County profile · Indiana
Starke County, IN market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in Starke County, each scored against other counties.
- Population, 2025
- 23,425
- +0.1% since 2020
- Households
- 8,983
- Median household income
- $63,960
- +25.0% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $157,700
- Jobs located here
- 4,099
- Highest market score
- 70
- Fast food and sandwich shops, #348 of 2,222 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Starke County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Starke 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 23,425 people live in Starke County, in 8,983 households. Population estimates put the population change in Starke County from 2020 to 2025 at +0.1%, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). The median household income in Starke County is $63,960 a year, 21% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 25.0% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in Starke County spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 118, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on child care and other personal services (51).
The highest Groundwork market scores in Starke County are for fast food and sandwich shops (70), medical and dental practices (66) and hair salons (64). Starke County ranks #348 of 2,222 scored counties for fast food and sandwich shops.
For its number of households, Starke County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for pet businesses (50% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for salons, barbers and spas (55% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Starke County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Starke 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 70 | #348 of 2,222 | 6 | 6.7 | $5M | 163 | 8 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 66 | #504 of 2,394 | 47 | 52.3 | $238K | 156 | 3 |
| Hair salons | 64 | #473 of 2,339 | 10 | 11.1 | $774K | 180 | Under 3 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 64 | #550 of 2,210 | 5 | 5.6 | $3.1M | 347 | Under 3 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 62 | #549 of 2,385 | 19 | 21.2 | $408K | 192 | Under 3 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 59 | #617 of 2,088 | 6 | 6.7 | $974K | 147 | Under 3 |
| Home repair trades | 58 | #654 of 2,057 | 7 | 7.8 | $3M | 125 | 9 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 58 | #832 of 2,405 | 70 | 77.9 | $427K | 115 | 22 |
| Auto repair and car care | 58 | #838 of 2,401 | 35 | 39.0 | $291K | 108 | 13 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 57 | #843 of 2,405 | 32 | 35.6 | $933K | 141 | 13 |
| Auto repair shops | 51 | #1,138 of 2,378 | 21 | 23.4 | $485K | 109 | 12 |
| Pizza | 46 | #1,198 of 2,090 | 9 | 10.0 | $3.3M | 65 | 8 |
| Insurance agencies | 46 | #1,262 of 2,272 | 14 | 15.6 | $1.2M | 93 | 5 |
| Gas stations | 46 | #1,358 of 2,358 | 14 | 15.6 | $1.9M | 80 | 12 |
| Convenience stores | 43 | #1,361 of 2,261 | 8 | 8.9 | $6.2M | 79 | Under 3 |
| Grocery stores | 41 | #1,319 of 2,070 | 6 | 6.7 | $8.3M | 90 | 4 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 41 | #1,543 of 2,402 | 19 | 21.2 | $2.6M | 78 | 6 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 38 | #1,353 of 1,889 | 7 | 7.8 | $4.3M | 103 | Under 3 |
| Real estate | 37 | #1,770 of 2,229 | 16 | 17.8 | Index only | 163 | Under 3 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 34 | #1,389 of 1,707 | 5 | 5.6 | $4.2M | 89 | 9 |
| Funeral homes | 30 | #1,221 of 1,472 | 6 | 6.7 | $248K | 37 | 4 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 29 | #1,613 of 1,771 | 10 | 11.1 | $968K | 58 | 8 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 29 | #2,042 of 2,176 | 16 | 17.8 | Index only | 130 | Under 3 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 27 | #1,833 of 2,063 | 10 | 11.1 | $3M | 81 | Under 3 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 24 | #1,395 of 1,493 | 6 | 6.7 | $1.6M | 55 | 8 |
| Pet businesses | 19 | #2,124 of 2,200 | 14 | 15.6 | $455K | 52 | Under 3 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 15 | #1,418 of 1,461 | 6 | 6.7 | $1.1M | 42 | Under 3 |
| Child care and preschools | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 4.5 | $661K | 66 | Under 3 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 4.5 | $2.5M | 83 | 4 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 4.5 | $2.8M | 285 | 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 4.5 | $2.4M | 38 | Under 3 |
| Physical therapy | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 4.5 | $2.8M | 116 | Under 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 4.5 | $2.8M | 157 | Under 3 |
| Barbershops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.3 | $2.6M | 137 | Under 3 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.3 | $5.1M | 400 | Under 3 |
| Gyms | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.3 | $1.9M | 150 | Under 3 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.3 | $1.9M | 97 | Under 3 |
| Spas and skin care | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.3 | $2.6M | 295 | Under 3 |
| Nail salons | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.2 | $3.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Veterinarians | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.2 | $3.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Chiropractors | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.1 | $11.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.1 | $21.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.1 | $15.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Optometrists and eye care | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.1 | $11.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.1 | $6.4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.1 | $21.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Car washes and detailing | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Tire shops | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in Starke 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 | $10.2M | $1,135 | 118 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $26.7M | $2,972 | 114 |
| Food away from home | $29.9M | $3,325 | 82 |
| Groceries | $49.9M | $5,559 | 88 |
| Personal care products and services | $7.7M | $862 | 86 |
| Child care and other personal services | $2.6M | $294 | 51 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $5.8M | $651 | 66 |
| Medical and dental services | $11.2M | $1,246 | 97 |
| Pets | $6.4M | $710 | 78 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $15.3M | $1,698 | 83 |
| Vehicle insurance | $16.3M | $1,813 | 93 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $21.2M | $2,362 | 78 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $9.7M | $1,077 | 76 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $113M | $12,584 | 76 |
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 Starke County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 23,425+0.1% since 2020
- Households
- 8,983
- Median age
- 42.1
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 83%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.0
- Land area
- 309 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 76
- Median household income
- $63,960+25.0% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $74,205
- Median home value
- $157,700
- Jobs located here
- 4,099
- Daytime population
- 17,225Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Starke 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 Starke County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
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- White County, IN24,717 people
Questions
How fast is Starke County, IN growing?
Population estimates put Starke County at 23,425 people in 2025, up 0.1% since 2020, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 8,983 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 25.0%, before inflation.
How much do households in Starke County, IN spend?
Households in Starke County spend about $113M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $49.9M on groceries and $29.9M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in Starke County runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 118, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on child care and other personal services (51).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Starke County, IN?
Of the business types scored in Starke County, fast food and sandwich shops (70), medical and dental practices (66) and hair salons (64) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For fast food and sandwich shops, that ranks #348 of 2,222 scored counties.
How does Starke County, IN compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in Starke County is $63,960, 21% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 0.1% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $157,700, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for pet businesses (50% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for salons, barbers and spas (55% 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. 27 of the 56 business types have a score in Starke 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 Starke 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.
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Screening a site or an acquisition in Starke 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 Starke 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.