Rush County, Indiana
Named for Revolutionary War physician Dr. Benjamin Rush, the county was organized in 1822
County Seat: Rushville
Largest City: Rushville (2024 population: 6,208)
Population per Square Mile: 41.07
Square Miles: 408.10
Go to county's in.gov site
| Population over Time | Number | Rank in State | Percent of State | Indiana |
|---|
| Yesterday (2020) | 16,752 | 76 | 0.3% | 6,484,050 |
| Today (2024) | 16,759 | 77 | 0.2% | 6,924,275 |
| Tomorrow (2030 projection)* | 16,820 | 77 | 0.2% | 7,013,509 |
| Percent Change 2020 to Today | 0.0% | 72 | | 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 | 72 | | 4,268 |
| Net International Migration | 21 | 60 | | 30,852 |
| Natural Increase (births minus deaths) | -41 | 46 | -0.4% | 9,159 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
| Population Estimates by Age, 2023 | Number | Rank in State | Pct Dist.
in County | Pct Dist.
in State |
|---|
| Preschool (0 to 4) | 1,000 | 76 | 5.9% | 5.9% |
| School Age (5 to 17) | 2,780 | 76 | 16.5% | 17.2% |
| College Age (18 to 24) | 1,273 | 76 | 7.6% | 9.6% |
| Young Adult (25 to 44) | 4,019 | 76 | 23.9% | 25.8% |
| Older Adult (45 to 64) | 4,445 | 78 | 26.4% | 24.2% |
| Seniors (65 and older) | 3,330 | 80 | 19.8% | 17.2% |
| Median Age | 41.6 | | | Median Age = 38.2 |
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau; Indiana Business Research Center
| Population Estimates by Race and Hispanic Origin, 2023 | Number | Rank of | Pct Dist.
in County | Pct Dist.
in State |
|---|
| American Indian or Alaska Native Alone | 66 | 81 | 0.4% | 0.5% |
| Asian Alone | 72 | 79 | 0.4% | 2.9% |
| Black Alone | 186 | 70 | 1.1% | 10.4% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pac. Isl. Alone | 7 | 70 | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| White | 16,270 | 76 | 96.6% | 83.7% |
| Two or More Race Groups | 246 | 77 | 1.5% | 2.5% |
| Non-Hispanic | 16,515 | 76 | 98.0% | 91.2% |
| Hispanic | 332 | 80 | 2.0% | 8.8% |
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) | 6,650 | 78 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| Married With Children | 1,332 | 73 | 20.0% | 18.1% |
| Married Without Children | 2,176 | 80 | 32.7% | 29.3% |
| Single Parents | 418 | 81 | 6.3% | 8.9% |
| Living Alone | 1,681 | 79 | 25.3% | 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) | 7,455 | 79 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| Total Housing Units in 2023 (includes vacant units) | 7,364 | 79 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
Owner Occupied
(Pct. distribution based on all housing units) | 4,878 | 80 | 66.2% | 63.9% |
| Median Value (2023) | $155,900 | 59 | | |
Renter Occupied
(Pct. distribution based on all housing units) | 1,772 | 68 | 24.1% | 26.9% |
| Median Rent (2023) | $611 | 53 | | |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
| Education | Number | Rank in State | Percent of State | Indiana |
|---|
| School Enrollment (2023/2024 Total Reported) | 2,155 | 80 | 0.2% | 1,124,877 |
| Public | 2,022 | 79 | 0.2% | 1,032,265 |
| Adults (25+ in 2023 ACS) | 11,778 | 77 | 0.3% | 4,559,304 |
| with High School diploma or higher | 90.8% | 33 | | 90.2% |
| with B.A. or higher degree | 16.8% | 63 | | 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 | $58,058 | 23 | 94.8% | 61,243 |
| Median Household Income in 2023 | 65,326 | 53 | 94.1% | $69,458 |
| Poverty Rate in 2023 | 10.8% | 51 | 88.5% | 12.2% |
| Poverty Rate among Children under 18 | 13.6% | 49 | 90.1% | 15.1% |
| Welfare (TANF) Monthly Average Families in 2024 | 10 | 71 | 0.2% | 4,813 |
| Food Stamp Recipients in 2024 | 1,420 | 74 | 0.2% | 608,295 |
| Free and Reduced Fee Lunch Recipients in 2023/2024 | 1,123 | 78 | 0.2% | 497,203 |
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 | 202 | 76 | 0.3% | 79,946 |
| Births to Teens, 2021 | 13 | 63 | 0.3% | 3,845 |
| Deaths, 2019 | 201 | 77 | 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 | 8,288 | 76 | 0.2% | 3,455,992 |
| Employed | 7,974 | 76 | 0.2% | 3,310,992 |
| Unemployed | 314 | 80 | 0.2% | 145,000 |
| Annual Unemployment Rate | 3.8 | 59 | 90.5% | 4.2 |
| April 2025 Unemployment Rate | 2.7 | 54 | 90.0% | 3.0 |
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 | 7,598 | 100.0% | $440,590 | 100.0% | $57,988 |
| Wage and Salary | 5,149 | 67.8% | $268,030 | 60.8% | $52,055 |
| Farm Proprietors | 502 | 6.6% | $41,879 | 9.5% | $83,424 |
| Nonfarm Proprietors | 1,947 | 25.6% | $65,326 | 14.8% | $33,552 |
| Farm | 598 | 7.9% | $48,407 | 11.0% | $80,948 |
| Nonfarm | 7,000 | 92.1% | $392,183 | 89.0% | $56,026 |
| Private | 5,859 | 77.1% | $320,023 | 72.6% | $54,621 |
| Accommodation, Food Serv. | 363 | 4.8% | $8,967 | 2.0% | $24,702 |
| Arts, Ent., Recreation | 56 | 0.7% | $970 | 0.2% | $17,321 |
| Construction | 624 | 8.2% | $41,616 | 9.4% | $66,692 |
| Health Care, Social Serv. | Data not available due to BEA non-disclosure requirements. |
| Information | 82 | 1.1% | $5,707 | 1.3% | $69,598 |
| Manufacturing | 1,011 | 13.3% | $74,425 | 16.9% | $73,615 |
| Professional, Tech. Serv. | 242 | 3.2% | $12,941 | 2.9% | $53,475 |
| Retail Trade | 743 | 9.8% | $29,197 | 6.6% | $39,296 |
| Trans., Warehousing | 455 | 6.0% | $33,167 | 7.5% | $72,895 |
| Wholesale Trade | Data not available due to BEA non-disclosure requirements. |
| Other Private (not above) | 1,380* | 18.2%* | $45,636* | 10.4%* | $33,070* |
| Government | 1,141 | 15.0% | $72,160 | 16.4% | $63,243 |
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 | 19 | 100.0% | 100.0% | $6,243 | $8,133,071 |
| Single-Family | 19 | 100.0% | 75.4% | $6,243 | $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 Rush County
| Name | Population
in 2024 | Percent of County |
|---|
| Carthage | 916 | 5.5% |
| Glenwood | 169 | 1.0%* |
| Rushville | 6,208 | 37.0% |
| * This place crosses county lines, so only population in this county is shown. |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau annual population estimates
Hoosiers by the Numbers