rent is $988. 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
- Jennings County by the numbers
- How much Jennings County households make
- What it costs to live in Jennings County
- Jobs and commutes in Jennings County
- The counties around Jennings County
- Jennings County towns compared
- Budget math at the Jennings County median
- Borrowing situations common in Jennings County
- Jennings County households compared
- Lender oversight for Jennings County
- Before you sign
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Jennings County by the numbers
Roughly 27,562 residents live in Jennings County, Indiana, 58th by population among the state's 92 counties and county equivalents. Packed into 377 square miles, that is close to 73 residents for every square mile of land. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Jennings County is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 6 Census places inside Jennings County, North Vernon leads by population with about 7,078; 2 of the 6 are incorporated.
How much Jennings County households make
Half of Jennings County households take in less than $69,322 a year and half take in more, 4% below the Indiana median of $71,957. Only 43 Indiana counties post a higher median.
| Yearly household income | Jennings County | Gap to Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 21.3% | -1.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 49.5% | +6.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.5% | +0.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.7% | -5.6 pts |
Some 21% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 29% have six-figure incomes. 12.6% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 12.3%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.374 here. A household earning below the $69,322 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
What it costs to live in Jennings County
A typical Jennings County rental runs $988 a month including utilities, which is 7% below Indiana. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 44% of renter households here. With a median value of $161,500, a typical Jennings County house costs 2.3 times what the median household earns in a year. 79% of Jennings County households own their home and 21% rent. The median year built is 1982.
| Home costs | Jennings County | Indiana | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $988/mo | $1,062/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $161,500 | $218,200 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 79% | 71% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 44% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 20% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 17.6% | 4.4% | n/a |
Because most Jennings 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.
Jobs and commutes in Jennings County
By the Census industry count, 26% of employed Jennings County residents work in manufacturing and 22% in education and health care. Compared with Indiana, the county leans toward manufacturing (26% against 18%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.6% in Jennings County. About 82% drive to work alone and 16% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 5.5% of households have no vehicle.
| Where residents work | Jennings County | Difference from Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 25.9% | +7.9 pts |
| Education and health care | 21.8% | -1.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.9% | +2.1 pts |
| Construction | 9.1% | +2.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.9% | -0.9 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.2% | -3.1 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
The counties around Jennings County
Distances run center to center, from Jefferson County at 18 miles out to Jackson County at 23. Income ranges from $56,352 in Scott County to $79,901 in Bartholomew County; 4 of these neighbors top Jennings County's median.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jennings County | - | $69,322 | $988/mo | 79% |
| Jefferson County, IN | 18 mi | $64,577 | $890/mo | 72% |
| Bartholomew County, IN | 20 mi | $79,901 | $1,127/mo | 69% |
| Ripley County, IN | 21 mi | $70,573 | $839/mo | 77% |
| Decatur County, IN | 22 mi | $69,783 | $861/mo | 76% |
| Scott County, IN | 23 mi | $56,352 | $822/mo | 71% |
| Jackson County, IN | 23 mi | $70,262 | $1,004/mo | 73% |
Jennings County towns compared
The table lists the 6 largest of 6 Census places in Jennings County, by population. Together all 6 hold about 11,093 people, so roughly 60% of residents live outside any named place. Live in one of these Jennings County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Vernon | city | 7,078 | $51,429 | $938 | 1 mi |
| Country Squire Lakes | CDP | 3,057 | $57,201 | $1,149 | 4 mi |
| Hayden | CDP | 288 | $83,359 | n/a | 6 mi |
| Scipio | CDP | 246 | n/a | n/a | 7 mi |
| Butlerville | CDP | 231 | n/a | n/a | 7 mi |
| Vernon | town | 193 | $78,750 | $725 | 1 mi |
Budget math at the Jennings County median
How much room does a median Jennings County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $69,322 a year is $5,777 of gross monthly income
- Rent at the median, $988, takes 17% of that
- $1,496: what a 43% 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.
Borrowing situations common in Jennings County
What the Jennings County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- 18% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
- Consolidating cards in Jennings County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
Jennings County households compared
College graduates make up 15% of the adult population. 9.1% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Jennings County | All of Indiana | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.3 | 38.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 14.8% | 29.5% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 12.3% | 9.6% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.1% | 7.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.5% | 6.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.9% | 10.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.6% | 12.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.6% | 4.3% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 28.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 31.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 24.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.2% |
| 60+ min | 7.3% |
Lender oversight for Jennings County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Jennings County, check the Indiana Department of Financial Institutions. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. The Indiana guide covers state rules in more detail.
Before you sign
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Indiana.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Related local guides
The Indiana guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Jennings County earn?
The median is $69,322; 29% earn $100,000 or more and 21% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is Jennings County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $988 against $1,062 statewide, and 44% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Does this page cover North Vernon?
Yes, along with the other 5 Census places in Jennings County, such as Country Squire Lakes, Hayden, Scipio.
Is the fit check different in Jennings County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Is there a Jennings County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Indiana it is the Indiana Department of Financial Institutions.