Economic Growth Region 9
Largest City: Columbus (2024 population: 51,970)
Population per Square Mile: 97.7
Square Miles: 3,468.5
| Population over Time | Number | Rank in State | Percent of State | Indiana |
|---|
| Yesterday (2020) | 334,004 | 8 | 4.9% | 6,785,528 |
| Today (2024) | 338,906 | 8 | 4.9% | 6,924,275 |
| Tomorrow (2030 projection)* | 341,550 | 8 | 4.9% | 7,013,509 |
| Percent Change 2020 to Today | 1.5% | 4 | | 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 of 12 | Percent of State | Indiana |
|---|
| Net Domestic Migration | 19 | 8 | | 4,268 |
| Net International Migration | 1,490 | 7 | | 30,852 |
| Natural Increase (births minus deaths) | -339 | 7 | -3.7% | 9,159 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
| Population Estimates by Age, 2024 | Number | Rank of 12 | Pct Dist.
in Region | Pct Dist.
in State |
|---|
| Preschool (0 to 4) | 19,772 | 8 | 5.8% | 5.9% |
| School Age (5 to 17) | 57,599 | 8 | 17.0% | 17.0% |
| College Age (18 to 24) | 27,676 | 10 | 8.2% | 9.7% |
| Young Adult (25 to 44) | 83,479 | 8 | 24.6% | 25.9% |
| Older Adult (45 to 64) | 86,367 | 8 | 25.5% | 23.9% |
| Seniors (65 and older) | 64,013 | 9 | 18.9% | 17.5% |
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau; Indiana Business Research Center
| Population Estimates by Race and Hispanic Origin, 2024 | Number | Rank of 12 | Pct Dist.
in Region | Pct Dist.
in State |
|---|
| American Indian or Alaska Native Alone | 1,713 | 7 | 0.5% | 0.5% |
| Asian Alone | 9,765 | 8 | 2.9% | 3.1% |
| Black Alone | 5,423 | 12 | 1.6% | 10.6% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pac. Isl. Alone | 415 | 7 | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| White | 316,008 | 8 | 93.2% | 83.2% |
| Two or More Race Groups | 5,582 | 11 | 1.6% | 2.5% |
| Non-Hispanic | 318,347 | 9 | 93.9% | 90.9% |
| Hispanic | 20,559 | 7 | 6.1% | 9.1% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
| Household Types | Number | Rank of 12 | Pct Dist.
in Region | Pct Dist.
in State |
|---|
| Households in 2023 (includes detail not shown below) | 131,805 | 9 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| Married With Children | 24,924 | 12 | 18.9% | 18.1% |
| Married Without Children | 42,385 | 9 | 32.2% | 29.3% |
| Single Parents | 10,818 | 1 | 8.2% | 8.9% |
| Living Alone | 35,578 | 9 | 27.0% | 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 2024 (estimate) | 145,154 | 10 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| Total Housing Units in 2023 (includes vacant units) | 142,770 | 10 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| Owner Occupied (Pct. distribution based on all housing units) | 99,769 | 8 | 69.9% | 63.9% |
| Renter Occupied (Pct. distribution based on all housing units) | 32,036 | 10 | 22.4% | 26.9% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
| Education | Number | Rank of 12 | Percent of State | Indiana |
|---|
| School Enrollment (2024/2025 Total Reported) | 54,024 | 10 | 4.8% | 1,132,621 |
| Public | 48,842 | 10 | 4.7% | 1,033,552 |
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 2023 | $57,390 | 4 | 93.7% | $61,243 |
| Welfare (TANF) Monthly Average Families in 2024 | 212 | 10 | 4.4% | 4,813 |
| Food Stamp Recipients in 2024 | 23,489 | 9 | 3.9% | 608,295 |
| Free and Reduced Fee Lunch Recipients in 2024/2025 | 23,150 | 10 | 4.7% | 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 12 | Percent of State | Indiana |
|---|
| Births, 2021 | 3,841 | 8 | 4.8% | 79,946 |
| Births to Teens, 2021 | 209 | 9 | 5.4% | 3,845 |
| Deaths, 2019 | 3,493 | 9 | 5.3% | 66,005 |
Source: Indiana State Department of Health
| Labor Force, 2024 | Number | Rank of 12 | Percent of State | Indiana |
|---|
| Total Resident Labor Force | 167,095 | 8 | 4.8% | 3,455,992 |
| Employed | 160,586 | 8 | 4.9% | 3,310,992 |
| Unemployed | 6,509 | 9 | 4.5% | 145,000 |
| Annual Unemployment Rate | 3.9 | 8 | 92.9% | 4.2 |
| August 2025 Unemployment Rate | 3.6 | 9 | 94.7% | 3.8 |
Source: STATS Indiana, using data from the Indiana Department of Workforce Development
| Employment and Earnings by Industry, 2023 | Employment | Pct Dist.
