1st Advantage MortgageThe median Tippecanoe County household earns $60,636, and 19% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Getting oriented in Tippecanoe County
- The Tippecanoe County job picture
- How much Tippecanoe County households make
- Housing costs in Tippecanoe County
- Towns and communities in Tippecanoe County
- The counties around Tippecanoe County
- Room for a loan payment in Tippecanoe County
- Reading the Tippecanoe County data as a borrower
- More Tippecanoe County figures
- Licensing and complaints for Tippecanoe County
- Checklist for Tippecanoe County applicants
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Tippecanoe County
Roughly 189,071 residents live in Tippecanoe County, Indiana, 7th by population among the state's 92 counties and county equivalents. It covers 499 square miles of land, or about 379 people per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN metropolitan area. Lafayette is the biggest of its 14 Census places, at roughly 71,159 people (38% of the county total).
The Tippecanoe County job picture
Education and health care employs 33% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 19%. The sharpest difference from the state is in education and health care, at 33% locally and 23% for Indiana. Averaged over the five survey years, 3.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 5% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 11% work from home. 9.7% of households have no vehicle.
| Top industries | Tippecanoe County share | +/- vs Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 33.3% | +9.8 pts |
| Manufacturing | 18.8% | +0.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.3% | +1.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.0% | -0.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.0% | -1.7 pts |
| Construction | 4.8% | -1.8 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
How much Tippecanoe County households make
Tippecanoe County households have a median income of $60,636 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 80th of 92 in Indiana.
| Households earning | Tippecanoe County | +/- vs Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 29.5% | +6.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.3% | -1.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 21.0% | -4.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.2% | -1.0 pts |
Some 30% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 28% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 19.2% of Tippecanoe County residents in poverty, against 12.3% across Indiana. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.478 here. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Housing costs in Tippecanoe County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,124 in Tippecanoe County versus $1,062 statewide. By the Census definition, 59% of Tippecanoe County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $239,300, a typical Tippecanoe County house costs 3.9 times what the median household earns in a year. 53% of Tippecanoe County households own their home and 47% rent. The median year built is 1987.
| Measure | Tippecanoe County | Indiana | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,124/mo | $1,062/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $239,300 | $218,200 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 53% | 71% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 59% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 20% | 20% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 6% | 9% | n/a |
For the many renters in Tippecanoe County, deposits, moving costs and card balances are typical reasons to borrow. Keep the amount small and the term short. Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Towns and communities in Tippecanoe County
14 Census places fall mainly inside Tippecanoe County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 124,830 residents, leaving about 34% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $110,568 at the median in Battle Ground, $34,891 in West Lafayette. Rent is cheapest in Clarks Hill ($649) and steepest in West Lafayette ($1,225). No Tippecanoe County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 14.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lafayette | city | 71,159 | $53,716 | $1,079 | 2 mi |
| West Lafayette | city | 45,159 | $34,891 | $1,225 | 4 mi |
| Battle Ground | town | 1,969 | $110,568 | $765 | 8 mi |
| Shadeland | town | 1,921 | $82,708 | $1,121 | 5 mi |
| Otterbein | town | 1,576 | $63,698 | $926 | 12 mi |
| Dayton | town | 1,168 | $78,289 | $947 | 6 mi |
| Clarks Hill | town | 700 | $46,806 | $649 | 13 mi |
| Romney | CDP | 391 | $63,578 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Stockwell | CDP | 286 | $60,988 | n/a | 9 mi |
| West Point | CDP | 189 | $125,409 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Colburn | CDP | 92 | n/a | n/a | 13 mi |
| Buck Creek | CDP | 77 | n/a | n/a | 10 mi |
| Montmorenci | CDP | 76 | n/a | n/a | 9 mi |
| Americus | CDP | 67 | n/a | n/a | 12 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
The counties around Tippecanoe County
Distances run center to center, from Carroll County at 22 miles out to Fountain County at 26. All of the six report a higher median household income than Tippecanoe County; Warren County is highest at $82,425 and Fountain County lowest at $62,542.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tippecanoe County | - | $60,636 | $1,124/mo | 53% |
| Carroll County, IN | 22 mi | $65,645 | $890/mo | 82% |
| Clinton County, IN | 23 mi | $65,019 | $920/mo | 74% |
| Montgomery County, IN | 24 mi | $71,479 | $858/mo | 80% |
| White County, IN | 25 mi | $67,303 | $901/mo | 81% |
| Warren County, IN | 25 mi | $82,425 | $830/mo | 82% |
| Fountain County, IN | 26 mi | $62,542 | $843/mo | 75% |
Room for a loan payment in Tippecanoe County
How much room does a median Tippecanoe County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Monthly gross at the median, Tippecanoe County: $5,053
- 22% goes to median rent ($1,124)
- At 36%, room after rent is $695 a month
If your rent is above $1,124, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Reading the Tippecanoe County data as a borrower
A few patterns in the Tippecanoe County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Free help first. 19% of residents live below the poverty line; utility, rent and food programs cost nothing to repay (free options).
- Renters under pressure. When 59% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
- Consolidating cards in Tippecanoe County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
More Tippecanoe County figures
41% of Tippecanoe County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 5% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Tippecanoe County | Indiana | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 28.8 | 38.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 40.5% | 29.5% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.7% | 9.6% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.3% | 7.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 9.7% | 6.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 11.1% | 10.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 19.2% | 12.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.3% | 4.3% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Tippecanoe County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 40.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 46.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 7.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.0% |
| 60+ min | 3.4% |
Licensing and complaints for Tippecanoe County
The Indiana Department of Financial Institutions is the place to verify any lender's Indiana license. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. More on Indiana: Indiana personal loans.
Checklist for Tippecanoe County applicants
Steps that save money for Tippecanoe County residents:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Indiana borrowers.
- Ask a Tippecanoe County credit union about member loans.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Indiana guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Tippecanoe County a high-income county?
Its $60,636 median ranks 80th of 92 Indiana counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Tippecanoe County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,124 a month; 59% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I live in a small Tippecanoe County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Lafayette, West Lafayette, Battle Ground, Shadeland, Otterbein and 9 more.
Are Tippecanoe County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Who regulates personal lenders for Tippecanoe 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.