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.
#50. Crawford County
--- #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
#49. Perry County
--- #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
#48. Benton County
--- #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
#47. Washington County
--- #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
#46. Noble County
--- #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
#45. Warren County
--- #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
#44. Clinton County
--- #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
#43. Starke County
--- #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
#42. Orange County
--- #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
#41. White County
--- #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
#40. Carroll County
--- #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
#39. Ripley County
--- #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
#38. Scott County
--- #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
#37. Brown County
--- #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
#36. Steuben County
--- #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
#35. Harrison County
--- #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
#34. Vanderburgh County
--- #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
#33. Wells County
--- #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
#32. Shelby County
--- #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
#31. Dearborn County
--- #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
#30. Jefferson County
--- #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
#29. Decatur County
--- #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
#28. Whitley County
--- #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
#27. Howard County
--- #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
#26. LaPorte County
--- #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
#25. DeKalb County
--- #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
#24. Adams County
--- #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
#23. Daviess County
--- #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
#22. Monroe County
--- #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
#21. Dubois County
--- #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
#20. Lake County
--- #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
#19. Kosciusko County
--- #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
#18. Morgan County
--- #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
#17. LaGrange County
--- #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
#16. Jackson County
--- #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
#15. Warrick County
--- #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
#14. Bartholomew County
--- #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
#13. Floyd County
--- #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
#12. St. Joseph County
--- #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
#11. Porter County
--- #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
#10. Elkhart County
--- #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
#9. Hancock County
--- #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
#8. Clark County
--- #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
#7. Tippecanoe County
--- #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
#6. Boone County
--- #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
#5. Johnson County
--- #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
#4. Hendricks County
--- #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
#3. Allen County
--- #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
#2. Hamilton County
--- #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
#1. Marion County
--- #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