Fastest-growing counties in Indiana

Written by:
July 1, 2022
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Fastest-growing counties in Indiana

Why do people move from one county or region to another? The usual suspects are jobs, family, significant others, and overall cost of living, but there are other elements at play. For those with children, moving within close proximity of a highly rated school district is a key contributing factor. For younger adults just starting out, living someplace with a vibrant social scene might be a top priority. And for those whose careers have wound down after a lifetime of work, finding retirement-friendly communities is the goal—communities deemed to be safe, offer accessibility to medical resources and leisure activities in equal measure, and be affordable for those on a limited income.

This is, of course, by no means an exhaustive list. People’s reasons for choosing to live where they do are as diverse as people themselves.

As far as why certain counties across the U.S. have experienced growth, relocation is not the sole, or even primary, reason why. While more than 1,800 counties saw population gains in 2021, approximately 73% of all U.S. counties saw what the U.S. Census Bureau characterizes as a natural decrease. This was a significant jump from 2020, when 55.5% of countries experienced such a decrease. According to the Bureau, natural decrease is the simple result of “when there are more deaths than births in a population over a given time period.” In 2021, the conflation of fewer births with an aging population that was also absorbing a higher-than-usual mortality rate due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic led to this “increased decrease.”

Nonetheless, as stated 1,800 counties nationwide have grown larger over the last year, and a sizable percentage of them are in Indiana. Stacker compiled a list of the fastest-growing counties in Indiana using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by the highest population growth from 2010 to 2020, based on the U.S. Decennial Census.

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Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#50. Crawford County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: -187
--- #1,749 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -1.7%
--- #61 among counties in Indiana, #1,799 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 10,526
--- #86 largest county in Indiana, #2,377 largest county nationwide
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Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#49. Perry County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: -168
--- #1,725 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -0.9%
--- #49 among counties in Indiana, #1,630 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 19,170
--- #75 largest county in Indiana, #1,862 largest county nationwide
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Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#48. Benton County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: -135
--- #1,679 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -1.5%
--- #56 among counties in Indiana, #1,747 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 8,719
--- #89 largest county in Indiana, #2,510 largest county nationwide
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emu4286 // Wikimedia Commons

#47. Washington County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: -80
--- #1,597 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -0.3%
--- #46 among counties in Indiana, #1,541 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 28,182
--- #56 largest county in Indiana, #1,489 largest county nationwide
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Calvin Beale // Wikimedia Commons

#46. Noble County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: -79
--- #1,594 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -0.2%
--- #45 among counties in Indiana, #1,518 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 47,457
--- #30 largest county in Indiana, #1,030 largest county nationwide

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Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons

#45. Warren County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: -68
--- #1,584 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -0.8%
--- #48 among counties in Indiana, #1,615 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 8,440
--- #90 largest county in Indiana, #2,540 largest county nationwide
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Paul J Everett // Wikimedia Commons

#44. Clinton County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: -34
--- #1,533 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -0.1%
--- #44 among counties in Indiana, #1,507 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 33,190
--- #49 largest county in Indiana, #1,353 largest county nationwide
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Chris Light // Wikimedia Commons

#43. Starke County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +8
--- #1,478 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +0.0%
--- #43 among counties in Indiana, #1,486 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 23,371
--- #66 largest county in Indiana, #1,665 largest county nationwide
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Rdikeman // Wikimedia Commons

#42. Orange County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +27
--- #1,456 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +0.1%
--- #42 among counties in Indiana, #1,466 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 19,867
--- #73 largest county in Indiana, #1,822 largest county nationwide
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Huw Williams (Huwmanbeing) // Wikimedia Commons

#41. White County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +45
--- #1,435 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +0.2%
--- #41 among counties in Indiana, #1,462 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 24,688
--- #62 largest county in Indiana, #1,618 largest county nationwide

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Publichall // Wikimedia Commons

#40. Carroll County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +151
--- #1,358 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +0.7%
--- #35 among counties in Indiana, #1,370 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 20,306
--- #72 largest county in Indiana, #1,801 largest county nationwide
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Warren LeMay from Cullowhee, NC, United States // Wikimedia Commons

