Delaware County is located in east-central Indiana, centered on the city of Muncie and extending across predominantly agricultural and small-town areas along the White River drainage. Created in 1827 and named for the Delaware (Lenape) people, the county developed in the 19th and early 20th centuries around farming and manufacturing, with later growth tied to education and health services. Delaware County is mid-sized in population, with roughly 110,000 residents, and functions as a regional hub for surrounding rural communities. Its landscape includes flat to gently rolling glacial plains, river corridors, and a mix of row-crop farmland and urbanized neighborhoods around Muncie. The local economy reflects a combination of higher education, medical services, light manufacturing, retail, and agriculture. Cultural and civic life is strongly influenced by Ball State University and longstanding industrial and labor traditions. The county seat is Muncie.

Delaware County Local Demographic Profile

Delaware County is located in east-central Indiana and includes the city of Muncie, the county seat. It is part of the broader Indianapolis–Muncie regional corridor in the central portion of the state.

Population Size

Age & Gender

Racial & Ethnic Composition

  • The U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts provides the following county-level composition (categories and shares as reported by the Census Bureau; totals may not sum to 100% due to rounding and separate Hispanic/Latino ethnicity reporting):
    • White alone: ~84–85%
    • Black or African American alone: ~8%
    • Asian alone: ~1%
    • American Indian and Alaska Native alone: ~0.3%
    • Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone: ~0.1%
    • Two or more races: ~4–5%
    • Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~3%

Household & Housing Data

  • Households: The U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts reports about 46,000 households in Delaware County (most recently published ACS-based value on QuickFacts).
  • Homeownership: QuickFacts reports an owner-occupied housing unit rate of roughly two-thirds (about 66–68%).
  • Housing units: QuickFacts reports about 52,000 housing units (ACS-based count published on QuickFacts).

Local Government Reference

Email Usage

Delaware County, Indiana includes the Muncie urban area and surrounding lower-density townships, where population dispersion and last‑mile infrastructure shape digital communication access and reliance on email.

Direct county-level email usage statistics are not published; broadband and device availability from the U.S. Census Bureau (ACS) are commonly used proxies because email adoption generally requires reliable internet and a computer or smartphone. ACS tables on broadband internet subscription and computer/Internet access indicate the share of households positioned to use email regularly, while gaps in these indicators reflect likely barriers.

Age composition influences email adoption through differing digital habits and service needs; ACS age distribution data show the county’s balance of college-age residents (Ball State University presence) and older adults, two groups with distinct email usage patterns in education, healthcare, and government communication. Gender distribution is typically near-parity in ACS estimates and is less predictive of email access than age and connectivity.

Infrastructure limitations are reflected in uneven broadband availability between the city core and rural areas; national availability mapping from the FCC National Broadband Map is a primary reference for identifying underserved locations.

Mobile Phone Usage

Delaware County is located in east‑central Indiana and includes the city of Muncie as its primary population center. The county combines an urbanized core (Muncie and adjacent suburbs) with surrounding lower‑density townships and small towns. This settlement pattern typically produces stronger mobile coverage and higher broadband competition near the urban core, with greater variability in signal quality and provider choice in outlying areas. The county’s terrain is largely flat to gently rolling, so coverage differences are more closely tied to tower spacing, land use, and infrastructure placement than to major topographic obstructions.

Key distinction: network availability vs. adoption

Network availability describes where mobile providers report service and where coverage models indicate service could be received. Adoption describes whether residents actually subscribe to mobile service, use mobile data, or rely on mobile as their primary internet connection. County-level adoption statistics are often limited compared with coverage data; where Delaware County–specific adoption measures are unavailable, the most defensible sources are state- or tract-level survey products and federal broadband/adoption datasets.

Mobile penetration and access indicators (adoption)

County-specific “mobile phone penetration” is not typically published as a standalone metric. The most widely used adoption indicators for local areas come from:

  • American Community Survey (ACS) internet subscription tables, which measure household internet subscription types (including cellular data plans) and device availability at the household level. These data support county estimates and finer geographies (tract/block group) depending on the table and release. The ACS is accessible via Census.gov data tools.
    • Relevant ACS concepts include “Cellular data plan” subscriptions and device categories such as smartphones and computers (table availability varies by year and release).
  • NTIA Internet Use Survey (national/state) provides detailed mobile internet use behaviors, but it is not designed for county-level estimates. Reference: NTIA Internet Use Survey.

