RANK #106 / 996 · POP 66,560 · IN
PROJECTED GROWTH: +2.8%
Fairmount, a town within Grant County, Indiana, is notably the hometown of actor James Dean and cartoonist Jim Davis, creator of Garfield. The town embraces this heritage with museums dedicated to both figures and an annual James Dean Festival. Located in central Indiana, Grant County is approximately 90 minutes north of Indianapolis and less than an hour southwest of Fort Wayne. The community offers a blend of small-town atmosphere with access to larger city amenities. The Mississinewa River flows through the county, and outdoor recreation opportunities include the Mississinewa Riverwalk in Marion and access to the Cardinal Greenway, a long rail-trail. Life in Grant County is characterized by a focus on community and affordability. The county is home to several public school corporations, including Eastbrook, Madison-Grant, Marion, Mississinewa, and Oak Hill, as well as higher education institutions like Indiana Wesleyan University and Taylor University. Economically, the county has seen recent investment across various sectors. This includes revitalization projects in downtown areas and efforts to support local businesses and workforce development.
Well below national median
Harsh climate or flat terrain
Housing looks undervalued at 2.9x — home prices are low relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Alliant Energy Solar Project and Battery Energy Storage System
Alliant Energy
|
$300M | Operating |
|
Redfield Solar Project
Treaty Oak Clean Energy
|
$123M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Grant County has a Boom Town Index score of 89/100, ranking #106 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +1.4% and a median household income of $53,033, it's an above-average county on economic indicators.
The median home value in Grant County is $109,300 with median rent at $774/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.4852, which is more affordable than the national average.
Population growth: -0.4% year-over-year. Job growth: +1.4%. Home values changed +3.7% in the past 12 months.
Yes — 3.54% of Grant County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.