1st Advantage MortgageThe median Rush County household earns $66,473, and 12% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Rush County by the numbers
- How much Rush County households make
- Jobs and commutes in Rush County
- Renting and owning in Rush County
- Towns and communities in Rush County
- Rush County next to its neighbors
- Budget math at the Rush County median
- Who lives in Rush County, in numbers
- Before borrowing in Rush County
- Checking a lender's license in Indiana
- Four steps for Rush County borrowers
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Rush County by the numbers
Roughly 16,739 residents live in Rush County, Indiana, 76th by population among the state's 92 counties and county equivalents. Spread over 408 square miles, that works out to roughly 41.0 residents per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Rush County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 5 Census places inside Rush County, Rushville leads by population with about 6,036; 2 of the 5 are incorporated.
How much Rush County households make
The median household income in Rush County is $66,473; statewide it is $71,957, so Rush County runs 8% below Indiana as a whole. That places it 53rd among Indiana's 92 county-level areas.
| Income band | Share in Rush County | Difference from Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.2% | +2.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 47.1% | +3.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.7% | -1.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.0% | -5.2 pts |
Some 25% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 28% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 11.9% of Rush County residents in poverty, against 12.3% across Indiana. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.388 here. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Jobs and commutes in Rush County
By the Census industry count, 25% of employed Rush County residents work in manufacturing and 20% in education and health care. Manufacturing stands out: 25% of workers here, versus 18% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.3% in Rush County. Long commutes are common here: 19% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 5.2% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Rush County | Gap to Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 24.5% | +6.5 pts |
| Education and health care | 19.6% | -3.9 pts |
| Construction | 8.5% | +1.9 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.8% | -1.5 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.4% | +1.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.9% | -0.9 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Renting and owning in Rush County
A typical Rush County rental runs $873 a month including utilities, which is 18% below Indiana. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 45% of renter households here. With a median value of $166,800, a typical Rush County house costs 2.5 times what the median household earns in a year. 75% of Rush County households own their home and 25% rent. The median home was built in 1954, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Cost | Rush County | Indiana figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $873/mo | $1,062/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $166,800 | $218,200 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 75% | 71% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 45% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 20% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 5.7% | 4.4% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 9% | 9% | 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).
Towns and communities in Rush County
Here are the 5 most populous of the county's 5 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 49% of Rush County residents live in one of the 5. Milroy has the highest median household income on the list ($83,164) and Carthage the lowest ($51,731), counting places with at least 500 residents. No Rush County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 5.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rushville | city | 6,036 | $53,434 | $911 | 1 mi |
| Arlington | CDP | 678 | $57,841 | n/a | 6 mi |
| Carthage | town | 675 | $51,731 | $848 | 10 mi |
| Milroy | CDP | 522 | $83,164 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Manilla | CDP | 328 | $51,765 | n/a | 9 mi |
Rush County next to its neighbors
Fayette County is closest, 15 miles from center to center; the sixth, Franklin County, is 26 miles off. 4 of the six report a higher median household income than Rush County; Hancock County is highest at $93,186 and Fayette County lowest at $59,321.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rush County | - | $66,473 | $873/mo | 75% |
| Fayette County, IN | 15 mi | $59,321 | $791/mo | 72% |
| Shelby County, IN | 19 mi | $72,190 | $987/mo | 72% |
| Hancock County, IN | 21 mi | $93,186 | $1,203/mo | 80% |
| Henry County, IN | 22 mi | $63,150 | $820/mo | 76% |
| Decatur County, IN | 22 mi | $69,783 | $861/mo | 76% |
| Franklin County, IN | 26 mi | $78,074 | $870/mo | 82% |
Budget math at the Rush County median
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Rush County's medians:
- Start: $5,539 gross per month ($66,473 / 12)
- 16% goes to median rent ($873)
- Under a 43% cap, $2,382 total minus rent leaves $1,509
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Who lives in Rush County, in numbers
Degree holders: 19% of adults over 25. About 8% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Rush County | Indiana statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.4 | 38.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 18.6% | 29.5% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.0% | 9.6% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.5% | 7.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.2% | 6.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.6% | 10.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.9% | 12.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.3% | 4.3% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Rush County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 30.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 31.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 18.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.4% |
| 60+ min | 13.0% |
Before borrowing in Rush County
A few patterns in the Rush County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Vehicle repairs. 19% of Rush County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Rush County borrower sees (free reports).
Checking a lender's license in Indiana
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Rush County borrowers answers to the Indiana Department of Financial Institutions. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. Statewide data and rules: Indiana guide.
Four steps for Rush County borrowers
Before you apply, wherever you live in Rush County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Rush County-area credit union.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Indiana borrowers.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Indiana guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Rush County earn?
The median is $66,473; 28% earn $100,000 or more and 25% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
What do renters pay in Rush County?
$873 a month at the median, about 16% of median household income.
Which towns does the Rush County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 5 Census places: Rushville, Arlington, Carthage, Milroy, Manilla.
Is the fit check different in Rush County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Rush County?
Start with the Indiana Department of Financial Institutions, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.