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Living in
Elkhart.
About
Life in Elkhart
Moving to Elkhart means joining a working-class city with deep manufacturing roots that's actively rebuilding its economic identity. The RV and band instrument industries still matter here, but they're not everything anymore—you'll find pharmaceuticals, electronics manufacturing, and significant rail operations keeping the local economy moving. Housing is genuinely affordable; median home prices sit around $140,000 and rent averages $998 per month, which gives you real money left over.
Elkhart at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
35.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
18.2%
Foreign-Born
15.1%
Broadband Internet
90.0%
of households
Population Growth
+0.4%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics15.1% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Elkhart: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Elkhart, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (52.9%), and 21.1% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
26.3%
of residents
65 and Older
14.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
31.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
36.0%
of households
Married Couples
35.0%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.45
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 6% below IN average
Rent, home values, and income in Elkhart
In Elkhart, rent runs 6% below the IN average, and home values are 36% below the IN average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
43.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
24.3%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
90.3
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,198
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
53.2%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1965
median year built
Vacant Homes
14.6%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $229,980 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.7 pts above IN average
Unemployment in Elkhart
Unemployment in Elkhart is 0.7 percentage points higher than the IN average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Elkhart Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute18.5 min avg
How Elkhart residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Elkhart, most residents drive alone to work (75%), and 79% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 18 mi
South Bend International Airport (SBN)
Small hub552k passengers boarded in 2025
- 92 mi
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
Medium hub9.4M passengers boarded in 2025
- 101 mi
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
Major hub40.7M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 211% above national average
Crime rates for 2023
Older dataThe latest complete year reported to the FBI is 2023. It's compared with the national rate for 2023.
Violent crime in Elkhart runs 211% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
1,199.5
per 100,000 residents
Above average (386 national, 2023)
Property Crime Rate
3,206.1
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,951 national, 2023)
Elkhart Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 13 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
83.7 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Elkhart County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Elkhart County, which includes Elkhart, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 13 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | $378,500 |
| 2024 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $752,500 |
| 2023 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | $171,500 |
| 2022 | 13 | Winter Weather | $30,000 |
| 2021 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $35,500 |
| 2020 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 21 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.2M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Elkhart County, county-wide
Air Quality43 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Elkhart County, which includes Elkhart, is typically good — 222 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
43
Good Days
222
per year
Moderate Days
136
per year
Unhealthy Days
1
per year
Elkhart County, county-wide
Climate82°F summers, 21°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Elkhart has warm summers (avg high 82°F) and cold winters (avg low 21°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
60°/39°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
82°/61°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
62°/43°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
35°/21°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
40.2"
Annual Snowfall
36.9"
Hot Days/Year
12
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
125
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
144
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 32°F | 18°F | 2.78" |
| Feb | 36°F | 20°F | 2.33" |
| Mar | 47°F | 29°F | 2.44" |
| Apr | 60°F | 39°F | 3.79" |
| May | 72°F | 50°F | 4.27" |
| Jun | 80°F | 60°F | 4.12" |
| Jul | 83°F | 63°F | 3.99" |
| Aug | 81°F | 61°F | 4.05" |
| Sep | 75°F | 54°F | 3.27" |
| Oct | 63°F | 43°F | 3.33" |
| Nov | 48°F | 33°F | 2.96" |
| Dec | 37°F | 24°F | 2.52" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Elkhart
Elkhart has 1 hospital, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
12.0%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Elkhart General Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Oaklawn Psychiatric Center Inc.
Psychiatric · 8.9 mi away · Goshen
Medical Behavioral Hospital - Mishawaka
Psychiatric · 10.2 mi away · Mishawaka
Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 11 mi away · Mishawaka
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education14.7:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Elkhart
Elkhart's student/teacher ratio is 14.7:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 17.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
18
within city limits
Private Schools
3
within city limits
College Degree Rate
17.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.7:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Elkhart (within 15 miles)
Public · 4-year · 3,933 students · in-state tuition $8,424 · 41% graduate · median earnings $50,051 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,008 students · in-state tuition $35,380 · 59% graduate · median earnings $54,006 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 773 students · in-state tuition $40,060 · 61% graduate · median earnings $61,420 (10 yrs after entry)
John Patrick University of Health and Applied Sciences
14.9 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 2-year · 480 students · in-state tuition $24,500 · 92% graduate
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Indiana Dunes National Park, 59 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Elkhart
Elkhart has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Indiana Dunes National Park (59 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Indiana Dunes National Park
National Park
59 mi awayPullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
85 mi awayPublic Libraries in Elkhart
Elkhart Public Library
300 South Second Street, Elkhart
Osolo Branch Library
3429 East Bristol Street, Elkhart
Pierre Moran Branch Library
2400 Benham Avenue, Elkhart
Cities Near Elkhart
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Elkhart?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Elkhart FAQ
Is Elkhart, Indiana affordable?⌄
Elkhart's median rent is $998/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $51,028/year. Median home value is $139,500.
Is Elkhart, Indiana safe?⌄
Elkhart's violent crime rate was 1200 per 100,000 residents in 2023, which is significantly above the national average of 386/100k that year. Property crime rate is 3206 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Elkhart, Indiana?⌄
Elkhart has an unemployment rate of 4.4%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Elkhart, Indiana?⌄
The cost of living in Elkhart is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $998/month and median household income is $51,028/year. The median home value is $139,500. About 44% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Elkhart, Indiana?⌄
The average commute in Elkhart is 19 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from