1st Advantage MortgageLaGrange County households have a median income of $84,487 and median rent of $839 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Indiana before sharing details.
On this page
- LaGrange County, IN: the basics
- Renting and owning in LaGrange County
- What LaGrange County households earn
- Work, industries and travel time in LaGrange County
- Counties near LaGrange County
- The communities that make up LaGrange County
- LaGrange County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- What the numbers mean for LaGrange County borrowers
- What a median LaGrange County budget can carry
- Licensing and complaints for LaGrange County
- Checklist for LaGrange County applicants
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
LaGrange County, IN: the basics
With an estimated 40,805 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), LaGrange County ranks 37th of 92 in Indiana for population. Packed into 380 square miles, that is close to 107 residents for every square mile of land. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Lagrange is the biggest of its 5 Census places, at roughly 2,790 people (7% of the county total).
Renting and owning in LaGrange County
A typical LaGrange County rental runs $839 a month including utilities, which is 21% below Indiana. By the Census definition, 32% of LaGrange County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $255,900, about 3.0 times the median household income. 83% of LaGrange County households own their home and 17% rent.
| Measure | LaGrange County | Indiana | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $839/mo | $1,062/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $255,900 | $218,200 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 83% | 71% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 32% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 24% | 20% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 8.3% | 4.4% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 15% | 9% | 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).
What LaGrange County households earn
At $84,487, the typical LaGrange County household income is 29% above the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Yearly household income | LaGrange County | Gap to Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 16.3% | -6.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.5% | +2.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 30.0% | +4.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 8.2% | -0.1 pts |
About 16% of households earn under $35,000, while 38% clear $100,000. Census counts 5.9% of LaGrange County residents in poverty, against 12.3% across Indiana. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the LaGrange County median.
Work, industries and travel time in LaGrange County
The biggest employer of LaGrange County residents, by industry, is manufacturing at 43% of workers, followed by education and health care (12%). The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 43% locally and 18% for Indiana. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.2% in LaGrange County. 9% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 9% work from home.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | LaGrange County | Gap to Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 42.8% | +24.8 pts |
| Education and health care | 11.5% | -12.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.4% | -1.4 pts |
| Construction | 7.4% | +0.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.1% | -1.7 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 4.6% | -4.7 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Counties near LaGrange County
Six nearby counties, 16 to 28 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Steuben County leads the group on income ($74,911), Branch County trails ($63,724), and LaGrange County out-earns 6 of the six. Some neighbors are in Michigan. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a LaGrange County resident follows Indiana rules.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LaGrange County | - | $84,487 | $839/mo | 83% |
| Noble County, IN | 16 mi | $71,723 | $832/mo | 77% |
| St. Joseph County, MI | 19 mi | $66,425 | $849/mo | 76% |
| Steuben County, IN | 22 mi | $74,911 | $933/mo | 79% |
| Elkhart County, IN | 23 mi | $68,561 | $1,047/mo | 72% |
| Branch County, MI | 27 mi | $63,724 | $959/mo | 78% |
| DeKalb County, IN | 28 mi | $74,331 | $861/mo | 82% |
The communities that make up LaGrange County
5 Census places fall mainly inside LaGrange County; the 5 biggest are below. They account for 6,984 residents, leaving about 83% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Topeka has the highest median household income on the list ($62,875) and Shipshewana the lowest ($43,594), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $771 in Shipshewana to $916 in Topeka. Live in one of these LaGrange County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lagrange | town | 2,790 | $54,492 | $807 | 1 mi |
| Wolcottville | town | 1,143 | $53,625 | $867 | 9 mi |
| Topeka | town | 1,137 | $62,875 | $916 | 9 mi |
| Howe | CDP | 1,092 | $60,238 | n/a | 6 mi |
| Shipshewana | town | 822 | $43,594 | $771 | 8 mi |
LaGrange County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 12% of the adult population. 44.4% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | LaGrange County | Indiana statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.7 | 38.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 11.5% | 29.5% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 41.1% | 9.6% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 44.4% | 7.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 29.2% | 6.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.8% | 10.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 5.9% | 12.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.2% | 4.3% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | LaGrange County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 32.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 38.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 19.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.1% |
| 60+ min | 4.7% |
What the numbers mean for LaGrange County borrowers
Based on the LaGrange County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Hospital bills in LaGrange County. For the 44% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
- Consolidating cards in LaGrange County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
What a median LaGrange County budget can carry
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to LaGrange County's medians:
- Start: $7,041 gross per month ($84,487 / 12)
- 12% goes to median rent ($839)
- With a 36% ceiling, about $1,696 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Two-income households and single earners in LaGrange County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Licensing and complaints for LaGrange County
LaGrange County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Indiana Department of Financial Institutions. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. See the Indiana state guide for the statewide picture.
Checklist for LaGrange County applicants
Quick steps for LaGrange County:
- Price the LaGrange County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- 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
What is the median household income in LaGrange County?
$84,487 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $71,957 for Indiana. It ranks 9th of 92 in the state.
How much is rent in LaGrange County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $839 a month; 32% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Should LaGrange County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 83% of LaGrange County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
What are the biggest places in LaGrange County?
By population: Lagrange, Wolcottville, Topeka, Howe, Shipshewana. The county has 5 Census places in all.
Will a LaGrange County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Indiana as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.