Economic Growth Region 3
Largest City: Fort Wayne (2025 population: 275,203)
Population per Square Mile: 184.4
Square Miles: 4,371.3
| Population over Time | Number | Rank in State | Percent of State | Indiana |
| Yesterday (2020) | 783,505 | 4 | 11.5% | 6,785,528 |
| Today (2025) | 805,945 | 4 | 11.6% | 6,973,333 |
| Tomorrow (2030 projection)* | 813,571 | 4 | 11.6% | 7,013,509 |
| Percent Change 2020 to Today | 2.9% | 3 | | 2.8% |
*Projection based on 2020 Census population estimates.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau; Indiana Business Research Center
| Components of Population Change, 2024-2025 | Number | Rank of 12 | Percent of State | Indiana |
| Net Domestic Migration | 1,161 | 4 | | 12,197 |
| Net International Migration | 1,183 | 5 | | 17,852 |
| Natural Increase (births minus deaths) | 2,041 | 3 | 23.8% | 8,561 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
| Population Estimates by Age, 2025 | Number | Rank of 12 | Pct Dist. in Region | Pct Dist. in State |
|---|
| Preschool (0 to 4) | 51,176 | 3 | 6.3% | 5.8% |
| School Age (5 to 17) | 144,169 | 4 | 17.9% | 16.8% |
| College Age (18 to 24) | 75,016 | 3 | 9.3% | 9.8% |
| Young Adult (25 to 44) | 200,522 | 4 | 24.9% | 25.6% |
| Older Adult (45 to 64) | 183,977 | 4 | 22.8% | 23.5% |
| Seniors (65 and older) | 151,085 | 3 | 18.7% | 18.4% |
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau; Indiana Business Research Center
| Population Estimates by Race and Hispanic Origin, 2025 | Number | Rank of 12 | Pct Dist. in Region | Pct Dist. in State |
|---|
| American Indian or Alaska Native Alone | 5,901 | 4 | 0.7% | 0.8% |
| Asian Alone | 27,811 | 3 | 3.5% | 3.2% |
| Black Alone | 56,550 | 4 | 7.0% | 10.6% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pac. Isl. Alone | 572 | 4 | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| White | 682,010 | 2 | 84.6% | 81.2% |
| Two or More Race Groups | 33,101 | 4 | 4.1% | 4.2% |
| Non-Hispanic | 742,848 | 3 | 92.2% | 90.4% |
| Hispanic | 63,097 | 5 | 7.8% | 9.6% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
| Household Types | Number | Rank of 12 | Pct Dist. in Region | Pct Dist. in State |
|---|
| Households in 2024 (includes detail not shown below) | 311,626 | 2 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| Married With Children | 59,269 | 5 | 19.0% | 17.9% |
| Married Without Children | 93,316 | 1 | 29.9% | 29.3% |
| Single Parents | 27,918 | 1 | 9.0% | 8.8% |
| Living Alone | 90,382 | 2 | 29.0% | 29.6% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
| Housing | Number | Rank of 12 | Pct Dist. in Region | Pct Dist. in State |
|---|
| Total Housing Units in 2025 (estimate) | 348,577 | 4 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| Total Housing Units in 2024 (includes vacant units) | 340,054 | 4 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| Owner Occupied (Pct. distribution based on all housing units) | 229,909 | 3 | 67.6% | 64.4% |
| Renter Occupied (Pct. distribution based on all housing units) | 81,717 | 4 | 24.0% | 26.9% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
| Education | Number | Rank of 12 | Percent of State | Indiana |
|---|
| School Enrollment (2025/2026 Total Reported) | 124,942 | 4 | 11.2% | 1,112,710 |
| Public | 110,295 | 4 | 10.9% | 1,010,042 |
Sources: Indiana Department of Education; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
| Income and Poverty | Number | Rank of 12 | Percent of State | Indiana |