in Region | Earnings ($000) | Pct Dist.
In Region | Avg. Earnings Per Job |
|---|
| Total by place of work | 186,988 | 100.0% | $12,098,557 | 100.0% | $64,702 |
| Wage and Salary | 149,393 | 79.9% | $8,860,677 | 73.2% | $59,311 |
| Farm Proprietors | 4,782 | 2.6% | $149,707 | 1.2% | $31,306 |
| Nonfarm Proprietors | 32,813 | 17.5% | $1,141,128 | 9.4% | $34,777 |
| Farm | 5,499 | 2.9% | $198,057 | 1.6% | $36,017 |
| Nonfarm | 181,489 | 97.1% | $11,900,500 | 98.4% | $65,571 |
| Private | 160,732 | 86.0% | $10,538,196 | 87.1% | $65,564 |
| Accommodation, Food Serv. | 11,199* | 6.0%* | $355,038* | 2.9%* | $31,703* |
| Arts, Ent., Recreation | 2,798* | 1.5%* | $36,640* | 0.3%* | $13,095* |
| Construction | 9,481* | 5.1%* | $601,221* | 5.0%* | $63,413* |
| Health Care, Social Serv. | 12,145* | 6.5%* | $946,644* | 7.8%* | $77,945* |
| Information | 1,002* | 0.5%* | $64,018* | 0.5%* | $63,890* |
| Manufacturing | 42,114* | 22.5%* | $4,070,099* | 33.6%* | $96,645* |
| Professional, Tech. Serv. | 4,295* | 2.3%* | $271,517* | 2.2%* | $63,217* |
| Retail Trade | 18,762* | 10.0%* | $773,193* | 6.4%* | $41,211* |
| Trans., Warehousing | 8,763* | 4.7%* | $522,912* | 4.3%* | $59,673* |
| Wholesale Trade | 4,886* | 2.6%* | $668,500* | 5.5%* | $136,819* |
| Other Private (not above) | 35,356* | 18.9%* | $1,756,721* | 14.5%* | $49,687* |
| Government | 20,757 | 11.1% | $1,362,304 | 11.3% | $65,631 |
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 Region | Pct Dist.
in State | Cost ($000) | State Cost ($000) |
|---|
| Total Permits Filed | 935 | 100.0% | 100.0% | $254,123 | $8,133,071 |
| Single-Family | 895 | 95.7% | 75.4% | $250,078 | $6,951,719 |
| 2-Family | 24 | 2.6% | 1.9% | $3,244 | $100,498 |
| 3- and 4-Family | 16 | 1.7% | 0.8% | $800 | $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 Economic Growth Region 9
| Name | Population
in 2024 | Percent of Region |
|---|
| Aurora | 3,515 | 1.0% |
| Batesville | 7,353 | 2.2%* |
| Columbus | 51,970 | 15.3% |
| Greendale | 4,581 | 1.4% |
| Greensburg | 12,317 | 3.6% |
| Hanover | 3,827 | 1.1% |
| Lawrenceburg | 5,216 | 1.5% |
| Madison | 12,108 | 3.6% |
| North Vernon | 6,565 | 1.9% |
| Seymour | 22,524 | 6.6% |
| * This place crosses county lines, so only population in this region is shown. |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau annual population estimates
Hoosiers by the Numbers