Benton County, Indiana
Named for Thomas H. Benton, created in 1840, was one of the last of Indiana's 92 counties to be formed
County Seat: Fowler
Largest City: Fowler (2024 population: 2,385)
Population per Square Mile: 21.78
Square Miles: 406.40
Go to county's in.gov site
| Population over Time | Number | Rank in State | Percent of State | Indiana |
|---|
| Yesterday (2020) | 8,719 | 89 | 0.1% | 6,484,050 |
| Today (2024) | 8,853 | 89 | 0.1% | 6,924,275 |
| Tomorrow (2030 projection)* | 8,740 | 89 | 0.1% | 7,013,509 |
| Percent Change 2020 to Today | 1.5% | 47 | | 2.0% |
*Projection based on 2020 Census population estimates.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau; Indiana Business Research Center
| Components of Population Change, 2023-2024 | Number | Rank in State | Percent of State | Indiana |
|---|
| Net Domestic Migration | 61 | 49 | | 4,268 |
| Net International Migration | 25 | 56 | | 30,852 |
| Natural Increase (births minus deaths) | 6 | 28 | 0.1% | 9,159 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
| Population Estimates by Age, 2024 | Number | Rank in State | Pct Dist.
in County | Pct Dist.
in State |
|---|
| Preschool (0 to 4) | 565 | 86 | 6.4% | 5.9% |
| School Age (5 to 17) | 1,593 | 88 | 18.0% | 17.0% |
| College Age (18 to 24) | 725 | 87 | 8.2% | 9.7% |
| Young Adult (25 to 44) | 2,193 | 89 | 24.8% | 25.9% |
| Older Adult (45 to 64) | 2,153 | 90 | 24.3% | 23.9% |
| Seniors (65 and older) | 1,624 | 90 | 18.3% | 17.5% |
| Median Age | 39.4 | | | Median Age = 38.3 |
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau; Indiana Business Research Center
| Population Estimates by Race and Hispanic Origin, 2024 | Number | Rank of | Pct Dist.
in County | Pct Dist.
in State |
|---|
| American Indian or Alaska Native Alone | 31 | 90 | 0.4% | 0.5% |
| Asian Alone | 28 | 90 | 0.3% | 3.1% |
| Black Alone | 119 | 84 | 1.3% | 10.6% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pac. Isl. Alone | 8 | 69 | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| White | 8,480 | 89 | 95.8% | 83.2% |
| Two or More Race Groups | 187 | 84 | 2.1% | 2.5% |
| Non-Hispanic | 8,167 | 90 | 92.3% | 90.9% |
| Hispanic | 686 | 67 | 7.7% | 9.1% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
| Household Types | Number | Rank in State | Pct Dist.
in County | Pct Dist.
in State |
|---|
| Households in 2023 (Includes detail not shown below) | 3,469 | 89 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| Married With Children | 647 | 87 | 18.7% | 18.1% |
| Married Without Children | 1,040 | 90 | 30.0% | 29.3% |
| Single Parents | 307 | 85 | 8.8% | 8.9% |
| Living Alone | 1,045 | 89 | 30.1% | 29.6% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
| Housing | Number | Rank in State | Pct Dist.
in County | Pct Dist.
in State |
|---|
| Total Housing Units in 2024 (estimate) | 3,765 | 90 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| Total Housing Units in 2023 (includes vacant units) | 3,778 | 89 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
Owner Occupied
(Pct. distribution based on all housing units) | 2,794 | 89 | 74.0% | 63.9% |
| Median Value (2023) | $135,400 | 74 | | |
Renter Occupied
(Pct. distribution based on all housing units) | 675 | 89 | 17.9% | 26.9% |
| Median Rent (2023) | $549 | 76 | | |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
| Education | Number | Rank in State | Percent of State | Indiana |
|---|
| School Enrollment (2024/2025 Total Reported) | 1,723 | 82 | 0.2% | 1,132,621 |
| Public | 1,601 | 84 | 0.2% | 1,033,552 |
| Adults (25+ in 2023 ACS) | 5,887 | 90 | 0.1% | 4,559,304 |
| with High School diploma or higher | 89.6% | 56 | | 90.2% |
| with B.A. or higher degree | 18.8% | 53 | | 28.8% |
Sources: Indiana Department of Education; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
| Income and Poverty | Number | Rank in State | Percent of State | Indiana |
