1st Advantage MortgageIn Newton County, Indiana, the typical household earns $75,481 a year and the typical rent is $918. County medians do not set your terms. Shop at least three lenders, including a credit union serving Newton County, and confirm each one's Indiana license.
On this page
- Who lives in Newton County
- Paychecks and income spread in Newton County
- Newton County's most unusual numbers
- Where Newton County works
- Homes and rents, Newton County
- Census places in Newton County
- The counties around Newton County
- Newton County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- What the numbers mean for Newton County borrowers
- Debt-to-income, Newton County edition
- Before you sign
- Checking a lender's license in Indiana
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Newton County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Newton County's population at 13,922; only 81 of Indiana's 92 county-level areas are larger. Density: about 34.7 residents per square mile across 402 square miles of land. Newton County counts toward the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro in the 2023 OMB delineation, so regional figures for Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN include it. Kentland (1,828 people) heads the county's list of 6 Census places, 5 incorporated and 1 census-designated.
Paychecks and income spread in Newton County
At $75,481, the typical Newton County household income is 15% above the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Yearly household income | Newton County | Gap to Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 21.7% | -0.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 50.1% | +6.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 25.3% | -0.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.9% | -5.3 pts |
About 22% of households earn under $35,000, while 28% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 14.0%, 2 points higher than the state's 12.3%. Gini index for Newton County: 0.386. None of these numbers decides a Newton County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Newton County's most unusual numbers
The 3 Newton County numbers that rank furthest from typical in Indiana, and what each means for a borrower:
- On the ACS unemployment rate, Newton County sits near the top of Indiana at 6.5%, 4th highest of 92. Job gaps can make income hard to document; gather records first.
- Households without a vehicle: 3.0% in Newton County. Only 8 of 92 Indiana counties are lower. Nearly every household has a vehicle, so repair costs are a common reason to borrow.
- Newton County ranks 9th highest of 92 Indiana counties for the share of commutes over 45 minutes: 26%, against 13% statewide. With long commutes, a reliable car is part of keeping the job.
Where Newton County works
Manufacturing (17%), education and health care (16%) and construction (13%) lead Newton County's job mix. Construction stands out: 13% of workers here, versus 7% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 6.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Commutes of 45 minutes-plus: 26%; under 15 minutes: 22%. Households without a car make up 3.0% of the total (6.2% statewide).
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Newton County | Gap to Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 17.0% | -1.0 pts |
| Education and health care | 16.3% | -7.2 pts |
| Construction | 13.0% | +6.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.5% | -0.3 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 9.7% | +3.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.5% | -1.3 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Homes and rents, Newton County
Newton County rent at the median: $918 a month, utilities in ($1,062 in Indiana). About 4 in 10 Newton County renters pay 30% or more of income for rent. Home values center on $171,500, or 2.3 years of median income. In Newton County, 81% of occupied homes are owned by the people living in them. Half the housing stock was built before 1971. Against the median U.S. county, Newton County rent is 5% above.
| Cost | Newton County | Indiana figure | Higher or lower |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $918/mo | $1,062/mo | 14% lower |
| Median home value | $171,500 | $218,200 | 21% lower |
| Owners | 81% | 71% | +10.6 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 40% | 48% | -8.4 pts |
| Burdened owners | 26% | 20% | +5.7 pts |
| Mobile homes | 7.0% | 4.4% | +2.6 pts |
Because most Newton 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.
Census places in Newton County
Places, by size: the top 6 of 6. Roughly 62% of Newton County lives outside all of them, in open country or unnamed settlements. Incomes vary by place: $85,078 at the median in Lake Village, $53,571 in Brook. Median rent ranges from $583 in Goodland to $880 in Brook. None of the 6 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentland | town | 1,828 | $59,500 | $855 | 13 mi |
| Morocco | town | 1,040 | $61,767 | $852 | 3 mi |
| Brook | town | 900 | $53,571 | $880 | 7 mi |
| Goodland | town | 792 | $58,370 | $583 | 15 mi |
| Lake Village | CDP | 705 | $85,078 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Mount Ayr | town | 90 | $49,250 | n/a | 5 mi |
The counties around Newton County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (15 to 35 miles). Income ranges from $65,875 in Benton County to $77,314 in Jasper County; 1 of these neighbors top Newton County's median. Some neighbors are in Illinois. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Newton County resident follows Indiana rules.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newton County | - | $75,481 | $918/mo | 81% |
| Jasper County, IN | 15 mi | $77,314 | $962/mo | 84% |
| Benton County, IN | 25 mi | $65,875 | $774/mo | 80% |
| Kankakee County, IL | 27 mi | $71,281 | $1,097/mo | 70% |
| Iroquois County, IL | 27 mi | $66,255 | $799/mo | 80% |
| White County, IN | 32 mi | $67,303 | $901/mo | 81% |
| Lake County, IN | 35 mi | $71,493 | $1,131/mo | 72% |
Newton County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Bachelor's degree or higher: 15% of Newton County adults. 5.0% of residents have no health coverage.
| Newton County | vs Indiana | vs U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.9 | +4.8 yrs | +1.4 yrs |
| Bachelor's or higher | 15.3% | -14.2 pts | -6.9 pts |
| No high school diploma | 9.8% | +0.2 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.0% | -2.4 pts | -2.9 pts |
| No vehicle | 3.0% | -3.2 pts | -2.4 pts |
| Work from home | 8.6% | -2.1 pts | -0.1 pts |
| Poverty rate | 14.0% | +1.7 pts | +0.9 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.5% | +2.2 pts | +2.1 pts |
| Commute length | Newton County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 22.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 29.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 22.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 10.2% |
| 60+ min | 16.0% |
What the numbers mean for Newton County borrowers
Based on the Newton County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Vehicle repairs. 26% of Newton County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
Debt-to-income, Newton County edition
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Newton County's medians:
- $75,481 a year is $6,290 of gross monthly income
- Less median rent of $918, which is 15% of it
- At 36%, room after rent is $1,346 a month
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Before you sign
Steps that save money for Newton County residents:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Newton County-area credit union.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Checking a lender's license in Indiana
Newton County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Indiana Department of Financial Institutions. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. See the Indiana state guide for the statewide picture.
Nearby and statewide guides
No city in Newton County has its own guide yet; the state page is next up.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Newton County earn?
The median is $75,481; 28% earn $100,000 or more and 22% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is Newton County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $918 against $1,062 statewide, and 40% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Does this page cover Kentland?
Yes, along with the other 5 Census places in Newton County, such as Morocco, Brook, Goodland.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Newton County or elsewhere in Indiana, the same rules apply.
What agency protects Newton County borrowers?
The Indiana Department of Financial Institutions at the state level and the CFPB federally.