Spencer County, Indiana
Named for Battle of Tippecanoe hero Spier Spencer
County Seat: Rockport
Largest City: Santa Claus (2024 population: 2,657)
Population per Square Mile: 50.90
Square Miles: 396.70
Go to county's in.gov site
| Population over Time | Number | Rank in State | Percent of State | Indiana |
|---|
| Yesterday (2020) | 19,810 | 74 | 0.3% | 6,484,050 |
| Today (2024) | 20,192 | 71 | 0.3% | 6,924,275 |
| Tomorrow (2030 projection)* | 19,631 | 72 | 0.3% | 7,013,509 |
| Percent Change 2020 to Today | 1.9% | 73 | | 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 | 206 | 24 | | 4,268 |
| Net International Migration | 19 | 62 | | 30,852 |
| Natural Increase (births minus deaths) | -48 | 54 | -0.5% | 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) | 1,028 | 74 | 5.1% | 5.9% |
| School Age (5 to 17) | 3,281 | 73 | 16.2% | 17.0% |
| College Age (18 to 24) | 1,491 | 73 | 7.4% | 9.7% |
| Young Adult (25 to 44) | 4,584 | 74 | 22.7% | 25.9% |
| Older Adult (45 to 64) | 5,421 | 71 | 26.8% | 23.9% |
| Seniors (65 and older) | 4,387 | 70 | 21.7% | 17.5% |
| Median Age | 43.8 | | | 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 | 77 | 75 | 0.4% | 0.5% |
| Asian Alone | 101 | 71 | 0.5% | 3.1% |
| Black Alone | 234 | 65 | 1.2% | 10.6% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pac. Isl. Alone | 1 | 91 | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| White | 19,502 | 71 | 96.6% | 83.2% |
| Two or More Race Groups | 277 | 72 | 1.4% | 2.5% |
| Non-Hispanic | 19,403 | 72 | 96.1% | 90.9% |
| Hispanic | 789 | 63 | 3.9% | 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) | 7,979 | 71 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| Married With Children | 1,498 | 68 | 18.8% | 18.1% |
| Married Without Children | 3,037 | 67 | 38.1% | 29.3% |
| Single Parents | 410 | 82 | 5.1% | 8.9% |
| Living Alone | 2,157 | 75 | 27.0% | 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) | 8,856 | 73 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| Total Housing Units in 2023 (includes vacant units) | 8,685 | 74 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
Owner Occupied
(Pct. distribution based on all housing units) | 6,482 | 69 | 74.6% | 63.9% |
| Median Value (2023) | $180,200 | 40 | | |
Renter Occupied
(Pct. distribution based on all housing units) | 1,497 | 77 | 17.2% | 26.9% |
| Median Rent (2023) | $517 | 84 | | |
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) | 3,415 | 66 | 0.3% | 1,132,621 |
| Public | 3,231 | 66 | 0.3% | 1,033,552 |
| Adults (25+ in 2023 ACS) | 14,159 | 71 | 0.3% | 4,559,304 |
| with High School diploma or higher | 93.1% | 12 | | 90.2% |
| with B.A. or higher degree | 21.2% | 32 | | 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 | $56,258 | 36 | 91.9% | 61,243 |
| Median Household Income in 2023 | 77,467 | 12 | 111.5% | $69,458 |
| Poverty Rate in 2023 | 8.7% | 79 | 71.3% | 12.2% |
| Poverty Rate among Children under 18 | 10.2% | 82 | 67.5% | 15.1% |
| Welfare (TANF) Monthly Average Families in 2024 | 5 | 89 | 0.1% | 4,813 |
| Food Stamp Recipients in 2024 | 1,129 | 80 | 0.2% | 608,295 |
| Free and Reduced Fee Lunch Recipients in 2024/2025 | 1,234 | 73 | 0.3% | 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 | 193 | 77 | 0.2% | 79,946 |
| Births to Teens, 2021 | 11 | 67 | 0.3% | 3,845 |
| Deaths, 2019 | 222 | 74 | 0.3% | 66,005 |
Source: Indiana State Department of Health
| Labor Force, 2024 | Number | Rank in State | Percent of State | Indiana |
|---|
| Total Resident Labor Force | 10,160 | 69 | 0.3% | 3,455,992 |
| Employed | 9,754 | 69 | 0.3% | 3,310,992 |
| Unemployed | 406 | 70 | 0.3% | 145,000 |
| Annual Unemployment Rate | 4.0 | 46 | 95.2% | 4.2 |
| May 2025 Unemployment Rate | 2.9 | 76 | 85.3% | 3.4 |
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 | 9,889 | 100.0% | $558,547 | 100.0% | $56,482 |
| Wage and Salary | 7,270 | 73.5% | $378,823 | 67.8% | $52,108 |
| Farm Proprietors | 506 | 5.1% | $32,470 | 5.8% | $64,170 |
| Nonfarm Proprietors | 2,113 | 21.4% | $55,914 | 10.0% | $26,462 |
| Farm | 575 | 5.8% | $37,376 | 6.7% | $65,002 |
| Nonfarm | 9,314 | 94.2% | $521,171 | 93.3% | $55,956 |
| Private | 8,273 | 83.7% | $466,716 | 83.6% | $56,414 |
| Accommodation, Food Serv. | Data not available due to BEA non-disclosure requirements. |
| Arts, Ent., Recreation | Data not available due to BEA non-disclosure requirements. |
| Construction | 722 | 7.3% | $37,400 | 6.7% | $51,801 |
| Health Care, Social Serv. | Data not available due to BEA non-disclosure requirements. |
| Information | 109 | 1.1% | $9,111 | 1.6% | $83,587 |
| Manufacturing | 1,334 | 13.5% | $122,146 | 21.9% | $91,564 |
| Professional, Tech. Serv. | Data not available due to BEA non-disclosure requirements. |
| Retail Trade | 688 | 7.0% | $20,880 | 3.7% | $30,349 |
| Trans., Warehousing | 435 | 4.4% | $34,572 | 6.2% | $79,476 |
| Wholesale Trade | 395 | 4.0% | $25,288 | 4.5% | $64,020 |
| Other Private (not above) | 2,059* | 20.8%* | $109,710* | 19.6%* | $53,283* |
| Government | 1,041 | 10.5% | $54,455 | 9.7% | $52,310 |
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 | 67 | 100.0% | 100.0% | $18,361 | $8,133,071 |
| Single-Family | 67 | 100.0% | 75.4% | $18,361 | $6,951,719 |
| 2-Family | 0 | 0.0% | 1.9% | 0 | $100,498 |
| 3- and 4-Family | 0 | 0.0% | 0.8% | $0 | $45,624 |
| 5+ Family | 0 | 0.0% | 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 Spencer County
| Name | Population
in 2024 | Percent of County |
|---|
| Chrisney | 474 | 2.3% |
| Dale | 1,532 | 7.6% |
| Gentryville | 258 | 1.3% |
| Grandview | 705 | 3.5% |
| Richland | 416 | 2.1% |
| Rockport | 1,989 | 9.9% |
| Santa Claus | 2,657 | 13.2% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau annual population estimates
