1st Advantage MortgageAbout 68% of Knox County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $61,237. 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
- Knox County, IN: the basics
- The Knox County job picture
- Income in Knox County compared with Indiana
- Housing costs in Knox County
- Places inside Knox County
- Regional comparison for Knox County
- Room for a loan payment in Knox County
- People and households in Knox County
- Local borrowing considerations for Knox County
- A Knox County borrower's checklist
- Licensing and complaints for Knox County
- More guides for Knox County
- Frequently asked questions
Knox County, IN: the basics
Roughly 36,007 residents live in Knox County, Indiana, 44th by population among the state's 92 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 516 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 70 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Of the 13 Census places inside Knox County, Vincennes leads by population with about 16,586; 9 of the 13 are incorporated.
The Knox County job picture
The biggest employer of Knox County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 29% of workers, followed by manufacturing (19%). Education and health care stands out: 29% of workers here, versus 23% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Knox County averages 3.1% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.3%). 10% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 2% work from home.
| Top industries | Knox County share | +/- vs Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 29.2% | +5.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 18.6% | +0.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.1% | +1.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.3% | -1.5 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.2% | 0.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 5.2% | -4.0 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Income in Knox County compared with Indiana
Knox County households have a median income of $61,237 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 76th of 92 in Indiana.
| Yearly household income | Knox County | Gap to Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 28.6% | +6.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.8% | +1.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.2% | -5.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.4% | -1.8 pts |
The spread is wide: 27% of Knox County households make $100,000 or more, and 29% make less than $35,000. Census counts 13.7% of Knox County residents in poverty, against 12.3% across Indiana. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.459 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Knox County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Housing costs in Knox County
A typical Knox County rental runs $796 a month including utilities, which is 25% below Indiana. 38% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 17% spend half or more. With a median value of $137,700, a typical Knox County house costs 2.2 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 68%. Half the housing stock was built before 1962.
| Knox County | Indiana | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $796/mo | $1,062/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $137,700 | $218,200 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 68% | 71% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 38% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 15% | 20% | n/a |
Places inside Knox County
The table lists the 13 largest of 13 Census places in Knox County, by population. Together all 13 hold about 23,893 people, so roughly 34% of residents live outside any named place. Freelandville has the highest median household income on the list ($70,236) and Oaktown the lowest ($38,333), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $697 in Oaktown to $867 in Monroe City. This guide covers each of the 13 places and the rural areas around them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vincennes | city | 16,586 | $53,637 | $793 | 5 mi |
| Bicknell | city | 3,017 | $52,188 | $844 | 8 mi |
| Oaktown | town | 860 | $38,333 | $697 | 13 mi |
| Freelandville | CDP | 807 | $70,236 | n/a | 14 mi |
| Monroe City | town | 767 | $56,094 | $867 | 6 mi |
| Bruceville | town | 446 | $55,000 | $675 | 5 mi |
| Wheatland | town | 349 | $42,344 | $824 | 6 mi |
| Sandborn | town | 339 | $61,125 | $683 | 19 mi |
| Edwardsport | town | 337 | $51,667 | $950 | 13 mi |
| Decker | town | 174 | n/a | n/a | 13 mi |
| Ragsdale | CDP | 88 | $27,708 | n/a | 7 mi |
| Emison | CDP | 76 | n/a | n/a | 8 mi |
| Westphalia | CDP | 47 | n/a | n/a | 16 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Regional comparison for Knox County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (17 to 28 miles). Pike County leads the group on income ($71,334), Lawrence County trails ($55,324), and Knox County out-earns 3 of the six. The list crosses into Illinois, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knox County | - | $61,237 | $796/mo | 68% |
| Lawrence County, IL | 17 mi | $55,324 | $836/mo | 72% |
| Daviess County, IN | 19 mi | $68,503 | $847/mo | 72% |
| Pike County, IN | 22 mi | $71,334 | $739/mo | 87% |
| Gibson County, IN | 27 mi | $67,573 | $935/mo | 77% |
| Sullivan County, IN | 28 mi | $56,204 | $829/mo | 76% |
| Wabash County, IL | 28 mi | $57,086 | $794/mo | 76% |
Room for a loan payment in Knox County
Here is the Knox County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Monthly gross at the median, Knox County: $5,103
- Less median rent of $796, which is 16% of it
- 35% debt-to-income limit: $990 left for all other debt payments
- 45% debt-to-income limit: $1,500 left for all other debt payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
People and households in Knox County
Degree holders: 19% of adults over 25. About 6% go without health insurance.
| Knox County | Indiana | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.0 | 38.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.1% | 29.5% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 10.5% | 9.6% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.0% | 7.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.5% | 6.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 2.3% | 10.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 13.7% | 12.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.1% | 4.3% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Knox County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 47.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 28.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 14.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.7% |
| 60+ min | 4.4% |
Local borrowing considerations for Knox County
Based on the Knox County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Knox County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
A Knox County borrower's checklist
A short checklist for Knox County borrowers:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Verify the Indiana license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Licensing and complaints for Knox County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Knox County resident can confirm its license with the Indiana Department of Financial Institutions. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. See the Indiana state guide for the statewide picture.
More guides for Knox County
The Indiana guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Knox County a high-income county?
Its $61,237 median ranks 76th of 92 Indiana counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What do renters pay in Knox County?
$796 a month at the median, about 16% of median household income.
What are the biggest places in Knox County?
By population: Vincennes, Bicknell, Oaktown, Freelandville, Monroe City. The county has 13 Census places in all.
Does living in Knox County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Knox County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Knox County?
Start with the Indiana Department of Financial Institutions, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.