#39. Ripley County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +177
--- #1,342 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +0.6%
--- #38 among counties in Indiana, #1,392 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 28,995
--- #55 largest county in Indiana, #1,455 largest county nationwide
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Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#38. Scott County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +203
--- #1,329 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +0.8%
--- #34 among counties in Indiana, #1,360 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 24,384
--- #64 largest county in Indiana, #1,632 largest county nationwide
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MrGreenBean // Wikimedia Commons

#37. Brown County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +233
--- #1,307 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +1.5%
--- #28 among counties in Indiana, #1,249 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 15,475
--- #79 largest county in Indiana, #2,061 largest county nationwide
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MrHarman // Wikimedia Commons

#36. Steuben County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +250
--- #1,296 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +0.7%
--- #37 among counties in Indiana, #1,375 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 34,435
--- #46 largest county in Indiana, #1,316 largest county nationwide

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W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#35. Harrison County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +290
--- #1,269 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +0.7%
--- #36 among counties in Indiana, #1,372 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 39,654
--- #38 largest county in Indiana, #1,188 largest county nationwide
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Randella // Wikimedia Commons

#34. Vanderburgh County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +433
--- #1,186 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +0.2%
--- #40 among counties in Indiana, #1,453 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 180,136
--- #8 largest county in Indiana, #372 largest county nationwide
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Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#33. Wells County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +544
--- #1,136 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +2.0%
--- #27 among counties in Indiana, #1,188 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 28,180
--- #57 largest county in Indiana, #1,490 largest county nationwide
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#32. Shelby County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +619
--- #1,113 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +1.4%
--- #29 among counties in Indiana, #1,265 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 45,055
--- #33 largest county in Indiana, #1,068 largest county nationwide
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Warren LeMay from Cullowhee, NC, United States // Wikimedia Commons

#31. Dearborn County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +632
--- #1,109 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +1.3%
--- #31 among counties in Indiana, #1,294 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 50,679
--- #28 largest county in Indiana, #980 largest county nationwide

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Warren LeMay from Cullowhee, NC, United States // Wikimedia Commons

#30. Jefferson County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +719
--- #1,083 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +2.2%
--- #26 among counties in Indiana, #1,150 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 33,147
--- #50 largest county in Indiana, #1,355 largest county nationwide
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Warren LeMay from Cullowhee, NC, United States // Wikimedia Commons

#29. Decatur County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +732
--- #1,078 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +2.8%
--- #22 among counties in Indiana, #1,078 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 26,472
--- #59 largest county in Indiana, #1,548 largest county nationwide
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Tysto // Wikimedia Commons

#28. Whitley County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +899
--- #1,029 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +2.7%
--- #23 among counties in Indiana, #1,094 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 34,191
--- #47 largest county in Indiana, #1,322 largest county nationwide
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Rapierce // Wikimedia Commons

#27. Howard County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +906
--- #1,027 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +1.1%
--- #32 among counties in Indiana, #1,324 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 83,658
--- #18 largest county in Indiana, #687 largest county nationwide
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MrHarman // Wikimedia Commons

#26. LaPorte County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +950
--- #1,013 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +0.9%
--- #33 among counties in Indiana, #1,358 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 112,417
--- #15 largest county in Indiana, #547 largest county nationwide

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Derek Jensen // Wikimedia Commons

#25. DeKalb County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +1,042
--- #990 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +2.5%
--- #24 among counties in Indiana, #1,123 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 43,265
--- #36 largest county in Indiana, #1,110 largest county nationwide
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Derek Jensen // Wikimedia Commons

#24. Adams County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +1,422
--- #918 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +4.1%
--- #20 among counties in Indiana, #915 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 35,809
--- #45 largest county in Indiana, #1,288 largest county nationwide
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Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#23. Daviess County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +1,733
--- #859 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +5.5%
--- #15 among counties in Indiana, #775 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 33,381
--- #48 largest county in Indiana, #1,347 largest county nationwide
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Yahala // Wikimedia Commons

#22. Monroe County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +1,744
--- #858 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +1.3%
--- #30 among counties in Indiana, #1,293 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 139,718
--- #12 largest county in Indiana, #469 largest county nationwide
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Cool10191 // Wikimedia Commons

#21. Dubois County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +1,748
--- #855 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +4.2%
--- #19 among counties in Indiana, #912 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 43,637
--- #35 largest county in Indiana, #1,106 largest county nationwide