County-level limitation: Delaware County–specific rates for “smartphone ownership” or “mobile-only internet households” are not consistently available as official county estimates outside ACS internet subscription/device tables. For a county-specific adoption baseline, ACS remains the primary authoritative source.

Mobile internet usage patterns and network generations (availability)

4G LTE and 5G availability (reported coverage)

For Delaware County, the most authoritative, comparable public source for mobile broadband availability is the FCC’s mobile coverage data (provider-reported and model-based) shown in national maps:

  • The FCC provides nationwide mobile broadband availability and provider coverage layers through the FCC National Broadband Map. This is the primary public tool for differentiating where 4G LTE and 5G are reported as available and for identifying provider footprints.

Interpretation notes for FCC mobile availability data

  • The FCC map primarily reflects reported availability and modeled coverage, not measured user experience. Real-world performance varies with congestion, indoor signal penetration, device capability, and local network configuration.
  • Availability at a location does not imply all residents subscribe or that service meets performance expectations at all times.

Typical county pattern (urban core vs. outlying areas)

Public coverage maps generally show:

  • More complete and overlapping coverage near Muncie and major transportation corridors, where tower density and backhaul infrastructure are typically higher.
  • More variable coverage and fewer overlapping provider footprints in lower-density townships and agricultural areas, where greater inter-site distance can reduce indoor coverage reliability, especially at higher-frequency 5G bands.

Because the FCC map is location- and provider-specific, the county’s best practice characterization is to treat 4G LTE as broadly available in populated areas, while 5G availability depends on provider deployments and spectrum layers (low-band vs. mid-band vs. high-band), which are not uniformly represented at the same effective range.

Common device types (smartphones vs. other devices)

County-specific device-type distributions are not commonly published as standalone local statistics. The most defensible sources describing device types at household level are:

  • ACS household device measures (when available in the relevant year/table), which can indicate the share of households with smartphones and other computing devices. Access via Census.gov.
  • National/state surveys (e.g., NTIA) that describe smartphone prevalence and mobile internet use behaviors, but do not provide county estimates: NTIA Internet Use Survey.

What can be stated without overreach

  • Smartphones are the dominant personal mobile device category in the United States, and Delaware County adoption patterns are most credibly inferred through ACS household device/internet subscription tables rather than generalized claims.
  • Non-phone mobile internet devices (tablets, mobile hotspots, fixed wireless receivers, and laptops with cellular modems) are typically captured indirectly through “cellular data plan” subscription categories and device-ownership tables in ACS where available.

Demographic and geographic factors influencing mobile usage

Population density and settlement pattern

  • Delaware County’s mixed urban–rural structure influences both coverage economics and user experience. Higher-density areas support more cell sites and capacity upgrades, which generally improves indoor coverage and peak-hour performance.
  • Lower-density areas often have fewer sites per square mile, increasing the importance of low-band spectrum for coverage and increasing the likelihood of performance variability at the cell edge.

Income, age, and education (adoption correlates; county-specific values require ACS)

Nationally and within states, mobile adoption and mobile-only internet reliance are correlated with socioeconomic factors (income, age distribution, educational attainment). For Delaware County, authoritative county-specific values for these correlates come from ACS demographic profiles and detailed tables via Census.gov. Direct county-level smartphone ownership rates are not consistently published outside those frameworks.

Institutional anchors and commuting

  • Muncie’s role as an employment and service hub increases daytime network demand in and around the urban core and along commuter routes, affecting congestion patterns more than raw availability.
  • Large institutions and commercial corridors tend to receive earlier capacity upgrades, which can influence where higher-performance mobile broadband is experienced, even when broader “availability” appears similar on coverage maps.

Public sources for Delaware County–relevant mobile and broadband context

Data limitations and what can be stated definitively

  • Definitive at county scale: Reported mobile broadband availability and provider footprints can be examined at location level using the FCC map; county adoption and device access can be measured using ACS household internet subscription/device tables.
  • Not definitively available at county scale from standard public datasets: A single official “mobile penetration” percentage, measured smartphone ownership rates, and detailed breakdowns of 4G vs. 5G usage (as opposed to availability) specifically for Delaware County. Usage by generation is generally captured in provider analytics and proprietary datasets rather than county-level public statistics.

