1st Advantage MortgagePike County households have a median income of $71,334 and median rent of $739 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
- A quick profile of Pike County
- The Pike County job picture
- What Pike County households earn
- Rent, home values and ownership in Pike County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- The communities that make up Pike County
- Who lives in Pike County, in numbers
- Reading the Pike County data as a borrower
- A Pike County household budget, worked through
- Indiana rules that apply in Pike County
- Four steps for Pike County borrowers
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Pike County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Pike County's population at 12,154; only 83 of Indiana's 92 county-level areas are larger. It covers 334 square miles of land, or about 36 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Pike County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. The Census Bureau counts 4 places in the county (3 incorporated, 1 census-designated); the largest is Petersburg, with about 2,414 residents, or 20% of the county.
The Pike County job picture
Manufacturing employs 20% of working residents, the largest share; education and health care is next with 20%. The sharpest difference from the state is in transportation, warehousing and utilities, at 13% locally and 6% for Indiana. Averaged over the five survey years, 3.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 81% drive to work alone and 16% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Where residents work | Pike County | Difference from Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 20.5% | +2.4 pts |
| Education and health care | 20.1% | -3.3 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 12.8% | +6.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.7% | 0.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.2% | -1.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 5.9% | -3.4 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
What Pike County households earn
Pike County households have a median income of $71,334 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 36th of 92 in Indiana.
| Yearly household income | Pike County | Gap to Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 22.4% | -0.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.1% | +1.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 27.1% | +1.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.4% | -2.8 pts |
The spread is wide: 33% of Pike County households make $100,000 or more, and 22% make less than $35,000. Census counts 10.7% of Pike County residents in poverty, against 12.3% across Indiana. None of these numbers decides a Pike County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Rent, home values and ownership in Pike County
Renters in Pike County pay a median of $739 a month, 30% below the Indiana figure of $1,062. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 42% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $154,900, about 2.2 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 87%. Median construction year: 1973.
| Measure | Pike County | Indiana | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $739/mo | $1,062/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $154,900 | $218,200 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 87% | 71% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 42% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 19% | 20% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 10% | 9% | n/a |
Because most Pike 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.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Six nearby counties, 20 to 29 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Warrick County leads the group on income ($89,844), Knox County trails ($61,237), and Pike County out-earns 3 of the six.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pike County | - | $71,334 | $739/mo | 87% |
| Dubois County, IN | 20 mi | $75,979 | $834/mo | 75% |
| Gibson County, IN | 20 mi | $67,573 | $935/mo | 77% |
| Warrick County, IN | 21 mi | $89,844 | $1,061/mo | 82% |
| Daviess County, IN | 22 mi | $68,503 | $847/mo | 72% |
| Knox County, IN | 22 mi | $61,237 | $796/mo | 68% |
| Spencer County, IN | 29 mi | $74,506 | $751/mo | 81% |
The communities that make up Pike County
Here are the 4 most populous of the county's 4 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 31% of Pike County residents live in one of the 4. This guide covers each of the 4 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petersburg | city | 2,414 | $54,188 | $797 | 7 mi |
| Winslow | town | 759 | $59,464 | $909 | 2 mi |
| Otwell | CDP | 379 | n/a | n/a | 8 mi |
| Spurgeon | town | 163 | $54,500 | $833 | 10 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Who lives in Pike County, in numbers
16% of Pike County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 4% go without health insurance.
| Indicator | Pike County | All of Indiana | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.7 | 38.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 16.0% | 29.5% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.5% | 9.6% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 3.8% | 7.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.2% | 6.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.1% | 10.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 10.7% | 12.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.2% | 4.3% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Pike County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 28.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 29.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 25.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 10.1% |
| 60+ min | 6.3% |
Reading the Pike County data as a borrower
Based on the Pike County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Pike County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
- Consolidating cards in Pike County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
A Pike County household budget, worked through
Pike County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,944 before taxes
- Housing at the median rent of $739 uses 12%
- At 36%, room after rent is $1,401 a month
- $1,817: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
If your rent is above $739, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Indiana rules that apply in Pike County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Pike County borrowers answers to the Indiana Department of Financial Institutions. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. The Indiana guide covers state rules in more detail.
Four steps for Pike County borrowers
Before you apply, wherever you live in Pike County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- 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.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Indiana guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Pike County a high-income county?
Its $71,334 median ranks 36th of 92 Indiana counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How does Pike County rent compare with Indiana?
$739 locally versus $1,062 for the state, 30% below.
What are the biggest places in Pike County?
By population: Petersburg, Winslow, Otwell, Spurgeon. The county has 4 Census places in all.
Does living in Pike 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 Pike County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Is there a Pike County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Indiana it is the Indiana Department of Financial Institutions.