1st Advantage MortgageNoble County households have a median income of $71,723 and median rent of $832 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- Getting oriented in Noble County
- Housing costs in Noble County
- Household income in Noble County
- Employment and commuting in Noble County
- Counties near Noble County
- Noble County towns compared
- A Noble County household budget, worked through
- Noble County households compared
- What the numbers mean for Noble County borrowers
- Licensing and complaints for Noble County
- Before you sign
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Noble County
Roughly 47,495 residents live in Noble County, Indiana, 30th by population among the state's 92 counties and county equivalents. It covers 411 square miles of land, or about 116 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Noble County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 7 Census places inside Noble County, Kendallville leads by population with about 10,556; 6 of the 7 are incorporated.
Housing costs in Noble County
Renters in Noble County pay a median of $832 a month, 22% below the Indiana figure of $1,062. By the Census definition, 43% of Noble County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $196,800, a typical Noble County house costs 2.7 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 77% of homes.
| Housing | Noble County | Indiana statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $832/mo | $1,062/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $196,800 | $218,200 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 77% | 71% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 43% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 20% | 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).
Household income in Noble County
Half of Noble County households take in less than $71,723 a year and half take in more, about the same as the Indiana median of $71,957.
| Household income | Noble County | vs Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 21.1% | -1.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 48.0% | +4.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 25.7% | -0.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.2% | -3.0 pts |
The spread is wide: 31% of Noble County households make $100,000 or more, and 21% make less than $35,000. Census counts 9.2% of Noble County residents in poverty, against 12.3% across Indiana. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.402 (0 is perfect equality). Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Employment and commuting in Noble County
By the Census industry count, 39% of employed Noble County residents work in manufacturing and 16% in education and health care. Manufacturing stands out: 39% of workers here, versus 18% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 3.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are common here: 16% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 10.1% of the total (6.2% statewide).
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Noble County | Gap to Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 39.0% | +20.9 pts |
| Education and health care | 16.1% | -7.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.1% | -1.7 pts |
| Construction | 6.8% | +0.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 5.2% | -2.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 5.0% | -4.3 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 Noble County
Six nearby counties, 16 to 27 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $68,561 in Elkhart County to $84,487 in LaGrange County; 5 of these neighbors top Noble County's median.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Noble County | - | $71,723 | $832/mo | 77% |
| LaGrange County, IN | 16 mi | $84,487 | $839/mo | 83% |
| Whitley County, IN | 19 mi | $78,083 | $934/mo | 82% |
| DeKalb County, IN | 21 mi | $74,331 | $861/mo | 82% |
| Kosciusko County, IN | 26 mi | $75,317 | $1,043/mo | 77% |
| Elkhart County, IN | 27 mi | $68,561 | $1,047/mo | 72% |
| Steuben County, IN | 27 mi | $74,911 | $933/mo | 79% |
Noble County towns compared
Here are the 7 most populous of the county's 7 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 48% of Noble County residents live in one of the 7. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $48,698 in Cromwell to $78,880 in Avilla. Median rent ranges from $759 in Avilla to $962 in Albion. Live in one of these Noble County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kendallville | city | 10,556 | $58,939 | $821 | 9 mi |
| Ligonier | city | 4,347 | $59,359 | $852 | 10 mi |
| Avilla | town | 2,878 | $78,880 | $759 | 10 mi |
| Albion | town | 2,723 | $70,565 | $962 | 1 mi |
| Rome City | town | 1,182 | $71,016 | $869 | 7 mi |
| Cromwell | town | 631 | $48,698 | $938 | 10 mi |
| Kimmell | CDP | 604 | $77,857 | n/a | 7 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
A Noble County household budget, worked through
Here is the Noble County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $71,723 a year is $5,977 of gross monthly income
- Housing at the median rent of $832 uses 14%
- $1,260: what a 35% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- At 45%, room after rent is $1,858 a month
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Noble County's.
Noble County households compared
19% of Noble County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 12.6%, against 7.4% for Indiana.
| Noble County | Indiana | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.4 | 38.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 18.8% | 29.5% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 16.8% | 9.6% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 12.6% | 7.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 10.1% | 6.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.6% | 10.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 9.2% | 12.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.2% | 4.3% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Noble County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 30.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 32.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 20.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.6% |
| 60+ min | 6.5% |
What the numbers mean for Noble County borrowers
A few patterns in the Noble County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Hospital bills in Noble County. For the 13% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Consolidating cards in Noble County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
Licensing and complaints for Noble County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Noble County resident can confirm its license with the Indiana Department of Financial Institutions. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. See the Indiana state guide for the statewide picture.
Before you sign
Quick steps for Noble County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Noble County-area credit union.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Indiana borrowers.
- Ask a Noble County credit union about member loans.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Indiana guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Noble County earn?
The median is $71,723; 31% earn $100,000 or more and 21% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How much is rent in Noble County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $832 a month; 43% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I live in a small Noble County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Kendallville, Ligonier, Avilla, Albion, Rome City and 2 more.
Will a Noble County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Indiana as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Noble County?
Start with the Indiana Department of Financial Institutions, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.