County profile · Indiana
Elkhart County, IN market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in Elkhart County, each scored against other counties.
- Population, 2025
- 208,774
- +0.9% since 2020
- Households
- 72,309
- Median household income
- $68,561
- +20.2% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $210,400
- Jobs located here
- 133,676
- Highest market score
- 73
- Optometrists and eye care, #148 of 1,302 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Elkhart County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Elkhart County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
An estimated 208,774 people live in Elkhart County, in 72,309 households. Between 2020 and 2025, the population of Elkhart County grew 0.9%, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). The median household income in Elkhart County is $68,561 a year, 15% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 20.2% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in Elkhart County spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 109, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on child care and other personal services (63).
The highest Groundwork market scores in Elkhart County are for optometrists and eye clinics (73), physical therapy clinics (71) and nail salons (68). Elkhart County ranks #148 of 1,302 scored counties for optometrists and eye clinics.
Elkhart County is part of the Elkhart-Goshen metro area. For its number of households, Elkhart County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for gas stations (82% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for nail salons (52% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Elkhart County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Elkhart County with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optometrists and eye care | 73 | #148 of 1,302 | 21 | 2.9 | $4.7M | 149 | 10 |
| Physical therapy | 71 | #208 of 1,422 | 31 | 4.3 | $3.2M | 131 | 15 |
| Nail salons | 68 | #185 of 1,328 | 21 | 2.9 | $3.3M | 195 | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 66 | #131 of 777 | 8 | 1.1 | $7.3M | 179 | 16 |
| Convenience stores | 65 | #590 of 2,261 | 57 | 7.9 | $7.4M | 94 | 12 |
| Dry cleaners | 64 | #114 of 507 | 5 | 0.7 | $27.1M | 173 | 5 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 64 | #412 of 1,656 | 45 | 6.2 | $2.2M | 122 | 67 |
| Pest control | 60 | #219 of 699 | 6 | 0.8 | $14.2M | 139 | 5 |
| Funeral homes | 59 | #499 of 1,472 | 15 | 2.1 | $709K | 104 | 10 |
| Veterinarians | 59 | #514 of 1,485 | 21 | 2.9 | $2.7M | 100 | 17 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 59 | #708 of 2,087 | 77 | 10.6 | $1.8M | 138 | 34 |
| Gyms | 58 | #616 of 1,792 | 47 | 6.5 | $1.2M | 95 | 16 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 56 | #485 of 1,334 | 25 | 3.5 | $2.3M | 115 | 18 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 56 | #640 of 1,707 | 39 | 5.4 | $4.8M | 101 | 50 |
| Oil change and quick lube | 55 | #212 of 479 | 7 | 1.0 | $10.8M | 78 | 4 |
| Spas and skin care | 55 | #695 of 1,769 | 58 | 8.0 | $1.2M | 134 | 15 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 55 | #799 of 2,088 | 80 | 11.1 | $728K | 110 | 34 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 55 | #978 of 2,402 | 136 | 18.8 | $3.1M | 92 | 47 |
| Barbershops | 54 | #596 of 1,356 | 30 | 4.1 | $2.3M | 121 | 5 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 54 | #789 of 1,886 | 76 | 10.5 | $1.3M | 131 | 58 |
| Property management | 53 | #388 of 910 | 14 | 1.9 | Index only | 126 | 19 |
| Chiropractors | 52 | #674 of 1,490 | 38 | 5.3 | $2.6M | 108 | 29 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 52 | #1,044 of 2,385 | 258 | 35.7 | $265K | 124 | 64 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 52 | #1,053 of 2,210 | 124 | 17.1 | $1.1M | 124 | 45 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 51 | #977 of 2,063 | 67 | 9.3 | $4M | 107 | 37 |
| Hair salons | 51 | #1,114 of 2,339 | 146 | 20.2 | $468K | 109 | 42 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 51 | #1,138 of 2,394 | 505 | 69.8 | $194K | 127 | 184 |
| Child care and preschools | 49 | #850 of 1,611 | 33 | 4.6 | $800K | 80 | 30 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 49 | #1,217 of 2,405 | 353 | 48.8 | $753K | 113 | 135 |
| Pet businesses | 48 | #1,199 of 2,200 | 84 | 11.6 | $683K | 78 | 37 |
| Grocery stores | 47 | #1,108 of 2,070 | 48 | 6.6 | $8.8M | 95 | 35 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 47 | #1,305 of 2,405 | 659 | 91.1 | $403K | 109 | 334 |
| Electricians | 44 | #733 of 1,160 | 22 | 3.0 | $8.5M | 71 | 35 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 44 | #1,375 of 2,176 | 135 | 18.7 | Index only | 133 | 48 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 43 | #887 of 1,461 | 33 | 4.6 | $1.7M | 68 | 15 |
| Home repair trades | 43 | #1,370 of 2,057 | 93 | 12.9 | $2M | 83 | 109 |
| House cleaning | 42 | #553 of 847 | 12 | 1.7 | $7.1M | 111 | 49 |
| Pet stores | 42 | #627 of 974 | 19 | 2.6 | $3M | 67 | 5 |
| Tire shops | 42 | #980 of 1,530 | 39 | 5.4 | $1.9M | 77 | 17 |
| Insurance agencies | 42 | #1,397 of 2,272 | 87 | 12.0 | $1.3M | 107 | 58 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 42 | #1,433 of 2,222 | 98 | 13.6 | $2.7M | 89 | 158 |
