Newton County, Indiana
Named for Sgt. John Newton in the 1830s, the county was re-organized in 1859
County Seat: Kentland
Largest City: Kentland (2024 population: 1,626)
Population per Square Mile: 35.17
Square Miles: 401.80
Go to county's in.gov site
| Population over Time | Number | Rank in State | Percent of State | Indiana |
|---|
| Yesterday (2020) | 13,830 | 82 | 0.2% | 6,484,050 |
| Today (2024) | 14,131 | 82 | 0.2% | 6,924,275 |
| Tomorrow (2030 projection)* | 14,022 | 82 | 0.2% | 7,013,509 |
| Percent Change 2020 to Today | 2.2% | 56 | | 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 | 34 | 59 | | 4,268 |
| Net International Migration | 83 | 35 | | 30,852 |
| Natural Increase (births minus deaths) | -19 | 34 | -0.2% | 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) | 822 | 79 | 5.8% | 5.9% |
| School Age (5 to 17) | 2,155 | 81 | 15.3% | 17.0% |
| College Age (18 to 24) | 1,050 | 81 | 7.4% | 9.7% |
| Young Adult (25 to 44) | 3,426 | 81 | 24.2% | 25.9% |
| Older Adult (45 to 64) | 3,709 | 82 | 26.2% | 23.9% |
| Seniors (65 and older) | 2,969 | 82 | 21.0% | 17.5% |
| Median Age | 42.8 | | | 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 | 241 | 34 | 1.7% | 0.5% |
| Asian Alone | 78 | 78 | 0.6% | 3.1% |
| Black Alone | 196 | 71 | 1.4% | 10.6% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pac. Isl. Alone | 19 | 47 | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| White | 13,389 | 82 | 94.7% | 83.2% |
| Two or More Race Groups | 208 | 83 | 1.5% | 2.5% |
| Non-Hispanic | 12,770 | 82 | 90.4% | 90.9% |
| Hispanic | 1,361 | 45 | 9.6% | 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) | 5,591 | 82 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| Married With Children | 948 | 81 | 17.0% | 18.1% |
| Married Without Children | 1,897 | 82 | 33.9% | 29.3% |
| Single Parents | 626 | 72 | 11.2% | 8.9% |
| Living Alone | 1,355 | 85 | 24.2% | 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) | 6,147 | 82 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| Total Housing Units in 2023 (includes vacant units) | 6,059 | 82 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
Owner Occupied
(Pct. distribution based on all housing units) | 4,486 | 82 | 74.0% | 63.9% |
| Median Value (2023) | $159,300 | 57 | | |
Renter Occupied
(Pct. distribution based on all housing units) | 1,105 | 82 | 18.2% | 26.9% |
| Median Rent (2023) | $653 | 44 | | |
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) | 1,850 | 81 | 0.2% | 1,132,621 |
| Public | 1,850 | 81 | 0.2% | 1,033,552 |
| Adults (25+ in 2023 ACS) | 9,972 | 82 | 0.2% | 4,559,304 |
| with High School diploma or higher | 88.4% | 66 | | 90.2% |
| with B.A. or higher degree | 13.7% | 81 | | 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 | $53,359 | 49 | 87.1% | 61,243 |
| Median Household Income in 2023 | 70,836 | 32 | 102.0% | $69,458 |
| Poverty Rate in 2023 | 10.2% | 61 | 83.6% | 12.2% |
| Poverty Rate among Children under 18 | 12.9% | 57 | 85.4% | 15.1% |
| Welfare (TANF) Monthly Average Families in 2024 | 9 | 73 | 0.2% | 4,813 |
| Food Stamp Recipients in 2024 | 1,230 | 78 | 0.2% | 608,295 |
| Free and Reduced Fee Lunch Recipients in 2024/2025 | 887 | 82 | 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 | 153 | 80 | 0.2% | 79,946 |
| Births to Teens, 2021 | 15 | 57 | 0.4% | 3,845 |
| Deaths, 2019 | 172 | 80 | 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 | 6,736 | 83 | 0.2% | 3,455,992 |
| Employed | 6,436 | 83 | 0.2% | 3,310,992 |
| Unemployed | 300 | 81 | 0.2% | 145,000 |
| Annual Unemployment Rate | 4.5 | 18 | 107.1% | 4.2 |
| May 2025 Unemployment Rate | 3.9 | 7 | 114.7% | 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 | 5,019 | 100.0% | $287,833 | 100.0% | $57,349 |
| Wage and Salary | 3,451 | 68.8% | $168,209 | 58.4% | $48,742 |
| Farm Proprietors | 263 | 5.2% | $45,665 | 15.9% | $173,631 |
| Nonfarm Proprietors | 1,305 | 26.0% | $34,594 | 12.0% | $26,509 |
| Farm | 483 | 9.6% | $69,771 | 24.2% | $144,453 |
| Nonfarm | 4,536 | 90.4% | $218,062 | 75.8% | $48,074 |
| Private | 3,848 | 76.7% | $181,198 | 63.0% | $47,089 |
| 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 | 311 | 6.2% | $14,760 | 5.1% | $47,460 |
| Health Care, Social Serv. | 269 | 5.4% | $15,376 | 5.3% | $57,160 |
| Information | Data not available due to BEA non-disclosure requirements. |
| Manufacturing | 565 | 11.3% | $36,345 | 12.6% | $64,327 |
| Professional, Tech. Serv. | 152 | 3.0% | $5,868 | 2.0% | $38,605 |
| Retail Trade | 362 | 7.2% | $10,166 | 3.5% | $28,083 |
| Trans., Warehousing | 290 | 5.8% | $22,775 | 7.9% | $78,534 |
| Wholesale Trade | Data not available due to BEA non-disclosure requirements. |
| Other Private (not above) | 768* | 15.3%* | $40,427* | 14.0%* | $52,639* |
| Government | 688 | 13.7% | $36,864 | 12.8% | $53,581 |
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 | 26 | 100.0% | 100.0% | $8,072 | $8,133,071 |
| Single-Family | 26 | 100.0% | 75.4% | $8,072 | $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 Newton County
| Name | Population
in 2024 | Percent of County |
|---|
| Brook | 942 | 6.7% |
| Goodland | 971 | 6.9% |
| Kentland | 1,626 | 11.5% |
| Morocco | 1,081 | 7.6% |
| Mount Ayr | 116 | 0.8% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau annual population estimates
Hoosiers by the Numbers