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#20. Lake County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +2,695
--- #743 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +0.5%
--- #39 among counties in Indiana, #1,406 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 498,700
--- #2 largest county in Indiana, #143 largest county nationwide
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Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#19. Kosciusko County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +2,882
--- #725 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +3.7%
--- #21 among counties in Indiana, #963 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 80,240
--- #21 largest county in Indiana, #710 largest county nationwide
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#18. Morgan County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +2,886
--- #723 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +4.2%
--- #18 among counties in Indiana, #911 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 71,780
--- #23 largest county in Indiana, #762 largest county nationwide
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Derek Jensen // Wikimedia Commons

#17. LaGrange County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +3,318
--- #677 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +8.9%
--- #8 among counties in Indiana, #490 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 40,446
--- #37 largest county in Indiana, #1,173 largest county nationwide
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Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#16. Jackson County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +4,052
--- #623 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +9.6%
--- #7 among counties in Indiana, #449 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 46,428
--- #31 largest county in Indiana, #1,045 largest county nationwide

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Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#15. Warrick County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +4,209
--- #610 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +7.1%
--- #13 among counties in Indiana, #629 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 63,898
--- #27 largest county in Indiana, #841 largest county nationwide
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12019 // Pixabay

#14. Bartholomew County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +5,414
--- #551 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +7.1%
--- #14 among counties in Indiana, #630 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 82,208
--- #19 largest county in Indiana, #696 largest county nationwide
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#13. Floyd County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +5,906
--- #539 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +7.9%
--- #11 among counties in Indiana, #573 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 80,484
--- #20 largest county in Indiana, #709 largest county nationwide
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Isslwc // Wikimedia Commons

#12. St. Joseph County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +5,981
--- #538 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +2.2%
--- #25 among counties in Indiana, #1,146 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 272,912
--- #5 largest county in Indiana, #255 largest county nationwide
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Chris Light // Wikimedia Commons

#11. Porter County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +8,872
--- #454 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +5.4%
--- #16 among counties in Indiana, #782 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 173,215
--- #10 largest county in Indiana, #382 largest county nationwide

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Derek Jensen // Wikimedia Commons

#10. Elkhart County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +9,488
--- #441 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +4.8%
--- #17 among counties in Indiana, #847 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 207,047
--- #6 largest county in Indiana, #329 largest county nationwide
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#9. Hancock County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +9,838
--- #427 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +14.1%
--- #5 among counties in Indiana, #254 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 79,840
--- #22 largest county in Indiana, #715 largest county nationwide
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C. Bedford Crenshaw // Wikimedia Commons

#8. Clark County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +10,861
--- #409 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +9.9%
--- #6 among counties in Indiana, #430 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 121,093
--- #14 largest county in Indiana, #522 largest county nationwide
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Qsthomson // Wikimedia Commons

#7. Tippecanoe County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +13,471
--- #364 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +7.8%
--- #12 among counties in Indiana, #580 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 186,251
--- #7 largest county in Indiana, #359 largest county nationwide
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Paul J Everett // Wikimedia Commons

#6. Boone County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +14,172
--- #355 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +25.0%
--- #2 among counties in Indiana, #66 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 70,812
--- #24 largest county in Indiana, #768 largest county nationwide

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User:Mingusboodle // Wikimedia Commons

#5. Johnson County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +22,111
--- #268 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +15.8%
--- #4 among counties in Indiana, #197 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 161,765
--- #11 largest county in Indiana, #413 largest county nationwide
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Paul J Everett // Wikimedia Commons

#4. Hendricks County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +29,340
--- #222 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +20.2%
--- #3 among counties in Indiana, #115 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 174,788
--- #9 largest county in Indiana, #379 largest county nationwide
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Diego Delso // Wikimedia Commons

#3. Allen County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +30,081
--- #216 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +8.5%
--- #9 among counties in Indiana, #520 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 385,410
--- #3 largest county in Indiana, #186 largest county nationwide
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Derek Jensen // Wikimedia Commons

#2. Hamilton County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +72,898
--- #82 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +26.5%
--- #1 among counties in Indiana, #55 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 347,467
--- #4 largest county in Indiana, #208 largest county nationwide
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Sean Pavone // Shutterstock

#1. Marion County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +73,810
--- #80 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +8.2%
--- #10 among counties in Indiana, #554 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 977,203
--- #1 largest county in Indiana, #51 largest county nationwide

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