| Real estate | 41 | #1,565 of 2,229 | 177 | 24.5 | Index only | 128 | 84 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | 40 | #234 of 325 | 8 | 1.1 | $12.2M | 50 | 5 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 40 | #1,296 of 1,889 | 71 | 9.8 | $3.7M | 90 | 48 |
| Pizza | 39 | #1,471 of 2,090 | 70 | 9.7 | $3.8M | 75 | 158 |
| Laundromats | 35 | #562 of 785 | 16 | 2.2 | $8.5M | 68 | 6 |
| Gas stations | 34 | #1,835 of 2,358 | 143 | 19.8 | $1.3M | 56 | 84 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 33 | #1,038 of 1,327 | 30 | 4.1 | $2.5M | 82 | 47 |
| Car washes and detailing | 32 | #1,179 of 1,451 | 49 | 6.8 | $1.5M | 61 | 15 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 31 | #759 of 887 | 26 | 3.6 | Index only | 96 | Under 3 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 29 | #1,595 of 1,771 | 64 | 8.9 | $1.3M | 79 | 143 |
| Roofing and gutters | 28 | #1,022 of 1,177 | 32 | 4.4 | $5.9M | 69 | 24 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 27 | #1,333 of 1,493 | 46 | 6.4 | $1.9M | 63 | 89 |
| Auto repair shops | 27 | #2,112 of 2,378 | 226 | 31.3 | $334K | 75 | 147 |
| Auto repair and car care | 24 | #2,197 of 2,401 | 423 | 58.5 | $178K | 66 | 188 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 0.3 | Index only | Too few | 5 |
Household spending in Elkhart County
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $75.5M | $1,044 | 109 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $192.7M | $2,664 | 103 |
| Food away from home | $265.8M | $3,676 | 90 |
| Groceries | $424.1M | $5,866 | 93 |
| Personal care products and services | $68.3M | $944 | 94 |
| Child care and other personal services | $26.4M | $365 | 63 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $58.2M | $806 | 82 |
| Medical and dental services | $97.8M | $1,353 | 105 |
| Pets | $57.4M | $793 | 87 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $135.3M | $1,871 | 91 |
| Vehicle insurance | $117.2M | $1,621 | 83 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $188.1M | $2,601 | 86 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $85.2M | $1,178 | 83 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $977.6M | $13,520 | 81 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in Elkhart County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 208,774+0.9% since 2020
- Households
- 72,309
- Median age
- 36.7
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 72%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.8
- Land area
- 463 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 447
- Median household income
- $68,561+20.2% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $89,471
- Median home value
- $210,400
- Jobs located here
- 133,676
- Daytime population
- 244,683Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Elkhart County?
These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of Elkhart County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Nearest counties in Indiana 8
- St. Joseph County, IN273,040 people
- LaGrange County, IN40,805 people
- Kosciusko County, IN80,442 people
- Marshall County, IN46,284 people
- Noble County, IN47,495 people
- Whitley County, IN34,618 people
- Fulton County, IN20,312 people
- Starke County, IN23,365 people
Questions
How fast is Elkhart County, IN growing?
Population estimates put Elkhart County at 208,774 people in 2025, up 0.9% since 2020, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 72,309 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 20.2%, before inflation.
How much do households in Elkhart County, IN spend?
Households in Elkhart County spend about $977.6M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $424.1M on groceries and $265.8M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in Elkhart County runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 109, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on child care and other personal services (63).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Elkhart County, IN?
Of the business types scored in Elkhart County, optometrists and eye clinics (73), physical therapy clinics (71) and nail salons (68) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For optometrists and eye clinics, that ranks #148 of 1,302 scored counties.
How does Elkhart County, IN compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in Elkhart County is $68,561, 15% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 0.9% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $210,400, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for gas stations (82% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for nail salons (52% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 55 of the 56 business types have a score in Elkhart County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Elkhart County. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
All markets in Indiana · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in Elkhart County?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of Elkhart County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.