Social Media Trends

Delaware County is in east‑central Indiana and is anchored by Muncie (home to Ball State University). The county’s mix of a college population, health care and education employers, and proximity to the Indianapolis region tends to support broad smartphone and social app adoption, with younger adults and students typically showing the highest day‑to‑day usage intensity.

User statistics (penetration / share active)

  • County-specific social media penetration: No recurring, representative public dataset reports social media active-user penetration specifically for Delaware County, Indiana. Publicly available county profiles (including U.S. Census products) do not directly publish “active social media user” metrics.
  • Best-available benchmark (U.S. adults): About 69% of U.S. adults report using at least one social media site, providing the most common baseline for local context (Pew Research Center: Social Media Fact Sheet).
  • Related local context signals (adoption enablers): Internet access and smartphone access strongly track social media reach. County-level connectivity metrics are available through federal and state broadband and digital equity reporting, but they are not direct measures of social-platform activity.

Age group trends (who uses social media most)

National survey patterns (commonly used for local planning where county-specific surveys are unavailable) show the strongest concentration among younger adults:

  • 18–29: Highest usage across most major platforms (YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok) and heavy daily engagement (Pew Research Center platform-by-age tables).
  • 30–49: Broad multi-platform usage; Facebook remains relatively strong; YouTube typically reaches a large majority.
  • 50–64 and 65+: Lower usage than younger groups, with platform choices skewing toward YouTube and Facebook and away from TikTok/Snapchat (Pew Research Center social media trends).

Local implication for Delaware County: The presence of Ball State University in Muncie generally increases the share of residents in the 18–24 range compared with many rural counties, a demographic that national surveys consistently show as the most active and multi-platform.

Gender breakdown

County-level gender splits for “active social media users” are not published in standard public datasets. Nationally, gender differences are platform-specific and generally modest overall:

  • Women are more likely than men to report using some platforms such as Pinterest and (in many surveys) Instagram.
  • Men are often more likely than women to report using platforms such as Reddit and some messaging/community platforms. Source: Pew Research Center: Social media use by gender.

Most-used platforms (percentages where available)

Using widely cited U.S. adult usage rates as a proxy baseline for expected platform reach in Delaware County:

Behavioral trends (engagement patterns and preferences)

  • Video-led consumption dominates: YouTube’s broad reach and TikTok’s growth align with a general shift toward short-form and on-demand video; younger adults drive the highest daily video engagement (Pew Research Center usage patterns).
  • Platform segmentation by life stage: Younger residents tend to concentrate communication and entertainment on Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok, while older cohorts maintain stronger continuity on Facebook and YouTube (Pew Research Center platform demographics).
  • Local-community information flows: In counties with a strong city anchor (Muncie) and campus-driven events, Facebook groups/pages and Instagram accounts commonly function as community bulletin channels; national research shows Facebook remains widely used for community and network updates even as some entertainment time shifts to video-first apps (Pew Research Center: Facebook and broader social media use).
  • Messaging and private sharing: National studies consistently show increasing reliance on private or semi-private sharing (DMs, group chats) alongside public posting, with younger users more likely to treat social apps as default communication tools (Pew Research Center: Social media behavior indicators).

Family & Associates Records

Delaware County, Indiana, maintains several categories of family and associate-related public records. Vital records (birth and death) are created and held at the state level by the Indiana Department of Health’s Vital Records office; county health departments commonly provide information and local access points for requests. Marriage licenses are recorded by the county clerk, and divorce records are filed in the county courts and managed through the clerk’s court record systems. Adoption records are generally sealed under Indiana law and accessed only through authorized processes, with limited public disclosure.

Public-facing databases include Delaware County court case access and docket information via the statewide portal operated by the Indiana Office of Judicial Administration: Indiana MyCase (statewide case search). Property-related associations (deeds, mortgages, plats) are recorded by the county recorder and may be searchable through the county’s recorder services and indexing tools: Delaware County Recorder. Some county offices also provide online resources and office contact details through the county portal: Delaware County, Indiana (official website).

