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Jay County, Indiana

Named in 1836 for Supreme Court Chief Justice John Jay

County Seat: Portland

Largest City: Portland (2024 population: 6,233)

Population per Square Mile: 52.52

Square Miles: 383.90

Go to county's in.gov site

Population over TimeNumberRank in StatePercent of StateIndiana
Yesterday (2020)20,478710.3%6,484,050
Today (2024)20,164720.3%6,924,275
Tomorrow (2030 projection)*18,999740.3%7,013,509
Percent Change 2020 to Today-1.5%83 2.0%

*Projection based on 2020 Census population estimates.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau; Indiana Business Research Center

Components of Population Change, 2023-2024NumberRank in StatePercent of StateIndiana
Net Domestic Migration10638 4,268
Net International Migration2160 30,852
Natural Increase (births minus deaths)-2939-0.3%9,159

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Population Estimates by Age, 2024NumberRank in StatePct Dist.
in County
Pct Dist.
in State
Preschool (0 to 4)1,423627.1%5.9%
School Age (5 to 17)3,7826818.8%17.0%
College Age (18 to 24)1,584697.9%9.7%
Young Adult (25 to 44)4,5907322.8%25.9%
Older Adult (45 to 64)4,9867424.7%23.9%
Seniors (65 and older)3,7997618.8%17.5%
Median Age39.2  Median Age = 38.3

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau; Indiana Business Research Center

Population Estimates by Race and Hispanic Origin, 2024NumberRank of Pct Dist.
in County
Pct Dist.
in State
American Indian or Alaska Native Alone62840.3%0.5%
Asian Alone92750.5%3.1%
Black Alone140800.7%10.6%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pac. Isl. Alone9670.0%0.1%
White19,5277096.8%83.2%
Two or More Race Groups334641.7%2.5%
Hispanic or Latino Origin (can be of any race)    
Non-Hispanic19,2377395.4%90.9%
Hispanic927604.6%9.1%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Household TypesNumberRank in StatePct Dist.
in County
Pct Dist.
in State
Households in 2023 (Includes detail not shown below)7,95972100.0%100.0%
Married With Children1,2917516.2%18.1%
Married Without Children2,3137729.1%29.3%
Single Parents714669.0%8.9%
Living Alone2,4506830.8%29.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates.

HousingNumberRank in StatePct Dist.
in County
Pct Dist.
in State
Total Housing Units in 2024 (estimate)8,91572100.0%100.0%
Total Housing Units in 2023 (includes vacant units)8,90872100.0%100.0%
Owner Occupied
(Pct. distribution based on all housing units)
6,2117269.7%63.9%
Median Value (2023)$110,10089  
Renter Occupied
(Pct. distribution based on all housing units)
1,7486919.6%26.9%
Median Rent (2023)$53878  

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates.

EducationNumberRank in StatePercent of StateIndiana
School Enrollment (2024/2025 Total Reported) 3,662650.3%1,132,621
Public3,498640.3%1,033,552
Adults (25+ in 2023 ACS)13,424750.3%4,559,304
with High School diploma or higher86.9%78 90.2%
with B.A. or higher degree12.7%87 28.8%

Sources: Indiana Department of Education; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates.

Income and PovertyNumberRank in StatePercent of StateIndiana
Per Capita Personal Income (annual) in 2023$53,5664887.5%61,243
Median Household Income in 202361,0307087.9%$69,458
Poverty Rate in 202313.4%23109.8%12.2%
Poverty Rate among Children under 1820.6%8136.4%15.1%
Welfare (TANF) Monthly Average Families in 202410700.2%4,813
Food Stamp Recipients in 20241,530680.3%608,295
Free and Reduced Fee Lunch Recipients in 2024/20251,730640.4%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 StatisticsNumberRank of Percent of StateIndiana
Births, 2021297600.4%79,946
Births to Teens, 202114590.4%3,845
Deaths, 2019226730.3%66,005

Source: Indiana State Department of Health

Labor Force, 2024NumberRank in StatePercent of StateIndiana
Total Resident Labor Force9,459710.3%3,455,992
Employed9,107710.3%3,310,992
Unemployed352740.2%145,000
Annual Unemployment Rate3.77088.1%4.2
May 2025 Unemployment Rate3.33997.1%3.4

Source: STATS Indiana, using data from the Indiana Department of Workforce Development

Employment and Earnings by Industry, 2023 EmploymentPct Dist.
in County
Earnings ($000)Pct Dist.
In County
Avg. Earnings Per Job
Total by place of work9,970100.0%$697,277100.0%$69,938
Wage and Salary7,28173.0%$353,28450.7%$48,521
Farm Proprietors6826.8%$186,15926.7%$272,960
Nonfarm Proprietors2,00720.1%$73,24810.5%$36,496
Farm8588.6%$192,70627.6%$224,599
Nonfarm9,11291.4%$504,57172.4%$55,374
Private8,23782.6%$451,76264.8%$54,845
  Accommodation, Food Serv.4454.5%$10,4151.5%$23,404
  Arts, Ent., Recreation520.5%$6730.1%$12,942
  Construction8008.0%$58,7088.4%$73,385
  Health Care, Social Serv.Data not available due to BEA non-disclosure requirements.
  Information570.6%$2,8900.4%$50,702
  Manufacturing2,88829.0%$199,48028.6%$69,072
  Professional, Tech. Serv.Data not available due to BEA non-disclosure requirements.
  Retail Trade8558.6%$23,9463.4%$28,007
  Trans., Warehousing3013.0%$22,4443.2%$74,565
  Wholesale Trade2862.9%$25,2243.6%$88,196
  Other Private (not above)1,394*14.0%*$54,281*7.8%*$38,939*
Government8758.8%$52,8097.6%$60,353

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, 2024UnitsPct Dist.
in County
Pct Dist.
in State
Cost ($000)State Cost ($000)
Total Permits Filed19100.0%100.0%$4,151$8,133,071
Single-Family19100.0%75.4%$4,151$6,951,719
2-Family00.0%1.9%0$100,498
3- and 4-Family00.0%0.8%$0$45,624
5+ Family00.0%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 Jay County

NamePopulation
in 2024
Percent of County
Bryant2371.2%
Dunkirk1,9779.8%*
Pennville6163.1%
Portland6,23330.9%
Redkey1,0755.3%
Salamonia1470.7%
* This place crosses county lines, so only population in this county is shown.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau annual population estimates

city graph