1st Advantage MortgageIn Ripley County, Indiana, the typical household earns $70,573 a year and the typical rent is $839. For a Ripley County borrower, the useful steps are the same anywhere: price the need, gather three written offers, and check the Indiana license.
On this page
- 29,095 residents: Ripley County basics
- The $70,573 median and what sits around it
- Housing costs in Ripley County
- Where Ripley County works
- Versailles and the rest of Ripley County
- Counties near Ripley County
- Budget math at the Ripley County median
- What the numbers mean for Ripley County borrowers
- Ripley County demographics against Indiana
- Before you sign
- Verifying a lender from Ripley County
- Keep exploring
- Frequently asked questions
29,095 residents: Ripley County basics
Roughly 29,095 residents live in Ripley County, Indiana, 55th by population among the state's 92 counties and county equivalents. It covers 446 square miles of land, or about 65 people per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Ripley County is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 6 Census places inside Ripley County, Versailles leads by population with about 2,037; 6 of the 6 are incorporated.
The $70,573 median and what sits around it
$70,573 is the median household income for Ripley County, set against $71,957 for Indiana. Only 38 Indiana counties post a higher median.
| Band | Ripley County | Compared with Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 24.5% | +2.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.9% | -1.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 27.2% | +1.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.4% | -1.8 pts |
Some 25% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 34% have six-figure incomes. 10.1% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 12.3%). Ripley County scores 0.437 on the Gini index, where higher means more unequal incomes. None of these numbers decides a Ripley County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Housing costs in Ripley County
Ripley County rent at the median: $839 a month, utilities in ($1,062 in Indiana). Cost-burdened renters, paying 30%-plus of income: 44% in Ripley County, 48% statewide. Home values center on $222,500, or 3.2 years of median income. Owners occupy 77% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1978. Nationally, Ripley County's $839 rent is 4% below the middle county.
| Measure | Ripley County | Indiana | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owners | 77% | 71% | +6.3 pts |
| Burdened owners | 25% | 20% | +5.1 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 44% | 48% | -4.1 pts |
| Mobile homes | 7.7% | 4.4% | +3.3 pts |
| Median gross rent | $839/mo | $1,062/mo | 21% lower |
| Median home value | $222,500 | $218,200 | 2% higher |
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).
Where Ripley County works
Manufacturing employs 23% of working residents, the largest share; education and health care is next with 22%. Relative to Indiana (18%), manufacturing is 5 points bigger in Ripley County (23%). The survey's unemployment rate for Ripley County averages 3.0% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.3%). Commutes of 45 minutes-plus: 20%; under 15 minutes: 35%. 4.4% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Ripley County | Gap to Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 23.4% | +5.4 pts |
| Education and health care | 21.7% | -1.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.9% | -1.9 pts |
| Construction | 8.4% | +1.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.3% | -0.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.3% | -2.0 pts |
Seasonal work is common in many Ripley County industries; if that is you, show a full year of income rather than one strong month.
Versailles and the rest of Ripley County
7,570 of Ripley County's 29,095 residents live in its 6 Census places (26%); the 6 largest are listed. Gap between richest and poorest larger place: $27,655, Sunman over Versailles. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Versailles | town | 2,037 | $45,758 | $757 | 3 mi |
| Milan | town | 1,942 | $59,286 | $755 | 8 mi |
| Osgood | town | 1,637 | $52,625 | $865 | 3 mi |
| Sunman | town | 1,247 | $73,413 | $916 | 13 mi |
| Holton | town | 502 | $62,375 | $1,005 | 7 mi |
| Napoleon | town | 205 | $63,125 | $603 | 8 mi |
Counties near Ripley County
Distances run center to center, from Dearborn County at 16 miles out to Franklin County at 24. Dearborn County leads the group on income ($84,735), Switzerland County trails ($65,343), and Ripley County out-earns 4 of the six.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ripley County | - | $70,573 | $839/mo | 77% |
| Dearborn County, IN | 16 mi | $84,735 | $845/mo | 85% |
| Decatur County, IN | 19 mi | $69,783 | $861/mo | 76% |
| Ohio County, IN | 19 mi | $70,392 | $898/mo | 81% |
| Jennings County, IN | 21 mi | $69,322 | $988/mo | 79% |
| Switzerland County, IN | 23 mi | $65,343 | $758/mo | 79% |
| Franklin County, IN | 24 mi | $78,074 | $870/mo | 82% |
Budget math at the Ripley County median
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Ripley County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,881 before taxes
- Median rent: $839, or 14 cents of every gross dollar
- Under a 36% cap, $2,117 total minus rent leaves $1,278
These are gross figures; take-home pay in Ripley County will be lower after taxes and deductions.
What the numbers mean for Ripley County borrowers
A few patterns in the Ripley County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Commuter costs. 20% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
Ripley County demographics against Indiana
Degree holders: 21% of adults over 25. About 5% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Ripley County | Difference from Indiana | Difference from middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.2 | +3.1 yrs | -0.3 yrs |
| Bachelor's or higher | 20.7% | -8.8 pts | -1.4 pts |
| No high school diploma | 9.4% | -0.3 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.2% | -2.1 pts | -2.6 pts |
| No vehicle | 4.4% | -1.9 pts | -1.1 pts |
| Work from home | 7.8% | -2.9 pts | -0.8 pts |
| Poverty rate | 10.1% | -2.2 pts | -3.1 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.0% | -1.3 pts | -1.4 pts |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 35.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 26.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 19.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.2% |
| 60+ min | 10.3% |
Before you sign
A short checklist for Ripley County borrowers:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Ripley County.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Indiana borrowers.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Verifying a lender from Ripley County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Ripley County borrowers answers to the Indiana Department of Financial Institutions. If a Ripley County lender ignores a dispute, the CFPB complaint portal is the federal backstop.
Keep exploring
For statewide rules and data, see the Indiana guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ripley County a high-income county?
Its $70,573 median ranks 39th of 92 Indiana counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What do renters pay in Ripley County?
$839 a month at the median, about 14% of median household income.
Is Napoleon covered?
Yes. Napoleon is one of 6 Census places in Ripley County, and this guide covers all of them.
Will a Ripley 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 Ripley County?
Start with the Indiana Department of Financial Institutions, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.