In-person access is typically available during business hours at the courthouse/offices for recorded documents and many court files, subject to statutory confidentiality rules. Restrictions commonly apply to juvenile matters, adoptions, certain mental health proceedings, and protected personal identifiers (for example, Social Security numbers).

Marriage & Divorce Records

Types of records available

  • Marriage license records (and related marriage returns/certificates)
    Delaware County issues and retains records documenting the application for a marriage license and the recorded return (proof of solemnization) submitted by the officiant after the ceremony. These county records serve as the basis for certified copies of marriage documentation.

  • Divorce records (dissolution of marriage orders/decrees and case filings)
    Divorce in Indiana is handled as a civil court case (“dissolution of marriage”). The court maintains the case file, which typically includes the final dissolution decree and related orders.

  • Annulment records (marriage void/voidable determinations)
    Indiana recognizes marriages that are void (invalid by law) and voidable (may be declared invalid by a court). When a court action is filed to declare a marriage void/voidable, records are maintained as a civil court case file similar to divorce matters.

Where records are filed and how they can be accessed

  • Marriage records (county level)

    • Filed/maintained by: Delaware County Clerk’s Office as part of the county’s marriage licensing function (often within the Clerk’s records/Marriage License division).
    • Access: Requests for certified copies and searches are handled through the Clerk’s Office. Access is typically provided via in-person request, mail request, and, in many counties, through online request/ordering services.
    • State-level copies/indexing: The Indiana Department of Health (IDOH), Vital Records maintains statewide marriage documentation and can issue certified copies under state rules.
    • References:
  • Divorce and annulment court records (court level)

Typical information included in these records

  • Marriage license records

    • Full names of parties
    • Date and place of license issuance
    • Ages/birth dates (varies by era/form)
    • Residences/addresses at time of application (varies)
    • Names of parents (varies by era/form)
    • Officiant name and officiant credentials/title (from the return)
    • Date and location of solemnization (from the return)
    • Signatures and clerk certification/filing information
  • Divorce (dissolution) records

    • Court, case number, and filing date
    • Names of spouses/parties and counsel (where applicable)
    • Grounds/allegations consistent with Indiana dissolution practice (Indiana is no-fault; filings typically allege irretrievable breakdown)
    • Orders regarding property division, debts, and spousal maintenance (where applicable)
    • Orders regarding children: legal custody, parenting time, child support, and related findings (where applicable)
    • Final dissolution decree date and judge’s signature
    • Related filings: petitions, summons/service returns, motions, proposed orders, financial declarations (some may be restricted)
  • Annulment (void/voidable marriage) records

    • Court, case number, and filing date
    • Parties’ names
    • Alleged basis for void/voidable status and supporting filings
    • Final order declaring the marriage void/voidable (or denying relief)
    • Related orders involving property/children where applicable

Privacy or legal restrictions

  • Marriage records

    • Indiana treats many vital records as restricted to eligible requesters for certified copies under state law and IDOH rules. County clerks and IDOH generally require identification and a qualifying relationship or legal interest for certified copies, and may limit the information released in non-certified formats.
    • Some older marriage index information may be available for public inspection in office or via published/archival resources, while certified copies remain controlled by statute and policy.
  • Divorce and annulment court records

    • Indiana court records are governed by the Indiana Rules on Access to Court Records and confidentiality provisions in the Indiana Administrative Rules. Public access commonly includes docket information, parties, and many filings, but confidential records are excluded or redacted.
    • Common restrictions include: social security numbers, financial account numbers, certain protected addresses, juvenile information, child abuse/neglect information, medical and mental health records, and other categories designated confidential by rule or statute.
    • Courts may seal specific documents or restrict access by order, and remote access may be more limited than in-person access depending on document type and confidentiality classifications.

Education, Employment and Housing

Delaware County is in east‑central Indiana, anchored by Muncie and Ball State University, and forms part of the broader Indianapolis–Muncie labor and housing region. The county includes an urban core (Muncie), suburban areas (including Yorktown-adjacent development near the county line), and extensive rural townships. Population and community conditions are strongly shaped by higher‑education employment, health care, manufacturing/industrial logistics, and student/off‑campus rental housing near Ball State.

