1st Advantage MortgageIn Tipton County, Indiana, the typical household earns $76,156 a year and the typical rent is $842. 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
- Tipton County at a glance
- Work, industries and travel time in Tipton County
- Household income in Tipton County
- What it costs to live in Tipton County
- Tipton County next to its neighbors
- Places inside Tipton County
- More Tipton County figures
- What the numbers mean for Tipton County borrowers
- Debt-to-income at Tipton County's medians
- Before you sign
- Lender oversight for Tipton County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Tipton County at a glance
With an estimated 15,346 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Tipton County ranks 81st of 92 in Indiana for population. It covers 261 square miles of land, or about 59 people per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). The Census Bureau counts 4 places in the county (4 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Tipton, with about 5,280 residents, or 34% of the county.
Work, industries and travel time in Tipton County
By the Census industry count, 22% of employed Tipton County residents work in education and health care and 21% in manufacturing. Compared with Indiana, the county leans toward public administration (8% against 4%). Averaged over the five survey years, 2.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 79% drive to work alone and 20% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 2.4% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Where residents work | Tipton County | Difference from Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.4% | -1.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 20.9% | +2.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.0% | -1.7 pts |
| Public administration | 7.6% | +4.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.6% | -2.6 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.3% | +0.1 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Household income in Tipton County
The median household income in Tipton County is $76,156; statewide it is $71,957, so Tipton County runs 6% above Indiana as a whole. That places it 21st among Indiana's 92 county-level areas.
| Household income | Tipton County | vs Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 16.3% | -6.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.6% | +3.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 32.7% | +6.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.4% | -3.9 pts |
About 16% of households earn under $35,000, while 37% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 11.2%, 1 point lower than the state's 12.3%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.381 (0 is perfect equality). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Tipton County median.
What it costs to live in Tipton County
A typical Tipton County rental runs $842 a month including utilities, which is 21% below Indiana. By the Census definition, 27% of Tipton County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $174,600, a typical Tipton County house costs 2.3 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 81% of homes.
| Housing | Tipton County | Indiana statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $842/mo | $1,062/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $174,600 | $218,200 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 81% | 71% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 27% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 17% | 20% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 3.0% | 4.4% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 8% | 9% | n/a |
Because most Tipton 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.
Tipton County next to its neighbors
Distances run center to center, from Howard County at 12 miles out to Boone County at 28. 2 of the six report a higher median household income than Tipton County; Hamilton County is highest at $121,530 and Grant County lowest at $53,522.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tipton County | - | $76,156 | $842/mo | 81% |
| Howard County, IN | 12 mi | $64,027 | $937/mo | 71% |
| Hamilton County, IN | 18 mi | $121,530 | $1,574/mo | 76% |
| Madison County, IN | 20 mi | $63,037 | $939/mo | 70% |
| Clinton County, IN | 22 mi | $65,019 | $920/mo | 74% |
| Grant County, IN | 25 mi | $53,522 | $853/mo | 73% |
| Boone County, IN | 28 mi | $111,250 | $1,359/mo | 79% |
Places inside Tipton 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 45% of Tipton County residents live in one of the 4. Incomes vary by place: $92,500 at the median in Sharpsville, $58,550 in Windfall City. Rent is cheapest in Tipton ($848) and steepest in Sharpsville ($1,116). None of the 4 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tipton | city | 5,280 | $59,828 | $848 | 2 mi |
| Windfall City | town | 705 | $58,550 | $869 | 6 mi |
| Sharpsville | town | 662 | $92,500 | $1,116 | 5 mi |
| Kempton | town | 225 | $52,500 | $808 | 9 mi |
More Tipton County figures
College graduates make up 24% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 8.4%, against 7.4% for Indiana.
| Residents | Tipton County | Indiana | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.4 | 38.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 23.5% | 29.5% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.2% | 9.6% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.4% | 7.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.4% | 6.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.2% | 10.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.2% | 12.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.3% | 4.3% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 27.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 32.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 19.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.3% |
| 60+ min | 10.9% |
What the numbers mean for Tipton County borrowers
A few patterns in the Tipton 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.
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
- Consolidating cards in Tipton County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
Debt-to-income at Tipton County's medians
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Tipton County's medians:
- $76,156 a year is $6,346 of gross monthly income
- Less median rent of $842, which is 13% of it
- At 36%, room after rent is $1,443 a month
- Under a 43% cap, $2,729 total minus rent leaves $1,887
If your rent is above $842, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Before you sign
Steps that save money for Tipton County residents:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Verify the Indiana license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Lender oversight for Tipton County
Consumer lenders serving Tipton County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Indiana that is the Indiana Department of Financial Institutions. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. More on Indiana: Indiana personal loans.
Related local guides
The Indiana guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Tipton County?
$76,156 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $71,957 for Indiana. It ranks 21st of 92 in the state.
What do renters pay in Tipton County?
$842 a month at the median, about 13% of median household income.
What are the biggest places in Tipton County?
By population: Tipton, Windfall City, Sharpsville, Kempton. The county has 4 Census places in all.
Can Tipton 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.
Who regulates personal lenders for Tipton 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.