1st Advantage MortgageMartin County households have a median income of $68,594 and median rent of $697 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Use those as context only. A lender looks at your own documented income and debts; compare APR and total repaid on every Martin County offer.
On this page
- Martin County by the numbers
- Renting and owning in Martin County
- What stands out in Martin County
- Martin County industries and commutes
- Income in Martin County compared with Indiana
- Census places in Martin County
- Martin County and the counties next door
- Before borrowing in Martin County
- People and households in Martin County
- Debt-to-income, Martin County edition
- A Martin County borrower's checklist
- Who licenses lenders for Martin County residents
- More guides for Martin County
- Frequently asked questions
Martin County by the numbers
Roughly 9,830 residents live in Martin County, Indiana, 88th by population among the state's 92 counties and county equivalents. Its 336 square miles average 29 people per square mile, by the 2024 Census Gazetteer. No metropolitan area includes Martin County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Largest place: Loogootee, about 2,853 residents (29% of Martin County); 5 Census places in all. With so few households sampled, Martin County estimates can move a lot between releases.
Renting and owning in Martin County
Half of Martin County renters pay more than $697 a month and half pay less; the Indiana midpoint is $1,062. Cost-burdened renters, paying 30%-plus of income: 37% in Martin County, 48% statewide. Median value $159,400; median income $68,594; ratio 2.3. 79% of Martin County households own their home and 21% rent. The median year built is 1981.
| Cost | Martin County | Indiana figure | Higher or lower |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent-burdened renters | 37% | 48% | -11.5 pts |
| Owners | 79% | 71% | +8.0 pts |
| Vacant units | 15% | 9% | +6.1 pts |
| Median gross rent | $697/mo | $1,062/mo | 34% lower |
| Median home value | $159,400 | $218,200 | 27% lower |
| Burdened owners | 18% | 20% | -2.4 pts |
In an owner-heavy county like Martin 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.
What stands out in Martin County
Where Martin County lands at the extremes of Indiana's county rankings:
- Martin County ranks 3rd lowest of 92 Indiana counties for median gross rent: $697/mo, against $1,062/mo statewide. Lower rent can leave more room for a payment.
- On the share of mobile homes, Martin County sits near the top of Indiana at 17.2%, 5th highest of 92. Manufactured homes often do not qualify for home equity loans, so unsecured loans fill the gap.
- On the share of adults with a bachelor's degree, Martin County sits near the bottom of Indiana at 13%, 6th lowest of 92. Lenders weigh income and credit, not schooling.
Martin County industries and commutes
Manufacturing employs 18% of working residents, the largest share; education and health care is next with 17%. Relative to Indiana (4%), public administration is 9 points bigger in Martin County (13%). Averaged over the five survey years, 2.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 27% of Martin County workers get to work in under 15 minutes, while 21% need 45 or more. 176 Martin County households, 4.5%, have no vehicle.
| Sector | Martin County | Compared with Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 17.7% | -0.4 pts |
| Education and health care | 17.3% | -6.1 pts |
| Public administration | 12.8% | +9.2 pts |
| Construction | 11.1% | +4.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.7% | -2.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.0% | -2.2 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
Income in Martin County compared with Indiana
At $68,594, the typical Martin County household income is 4% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). Only 44 Indiana counties post a higher median.
| Yearly household income | Martin County | Gap to Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 27.6% | +5.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.3% | -0.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.9% | -2.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.3% | -2.9 pts |
28% under $35,000 and 29% at $100,000 or more: that is the Martin County income split. 16.3% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 12.3%). Martin County scores 0.420 on the Gini index, where higher means more unequal incomes. None of these numbers decides a Martin County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Census places in Martin County
Places, by size: the top 5 of 5. Roughly 59% of Martin County lives outside all of them, in open country or unnamed settlements. Live in one of these Martin County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loogootee | city | 2,853 | $50,000 | $812 | 6 mi |
| Shoals | town | 679 | $38,333 | $383 | 3 mi |
| Crane | town | 260 | $46,719 | $673 | 14 mi |
| Burns City | CDP | 139 | n/a | n/a | 9 mi |
| Dover Hill | CDP | 71 | n/a | n/a | 1 mi |
Martin County and the counties next door
Six nearby counties, 15 to 32 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Martin County's $68,594 median trails 2 of the six and beats 4; the range runs $62,094 (Greene County) to $75,979 (Dubois County).
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Martin County | - | $68,594 | $697/mo | 79% |
| Daviess County, IN | 15 mi | $68,503 | $847/mo | 72% |
| Lawrence County, IN | 19 mi | $66,468 | $845/mo | 81% |
| Orange County, IN | 20 mi | $65,873 | $855/mo | 79% |
| Dubois County, IN | 23 mi | $75,979 | $834/mo | 75% |
| Greene County, IN | 26 mi | $62,094 | $797/mo | 77% |
| Pike County, IN | 32 mi | $71,334 | $739/mo | 87% |
Before borrowing in Martin County
- Commuter costs. 21% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- Manufactured homes. 17% of Martin County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Martin County borrower sees (free reports).
People and households in Martin County
13% of Martin County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 8% go without health insurance.
| Indicator | Martin County | +/- Indiana | +/- U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 13.3% | -16.1 pts | -8.8 pts |
| Median age | 42.7 | +4.6 yrs | +1.2 yrs |
| Poverty rate | 16.3% | +3.9 pts | +3.1 pts |
| Work from home | 8.6% | -2.1 pts | -0.1 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.4% | -1.9 pts | -2.0 pts |
| No vehicle | 4.5% | -1.7 pts | -0.9 pts |
| No high school diploma | 10.5% | +0.9 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.7% | +0.3 pts | -0.2 pts |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 26.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 27.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 25.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.2% |
| 60+ min | 12.2% |
Debt-to-income, Martin County edition
Here is the Martin County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $68,594 a year is $5,716 of gross monthly income
- Median rent: $697, or 12 cents of every gross dollar
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,761 left for all other debt payments
A household below the $68,594 median has less room than this, often none.
A Martin County borrower's checklist
A short checklist for Martin County borrowers:
- Price the Martin County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- A Indiana license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Who licenses lenders for Martin County residents
The Indiana Department of Financial Institutions is the place to verify any lender's Indiana license. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. State-level detail for Martin County borrowers is in the Indiana guide.
More guides for Martin County
For statewide rules and data, see the Indiana guide.
Frequently asked questions
Where does Martin County rank on income in Indiana?
45th of 92, with a median of $68,594. The state median is $71,957.
Is Martin County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $697 against $1,062 statewide, and 37% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Does this page cover Loogootee?
Yes, along with the other 4 Census places in Martin County, such as Shoals, Crane, Burns City.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Martin County or elsewhere in Indiana, the same rules apply.
How do I know a lender is legitimate in Martin County?
Look it up with the Indiana Department of Financial Institutions, read the written offer, and refuse any fee before funding.