Education Indicators

Public school systems and schools (most complete public listing sources)

Delaware County’s public K–12 education is primarily provided by three districts:

  • Muncie Community Schools
  • Delaware Community School Corporation (Delta)
  • Wes-Del Community Schools

School names and counts change over time due to consolidations and reconfigurations. The most reliable current school-name rosters are maintained by district sites and the Indiana Department of Education’s directory. Use the Indiana DOE “School and Corporation Directory” for official school listings and addresses: Indiana Department of Education (navigate to the directory/search tools).

Student–teacher ratios and graduation rates

  • Student–teacher ratios: District-level ratios vary by corporation and year and are commonly reported through federal and state school profiles. Countywide ratios are typically in the mid‑teens to low‑20s students per teacher, reflecting a mix of larger Muncie schools and smaller rural/township campuses. For the most recent district figures, the most consistent sources are NCES district profiles: National Center for Education Statistics.
  • Graduation rates: Indiana reports a statewide “Graduation Pathways” aligned cohort graduation metric; Delaware County district graduation rates vary, with Delta and Wes‑Del typically above Muncie in recent years. For the most recent official rates by high school, use the state’s public school performance reporting: Indiana DOE Data Center and Reports.

(Note: A single countywide “public school graduation rate” is not consistently published as one number; the state reports at the school and corporation level.)

Adult educational attainment (ages 25+)

The most widely cited, regularly updated measures come from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS). Recent ACS profiles show Delaware County generally has:

  • A majority with at least a high school diploma (or equivalent)
  • A smaller share with a bachelor’s degree or higher than Indiana’s most highly educated metro counties, but elevated locally by the presence of Ball State University and education/health employment

For the most recent percentages (high school graduate or higher; bachelor’s degree or higher), use the county ACS profile tables via: data.census.gov (search “Delaware County, Indiana” and view “Educational Attainment”).

Notable academic and career programs (typical offerings)

Across the county’s high schools, commonly documented program categories include:

  • Advanced Placement (AP) / dual credit coursework (frequently delivered through partnerships with Indiana colleges)
  • Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathways (regional offerings typically include health sciences, manufacturing, IT, business, and trades)
  • STEM initiatives and project-based learning (often concentrated in comprehensive high schools and supported by regional workforce priorities)

The most comparable inventory of CTE structures and participation is maintained through Indiana’s CTE reporting and local district course catalogs. A statewide overview of CTE structure is available via: Indiana CTE information (state program pages).

School safety measures and counseling resources (standard district practices)

Delaware County districts generally follow Indiana’s K–12 safety and student support practices, including:

  • Controlled building access, visitor check-in procedures, and security protocols
  • School Resource Officer (SRO) or law-enforcement coordination in larger campuses (availability varies by district and budget)
  • Emergency preparedness planning and drills consistent with state guidance
  • Student services departments providing school counseling, academic planning, and referrals to community mental-health resources

Indiana’s statewide school safety framework and requirements are administered through: Indiana Safe Schools (IDHS). District counseling and mental health staffing levels are typically published in annual school/district profiles rather than as a single county statistic.

Employment and Economic Conditions

Unemployment rate (most recent year available)

The official, regularly updated source is the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS). Delaware County’s unemployment rate is best cited from:

(Note: The county unemployment rate changes monthly; the “most recent year” can be summarized using the latest annual average from LAUS. This response does not embed a numeric rate because the most recent annual value depends on the current release cycle; LAUS is the authoritative reference.)

Major industries and employment sectors

Employment in Delaware County is typically concentrated in:

  • Educational services (Ball State University is a major institutional employer)
  • Health care and social assistance (regional hospital/clinic systems and long-term care)
  • Manufacturing (including metal products, automotive-related supply chains, and industrial production typical of east‑central Indiana)
  • Retail trade and accommodation/food services (including student-driven demand in Muncie)
  • Transportation/warehousing and logistics (regional distribution activity along Indiana highway corridors)

Sector detail for the county is available from:

Common occupations and workforce breakdown

Common occupational groups in Delaware County generally include:

  • Education, training, and library occupations (higher education and K–12)
  • Healthcare practitioners/support
  • Office and administrative support
  • Production occupations (manufacturing)
  • Sales and related; food preparation and serving
  • Transportation and material moving

The most comparable occupational distribution for residents is published in ACS occupation tables on: data.census.gov.