|---|
| Per Capita Personal Income (annual) in 2023 | $56,092 | 39 | 91.6% | 61,243 |
| Median Household Income in 2023 | 64,671 | 55 | 93.1% | $69,458 |
| Poverty Rate in 2023 | 9.9% | 66 | 81.1% | 12.2% |
| Poverty Rate among Children under 18 | 13.9% | 47 | 92.1% | 15.1% |
| Welfare (TANF) Monthly Average Families in 2024 | 6 | 86 | 0.1% | 4,813 |
| Food Stamp Recipients in 2024 | 766 | 87 | 0.1% | 608,295 |
| Free and Reduced Fee Lunch Recipients in 2024/2025 | 923 | 80 | 0.2% | 488,145 |
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis; U.S. Census Bureau; Indiana Family Social Services Administration; Indiana Department of Education
| Health and Vital Statistics | Number | Rank of | Percent of State | Indiana |
|---|
| Births, 2021 | 91 | 89 | 0.1% | 79,946 |
| Births to Teens, 2021 | 6 | 81 | 0.2% | 3,845 |
| Deaths, 2019 | 86 | 90 | 0.1% | 66,005 |
Source: Indiana State Department of Health
| Labor Force, 2024 | Number | Rank in State | Percent of State | Indiana |
|---|
| Total Resident Labor Force | 4,531 | 88 | 0.1% | 3,455,992 |
| Employed | 4,373 | 88 | 0.1% | 3,310,992 |
| Unemployed | 158 | 90 | 0.1% | 145,000 |
| Annual Unemployment Rate | 3.5 | 78 | 83.3% | 4.2 |
| August 2025 Unemployment Rate | 3.2 | 79 | 84.2% | 3.8 |
Source: STATS Indiana, using data from the Indiana Department of Workforce Development
| Employment and Earnings by Industry, 2023 | Employment | Pct Dist.
in County | Earnings ($000) | Pct Dist.
In County | Avg. Earnings Per Job |
|---|
| Total by place of work | 3,579 | 100.0% | $234,849 | 100.0% | $65,619 |
| Wage and Salary | 2,294 | 64.1% | $127,676 | 54.4% | $55,656 |
| Farm Proprietors | 293 | 8.2% | $54,311 | 23.1% | $185,362 |
| Nonfarm Proprietors | 992 | 27.7% | $23,420 | 10.0% | $23,609 |
| Farm | 441 | 12.3% | $66,405 | 28.3% | $150,578 |
| Nonfarm | 3,138 | 87.7% | $168,444 | 71.7% | $53,679 |
| Private | 2,577 | 72.0% | $136,314 | 58.0% | $52,896 |
| Accommodation, Food Serv. | 42 | 1.2% | $889 | 0.4% | $21,167 |
| Arts, Ent., Recreation | Data not available due to BEA non-disclosure requirements. |
| Construction | 217 | 6.1% | $13,727 | 5.8% | $63,258 |
| Health Care, Social Serv. | 136 | 3.8% | $4,787 | 2.0% | $35,199 |
| Information | Data not available due to BEA non-disclosure requirements. |
| Manufacturing | 435 | 12.2% | $25,209 | 10.7% | $57,952 |
| Professional, Tech. Serv. | 116 | 3.2% | $3,192 | 1.4% | $27,517 |
| Retail Trade | 283 | 7.9% | $8,444 | 3.6% | $29,837 |
| Trans., Warehousing | Data not available due to BEA non-disclosure requirements. |
| Wholesale Trade | 174 | 4.9% | $20,657 | 8.8% | $118,718 |
| Other Private (not above) | 376* | 10.5%* | $10,593* | 4.5%* | $28,173* |
| Government | 561 | 15.7% | $32,130 | 13.7% | $57,273 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
* These totals do not include county data that are not available due to BEA non-disclosure requirements.
| Residential Building Permits, 2024 | Units | Pct Dist.
in County | Pct Dist.
in State | Cost ($000) | State Cost ($000) |
|---|
| Total Permits Filed | 0 | N/A | 100% | $0 | 8,133,071 |
| Single-Family | 0 | N/A | 75.4% | $0 | $6,951,719 |
| 2-Family | 0 | N/A | 1.9% | $0 | $100,498 |
| 3- and 4-Family | 0 | N/A | 0.8% | $0 | $0 |
| 5+ Family | 0 | N/A | 21.9% | $0 | $1,035,231 |
Notes: Detail cost may not sum to total due to rounding. Greene County does not currently issue building permits, so it is excluded.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Largest Cities and Towns in Benton County
| Name | Population
in 2024 | Percent of County |
|---|
| Ambia | 234 | 2.6% |
| Boswell | 811 | 9.2% |
| Earl Park | 364 | 4.1% |
| Fowler | 2,385 | 26.9% |
| Otterbein | 808 | 9.1%* |
| Oxford | 1,182 | 13.4% |
| * This place crosses county lines, so only population in this county is shown. |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau annual population estimates
