RANK #357 / 1001 NAT · #14 / 28 IN · POP 51,094
1YR FORECAST: +2.7%
5YR OUTLOOK: +31%
The Ohio River shapes Dearborn County, Indiana, both geographically and culturally, with the Dearborn Trail offering a paved pathway along its banks for walking, running, and cycling between the towns of Aurora, Lawrenceburg, and Greendale. Located in the southeastern corner of Indiana, the county borders Ohio and Kentucky, placing it within the Cincinnati metropolitan area. This proximity means a commute of about 20 minutes to Cincinnati and 15 minutes to the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. The community maintains a blend of rural character and historic architecture alongside suburban development.
Life in Dearborn County often involves a commute, with many residents traveling to Ohio or Kentucky for work. The county's public schools are generally rated above average. Recent economic activity includes investments in healthcare, with a new campus and cancer center in Greendale, and ongoing development in various sectors. The area also benefits from its natural setting, providing opportunities for outdoor recreation in its parks and along river valleys.
Dearborn County is one of 145 U.S. counties in this market profile — weaker than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +5.0% matches the profile's typical +4.9%.
See all 145 Heartland Steady Growth counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Below-average climate & terrain
Prices detached from rents
Housing looks overvalued at 15.4x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Linea Energy Solar Farm (Proposed)
Linea Energy
|
$1,200M | Proposed |
|
St. Elizabeth Healthcare Campus
St. Elizabeth Healthcare
|
$230M | Under Construction |
|
South Dearborn Regional Sewer District Treatment Plant Modernization
South Dearborn Regional Sewer District
|
$26M | Completed |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
With a Boom Town Index score of 64/100, Dearborn County sits in the upper half of all 1001 ranked counties. Employment is expanding at +2.8%, and median household income stands at $84,735 — indicators that suggest solid fundamentals even if it's not among the fastest-growing counties in IN.
Housing in Dearborn County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $243,400 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.35, with rents averaging $845/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Dearborn County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +0.5% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +2.8% clip — and home values reflect that momentum, rising +5.0% over the past 12 months.
Not particularly — 1.57% of Dearborn County's population moved in from another state, which is below the national average. Most residents are long-term locals rather than recent transplants.
Home values climbed +5.0% year-over-year, which is a solid pace of appreciation. The median home in Dearborn County is now valued at $243,400. That kind of growth typically reflects sustained demand rather than speculative frenzy.