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Elkhart, IN

Photo: Wikipedia

Elkhart, IN

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Demographics

Majority WhiteSimpson's Diversity Index: 60
Population53,726
Foreign Born9.0%
Population Density1,883people per mi²
Median Age35.2 yrs
Demographics Trajectory
StableSince 2010, this city has held a relatively stable population and racial composition.
Current Race / Ethnicity Breakdown
Population Trends

Quality of Life

Overall Quality Of Life
A-
Great

A high quality of life with strong walkability, manageable living costs, healthy neighborhood signals, and solid amenity access.

Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.

Cost of Living

69/100

31% below national average

A+

The Real Cost of Living in Elkhart, Indiana

TierIndividualFamily (4)
Survival $16k$29k
Comfortable $25k$37k
Luxury $86k+$133k+
Elite (Top 5%) $101k+$156k+
Affordability Ratio

129%

The Hood Index™

A metric tracking the socioeconomic signals of the area.

A+
Hood Index scan area
Luxury Lean92%
RisksNeutralGrowth
Premium
40
Positive
18
Poor
5
Negative
0

Groceries

5 within 10 miles

0.3mi

Gas

20 within 10 miles

0.2mi

Hospital

12 within 20 miles

1.9mi

Airport

MDW — Midway International

92.6mi

Post Office

USPS — Elkhart, IN

0.9mi

Critical Amenities

Golf3Nearest 6.6 mi
Camping8Nearest 22.2 mi
Marina0Nearest 19.6 mi
Winery2Nearest 7.5 mi
Ice Rink0Nearest 10.7 mi
Gun Range1Nearest 5.7 mi

Affluence Level

Overall Affluence Grade
D
Soft

A below-average socioeconomic profile. Incomes, home values, and educational attainment trail the U.S., with higher poverty and unemployment.

Median HHI
$48k+2.9%
36% below US avg
Est. Avg Net Worth
$237k
64% below US avg
College Educated
17.5%
50% below US avg
WFH
2.6%
82% below US avg
Homeownership
52.7%
19% below US avg
Median Home
$127k
55% below US avg

Crime

Overall Crime Grade
C
Moderate

Crime rates similar to the national median for U.S. locations.

Crime Rate
24.3
Incidents per 1,000 residents
5yr Trend
−49.7%
Overall crime change since 2020

Violent Crime

5yr−53.3%
Homicide
0.04 / 1k Residents3% above state avg
Robbery
0.24 / 1k Residents6% above state avg
Aggravated Assault
5.61 / 1k Residents219% above state avg

Property Crime

5yr−46.1%
Burglary
3.52 / 1k Residents196% above state avg
Larceny-Theft
12.66 / 1k Residents82% above state avg
Motor Vehicle Theft
1.79 / 1k Residents39% above state avg
Source: FBI Crime Data · 2025

Political Climate

Cook PVI: R+13Leans Conservative

District shown is the primary district for this city’s centroid. Cities may span multiple districts.

Presidential Voting Trends for Elkhart, Indiana
Dem Rep
30%40%50%60%70%2000200420082012201620202024

Personal Sovereignty

Personal Sovereignty measures your capacity for self-reliance and independence with minimal government friction. Higher scores mean fewer barriers between you and the way you want to live... but it assumes you have the space you need and good neighbors.

Overall Sovereignty Grade
B
Self-Reliant

Viable for self-reliance. Generally workable, though some barriers may limit total independence.

State Policy

Tax Burden
B-
Fair9.3% of income
Property Rights
B
GoodIJ Grade B
Firearm Rights
A
GreatFPC Grade A
Homeschooling
A+
GreatNo notice required

Energy independence: Importer (35% of energy produced in-state)

Personal Liberty

Raw Milk
F
ProhibitedIllegal
Gambling Laws
A
Broadly OpenCasinos · Poker · Sportsbetting
Marijuana Laws
F
ProhibitedIllegal

Homesteading

Growing Season189 days240 frost-free
Annual Rainfall43.6"
Elevation741 ft

Strategic Assessment

Strategic Assessment grades tactical survivability using Joel Skousen's Strategic Relocation framework. Major population centers, blast zones, natural disasters, and border exposure all drive risk — lower exposure means a more defensible position in a crisis.

Learn more about Strategic Relocation ($)
Overall Strategic Grade
C-
Exposed

Meaningful friction. Expect exposure to either population pressure, blast zones, or natural disaster risk. Consider buying a retreat property.

Strategic Pillars

City Proximity
D-
Poor87 mi to nearest major city
Pop. Density
C-
Weak1,883/sq mi
Fallout Danger
A
Good2 within ~30 mi
Natural Disaster
F
PoorInland Flooding, Cold Wave, Tornado, Strong Wind, Hail
Border / Coast
A+
Greatborder 203 mi · coast 596 mi
FEMA Expected Loss$49.3M/yrfor the county

* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-04-22T09:09:50.000Z

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