Commuting patterns and mean commute time

Delaware County commuting reflects a mix of local employment (university, healthcare, schools, manufacturing) and regional commuting to adjacent counties. The county’s mean commute time and mode split (drive alone, carpool, transit, walk, work from home) are reported in ACS “Commuting (Journey to Work)” tables on: data.census.gov. In similar east‑central Indiana counties, mean commute times commonly fall in the low‑to‑mid 20‑minute range; the county’s published mean should be cited from the latest 1‑year or 5‑year ACS table.

Local employment versus out‑of‑county work

Commuting flows (where residents work versus where jobs are located) can be summarized using:

Delaware County typically shows:

  • A substantial share of residents working within the county (anchored by Muncie-based institutions and services)
  • Meaningful out‑commuting to nearby employment centers in east‑central Indiana and the Indianapolis region
  • In‑commuting into Muncie for university, hospital, and service-sector jobs

Housing and Real Estate

Homeownership and rental shares

Homeownership and renter occupancy are reported by the ACS “Tenure” tables for Delaware County on: data.census.gov. The county’s profile typically includes:

  • A majority owner-occupied housing stock, especially outside the Muncie core
  • A large rental segment in Muncie, influenced by student housing and lower-cost rental supply

(Note: A single countywide split is best taken directly from the latest ACS tenure table to avoid mixing city vs. county conditions.)

Median property values and recent trends

  • Median home value (owner-occupied) is published by ACS and is generally below Indiana’s highest-cost metro counties, with higher values in newer suburban-style areas and lower values in older housing stock neighborhoods in the Muncie core.
  • Recent trends: Like most Indiana counties, Delaware County experienced price appreciation from 2020–2023 in line with statewide and national housing-market trends, with normalization thereafter depending on interest rates and inventory.

For the most current median value (ACS) and comparable time-series:

  • ACS Median Value (Owner-Occupied) on data.census.gov
    For transaction-based market trends (non-ACS), commonly used references include state and realtor association market summaries; these are not uniform across counties in methodology and are best used as supplementary context rather than the primary baseline.

Typical rent prices

  • Median gross rent is reported in ACS tables and is strongly shaped by proximity to Ball State University and the quality/age of rental stock.
  • Countywide “typical rent” varies widely: student-oriented rentals near campus and older multi-family stock tend to differ from single-family rentals in suburban/rural areas.

Use the latest ACS “Median Gross Rent” estimate on: data.census.gov.

Types of housing and built environment

Delaware County housing stock is commonly characterized by:

  • Single-family detached homes as the dominant countywide form (especially outside Muncie)
  • Apartments and small multi-family buildings concentrated in Muncie and near campus corridors
  • Rural lots and farm-adjacent homes in outlying townships
  • A mix of older neighborhoods (pre-1970s housing) and newer subdivisions closer to major roads and school campuses outside the urban core

Neighborhood characteristics (schools and amenities)

  • Muncie: denser housing, more rentals near Ball State, closer access to major medical facilities, campus amenities, and busier commercial corridors
  • Smaller towns/townships: more owner-occupied single-family housing, larger lots, and longer drives to major retail/healthcare nodes
  • Proximity effects: areas nearer Ball State and major arterials typically show higher rental presence and turnover; areas with newer subdivisions and newer school facilities tend to show higher owner occupancy and higher median values

(Note: Neighborhood-level quantification requires tract-level ACS or local assessor/GIS data; countywide summaries do not capture block-by-block variation.)

Property tax overview (rate and typical homeowner cost)

Indiana property taxes are administered locally but constrained by constitutional caps (generally 1% of gross assessed value for homesteads, 2% for other residential, 3% for business, before credits and deductions). Effective tax bills depend on assessed value, local tax rates, and deductions/credits.

Authoritative references:

Because effective rates and typical bills vary substantially by township, school district, and deductions, a single county “average homeowner cost” is not consistently published as an official statistic; the most defensible approach is to cite:

  • The homestead cap (1%) as the statewide constraint, and
  • The local payable 202x tax rate from DLGF/county tax rate records for the relevant taxing district.

(Proxy note: In many Indiana counties, effective homestead property tax burdens commonly fall near the 1% cap only for higher-tax districts or higher assessed values after deductions; many homesteads pay below the cap due to deductions and credits.)