|---|
| Per Capita Personal Income (annual) in 2024 | $59,336 | 6 | 92.6% | $64,077 |
| Welfare (TANF) Monthly Average Families in 2025 | 472 | 3 | 9.7% | 4,863 |
| Food Stamp Recipients in 2025 | 62,497 | 3 | 10.8% | 578,293 |
| Free and Reduced Fee Lunch Recipients in 2025/2026 | 51,589 | 4 | 10.8% | 476,608 |
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 12 | Percent of State | Indiana |
|---|
| Births, 2021 | 10,353 | 3 | 12.9% | 79,946 |
| Births to Teens, 2021 | 456 | 2 | 11.9% | 3,845 |
| Deaths, 2019 | 7,824 | 4 | 11.9% | 66,005 |
Source: Indiana State Department of Health
| Labor Force, 2025 | Number | Rank of 12 | Percent of State | Indiana |
|---|
| Total Resident Labor Force | 399,818 | 4 | 11.4% | 3,506,284 |
| Employed | 386,049 | 4 | 11.4% | 3,377,760 |
| Unemployed | 13,769 | 4 | 10.7% | 128,524 |
| Annual Unemployment Rate | 3.4 | 9 | 91.9% | 3.7 |
| June 2026 Unemployment Rate | 3.4 | 9 | 94.4% | 3.6 |
Source: STATS Indiana, using data from the Indiana Department of Workforce Development
| Employment and Earnings by Industry, 2024 | Employment | Pct Dist. in Region | Earnings ($000) | Pct Dist. In Region | Avg. Earnings Per Job |
|---|
| Total by place of work | 487,715 | 100.0% | $32,526,497 | 100.0% | $66,692 |
| Wage and Salary | 384,298 | 78.8% | $22,951,700 | 70.6% | $59,724 |
| Farm Proprietors | 9,227 | 1.9% | $490,837 | 1.5% | $53,196 |
| Nonfarm Proprietors | 94,190 | 19.3% | $3,953,632 | 12.2% | $41,975 |
| Farm | 10,751 | 2.2% | $597,059 | 1.8% | $55,535 |
| Nonfarm | 476,964 | 97.8% | $31,929,438 | 98.2% | $66,943 |
| Private | 437,881 | 89.8% | $29,082,235 | 89.4% | $66,416 |
| Accommodation, Food Serv. | 30,588 | 6.3% | $851,703 | 2.6% | $27,844 |
| Arts, Ent., Recreation | 6,923 | 1.4% | $156,147 | 0.5% | $22,555 |
| Construction | 27,568 | 5.7% | $2,522,044 | 7.8% | $91,484 |
| Health Care, Social Serv. | 49,458* | 10.1%* | $4,360,284* | 13.4%* | $88,161* |
| Information | 4,656 | 1.0% | $356,666 | 1.1% | $76,604 |
| Manufacturing | 87,889 | 18.0% | $7,696,176 | 23.7% | $87,567 |
| Professional, Tech. Serv. | 15,704* | 3.2%* | $1,340,905* | 4.1%* | $85,386* |
| Retail Trade | 47,797 | 9.8% | $2,077,762 | 6.4% | $43,471 |
| Trans., Warehousing | 23,538* | 4.8%* | $1,421,744* | 4.4%* | $60,402* |
| Wholesale Trade | 14,900* | 3.1%* | $1,673,801* | 5.1%* | $112,336* |
| Other Private (not above) | 109,489* | 22.4%* | $5,401,932* | 16.6%* | $49,338* |
| Government | 39,083 | 8.0% | $2,847,203 | 8.8% | $72,850 |
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, 2025 | Units | Pct Dist. in Region | Pct Dist. in State | Cost ($000) | State Cost ($000) |
|---|
| Total Permits Filed | 2,441 | 100.0% | 100.0% | $822,325 | $8,792,236 |
| Single-Family | 2,219 | 90.9% | 68.4% | $784,189 | $7,272,703 |
| 2-Family | 24 | 1.0% | 1.7% | $4,355 | $80,213 |
| 3- and 4-Family | 40 | 1.6% | 0.6% | $7,299 | $31,389 |
| 5+ Family | 158 | 6.5% | 29.3% | $26,482 | $1,407,931 |
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 Economic Growth Region 3
| Name | Population in 2025 | Percent of Region |
|---|
| Auburn | 14,068 | 1.7% |
| Bluffton | 10,583 | 1.3% |
| Columbia City | 10,256 | 1.3% |
| Fort Wayne | 275,203 | 34.1% |
| Huntertown | 11,600 | 1.4% |
| Huntington | 17,167 | 2.1% |
| Kendallville | 10,371 | 1.3% |
| Marion | 28,234 | 3.5% |
| New Haven | 16,337 | 2.0% |
| Wabash | 10,190 | 1.3% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau annual population estimates