1st Advantage MortgageSullivan County households have a median income of $56,204 and median rent of $829 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Indiana license first.
On this page
- Sullivan County, IN: the basics
- Income in Sullivan County compared with Indiana
- Sullivan County housing compared with Indiana
- Work, industries and travel time in Sullivan County
- The communities that make up Sullivan County
- How Sullivan County compares with nearby counties
- Who lives in Sullivan County, in numbers
- Local borrowing considerations for Sullivan County
- What a median Sullivan County budget can carry
- Four steps for Sullivan County borrowers
- Checking a lender's license in Indiana
- More guides for Sullivan County
- Frequently asked questions
Sullivan County, IN: the basics
Roughly 20,780 residents live in Sullivan County, Indiana, 69th by population among the state's 92 counties and county equivalents. Spread over 447 square miles, that works out to roughly 46.5 residents per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Terre Haute, IN metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Sullivan is the biggest of its 7 Census places, at roughly 4,252 people (20% of the county total).
Income in Sullivan County compared with Indiana
The median household income in Sullivan County is $56,204; statewide it is $71,957, so Sullivan County runs 22% below Indiana as a whole.
| Household income | Sullivan County | vs Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 28.8% | +6.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 48.5% | +5.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 19.1% | -6.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.5% | -4.7 pts |
Some 29% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 23% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 13.9%, 2 points higher than the state's 12.3%. For a borrower in Sullivan County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Sullivan County housing compared with Indiana
Renters in Sullivan County pay a median of $829 a month, 22% below the Indiana figure of $1,062. 40% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 22% spend half or more. With a median value of $131,100, a typical Sullivan County house costs 2.3 times what the median household earns in a year. 76% of Sullivan County households own their home and 24% rent.
| Housing | Sullivan County | Indiana statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $829/mo | $1,062/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $131,100 | $218,200 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 76% | 71% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 40% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 19% | 20% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 11% | 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).
Work, industries and travel time in Sullivan County
Education and health care employs 21% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 16%. Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 6% of workers here, versus 1% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 4.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 80% drive to work alone and 18% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 4.9% of the total (6.2% statewide).
| Top industries | Sullivan County share | +/- vs Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.8% | -2.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 15.7% | -2.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.4% | +2.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.5% | -0.3 pts |
| Public administration | 6.6% | +3.1 pts |
| Construction | 6.5% | -0.1 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
The communities that make up Sullivan County
7 Census places fall mainly inside Sullivan County; the 7 biggest are below. They account for 9,413 residents, leaving about 55% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $60,688 at the median in Dugger, $45,750 in Carlisle. Rent is cheapest in Dugger ($659) and steepest in Hymera ($873). None of the 7 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sullivan | city | 4,252 | $46,551 | $859 | 1 mi |
| Shelburn | town | 1,264 | $46,458 | $756 | 6 mi |
| Farmersburg | town | 1,166 | $53,750 | $865 | 11 mi |
| Hymera | town | 937 | $47,102 | $873 | 9 mi |
| Dugger | town | 783 | $60,688 | $659 | 9 mi |
| Carlisle | town | 726 | $45,750 | $825 | 9 mi |
| Merom | town | 285 | $43,750 | n/a | 8 mi |
How Sullivan County compares with nearby counties
Six nearby counties, 19 to 28 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $52,976 in Vigo County to $72,927 in Clark County; 5 of these neighbors top Sullivan County's median. The list crosses into Illinois, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sullivan County | - | $56,204 | $829/mo | 76% |
| Crawford County, IL | 19 mi | $71,674 | $811/mo | 82% |
| Greene County, IN | 22 mi | $62,094 | $797/mo | 77% |
| Vigo County, IN | 24 mi | $52,976 | $924/mo | 62% |
| Clark County, IL | 26 mi | $72,927 | $861/mo | 80% |
| Clay County, IN | 26 mi | $70,010 | $873/mo | 81% |
| Knox County, IN | 28 mi | $61,237 | $796/mo | 68% |
Who lives in Sullivan County, in numbers
College graduates make up 15% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 6.8%, against 7.4% for Indiana.
| Indicator | Sullivan County | All of Indiana | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.7 | 38.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 14.6% | 29.5% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 11.0% | 9.6% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.8% | 7.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.9% | 6.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.6% | 10.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 13.9% | 12.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.4% | 4.3% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 31.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 32.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 19.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 10.5% |
| 60+ min | 7.0% |
Local borrowing considerations for Sullivan County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Sullivan County borrowers.
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
What a median Sullivan County budget can carry
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Sullivan County's medians:
- $4,684 a month: gross income for a household at the Sullivan County median
- Less median rent of $829, which is 18% of it
- $1,044: what a 40% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Sullivan County's.
Four steps for Sullivan County borrowers
A short checklist for Sullivan County borrowers:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Checking a lender's license in Indiana
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Sullivan County borrowers answers to the Indiana Department of Financial Institutions. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. See the Indiana state guide for the statewide picture.
More guides for Sullivan County
The Indiana guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Sullivan County?
$56,204 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $71,957 for Indiana. It ranks 86th of 92 in the state.
Is Sullivan County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $829 against $1,062 statewide, and 40% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I own my home in Sullivan County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 76% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
I live in a small Sullivan County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Sullivan, Shelburn, Farmersburg, Hymera, Dugger and 2 more.
Can Sullivan County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Indiana county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.