1st Advantage MortgagePerry County households have a median income of $61,151 and median rent of $682 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Perry County
- Renting and owning in Perry County
- What Perry County households earn
- How Perry County residents earn a living
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Towns and communities in Perry County
- What a median Perry County budget can carry
- Perry County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Local borrowing considerations for Perry County
- Before you sign
- Who licenses lenders for Perry County residents
- More guides for Perry County
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Perry County
Perry County is home to about 19,270 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 75th most populous of 92 county-level areas in Indiana. Land area is 382 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 50 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Perry County is not part of any metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 3 places in the county (3 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Tell City, with about 7,505 residents, or 39% of the county.
Renting and owning in Perry County
Renters in Perry County pay a median of $682 a month, 36% below the Indiana figure of $1,062. By the Census definition, 44% of Perry County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $163,400, or 2.7 years of median income. Owners occupy 75% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1976.
| Perry County | Indiana | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $682/mo | $1,062/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $163,400 | $218,200 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 75% | 71% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 44% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 17% | 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).
What Perry County households earn
Perry County households have a median income of $61,151 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 77th of 92 in Indiana.
| Income band | Share in Perry County | Difference from Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 30.2% | +7.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.6% | -1.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.5% | -1.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.6% | -4.6 pts |
The spread is wide: 28% of Perry County households make $100,000 or more, and 30% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 15.0%, 3 points higher than the state's 12.3%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.433 here. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Perry County median.
How Perry County residents earn a living
By the Census industry count, 31% of employed Perry County residents work in manufacturing and 16% in education and health care. The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 31% locally and 18% for Indiana. Averaged over the five survey years, 4.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 15% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 6% work from home. Households without a car make up 5.5% of the total (6.2% statewide).
| Sector | Perry County | Compared with Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 31.0% | +13.0 pts |
| Education and health care | 16.5% | -7.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.9% | 0.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 7.3% | -3.4 pts |
| Construction | 7.1% | +0.5 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.9% | +0.7 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Distances run center to center, from Crawford County at 18 miles out to Meade County at 24. 4 of the six report a higher median household income than Perry County; Dubois County is highest at $75,979 and Crawford County lowest at $49,640. The list crosses into Kentucky, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perry County | - | $61,151 | $682/mo | 75% |
| Crawford County, IN | 18 mi | $49,640 | $686/mo | 81% |
| Hancock County, KY | 19 mi | $65,464 | $740/mo | 77% |
| Spencer County, IN | 21 mi | $74,506 | $751/mo | 81% |
| Breckinridge County, KY | 23 mi | $55,843 | $733/mo | 81% |
| Dubois County, IN | 24 mi | $75,979 | $834/mo | 75% |
| Meade County, KY | 24 mi | $74,355 | $1,026/mo | 74% |
Towns and communities in Perry County
The table lists the 3 largest of 3 Census places in Perry County, by population. Together all 3 hold about 9,517 people, so roughly 51% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $52,949 at the median in Tell City, $29,219 in Cannelton. Rent is cheapest in Tell City ($657) and steepest in Troy ($939). This guide covers each of the 3 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tell City | city | 7,505 | $52,949 | $657 | 11 mi |
| Cannelton | city | 1,404 | $29,219 | $726 | 13 mi |
| Troy | town | 608 | $52,639 | $939 | 11 mi |
What a median Perry County budget can carry
How much room does a median Perry County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,096 before taxes
- Less median rent of $682, which is 13% of it
- 40% debt-to-income limit: $1,356 left for all other debt payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Perry County residents: age, schooling, coverage
17% of Perry County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 5.8% of residents have no health coverage.
| People and households | Perry County | Indiana | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.9 | 38.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 16.6% | 29.5% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.3% | 9.6% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.8% | 7.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.5% | 6.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.6% | 10.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 15.0% | 12.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.5% | 4.3% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 41.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 24.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 18.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.3% |
| 60+ min | 7.9% |
Local borrowing considerations for Perry County
What the Perry County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 13% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
Before you sign
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Verify the Indiana license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Who licenses lenders for Perry County residents
Consumer lenders serving Perry County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Indiana that is the Indiana Department of Financial Institutions. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. More on Indiana: Indiana personal loans.
More guides for Perry County
The Indiana guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Perry County household make?
About $61,151 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 15% below the Indiana median.
How does Perry County rent compare with Indiana?
$682 locally versus $1,062 for the state, 36% below.
Which towns does the Perry County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 3 Census places: Tell City, Cannelton, Troy.
Does living in Perry 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 Perry County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Who regulates personal lenders for Perry County residents?
The Indiana Department of Financial Institutions licenses consumer lenders in Indiana; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.