RANK #434 / 1001 NAT · #18 / 28 IN · POP 180,117
1YR FORECAST: +2.8%
5YR OUTLOOK: +18%
Vanderburgh County, Indiana, is home to Evansville, which features Bosse Field, the third-oldest ballpark used for professional baseball in the United States. Only Boston's Fenway Park and Chicago's Wrigley Field are older. Located in southwestern Indiana, Vanderburgh County is the state's eighth-smallest county by area, covering 236 square miles. The county seat, Evansville, sits on the Ohio River. Commuting within the county is generally efficient, with an average travel time of under 20 minutes. The Metropolitan Evansville Transit System (METS) provides fixed-route bus service and an on-demand rideshare option. The community offers access to outdoor recreation, including Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve, a large urban old-growth forest with nearly six miles of trails.
Vanderburgh County's quality of life is shaped by its community atmosphere and access to amenities. The Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation serves the county with public schools that are rated above average. The local economy is diverse, with a strong manufacturing base and a growing presence in the medical and finance sectors. Recent economic developments include strategic investments in infrastructure and job creation across the region. These efforts aim to enhance the quality of life for residents and attract new businesses. The area is seeing growth in high-income households, contributing to a shifting economic landscape.
Vanderburgh 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 +4.4% runs below the profile's typical +4.9%.
See all 145 Heartland Steady Growth counties →Below national median (11.3x)
Below-average climate & terrain
Below national median (15x)
Housing is fairly valued at 5.2x 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: Homicide rates from CDC/NCHS vital-statistics mortality data — a multi-year average that stabilizes counts in smaller counties — compiled in the County Health Rankings 2025 release. Rates per 100,000 population; U.S. average ≈ 6.5. Grade reflects homicide rate relative to the national average. Learn more →
See where Vanderburgh County stands nationally: safest large counties in America · highest homicide-rate counties.
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
I-69 Ohio River Crossing
State of Indiana (INDOT)
|
$1,140M | Under Construction |
|
Elliot BESS (Battery Energy Storage System)
RWE Americas
|
$300M | Proposed |
|
Bluegrass Creek Solar Project
Orion Renewable Energy Group
|
$200M | Proposed |
|
Southwest Indiana READI 2.0 Grant Funding
Southwest Indiana Regional Development Authority
|
$45M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
Vanderburgh County scores 56/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 1001 U.S. counties (#434). Median household income is $61,648 and job growth is running at +0.3%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.
Housing in Vanderburgh County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $184,000 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.34, with rents averaging $985/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Population and employment in Vanderburgh County are both close to flat — population +0.1% YoY and jobs +0.3%. Home values shifted +4.4% over the past 12 months. A steady-state county, neither expanding quickly nor shrinking.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 4.67% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Vanderburgh County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.