Perry County is located in south-central Indiana along the Ohio River, bordering Kentucky to the south. Established in 1814 and named for Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, it developed as part of the state’s river-oriented frontier region, with towns historically tied to steamboat traffic and timber and mineral extraction. The county is small in population, with roughly 19,000 residents, and remains predominantly rural. Its landscape is defined by rugged, forested hills of the Crawford Upland and extensive public lands, including portions of the Hoosier National Forest. The local economy includes manufacturing, agriculture, forestry-related activity, and services centered in its towns. Outdoor recreation and river and upland natural features are significant elements of local identity. The county seat is Tell City, a planned 19th-century river town that functions as the primary population and commercial center.

Perry County Local Demographic Profile

Perry County is located in south-central Indiana along the Ohio River, bordering Kentucky, and is part of the broader Southern Indiana region. The county seat is Tell City, which serves as the county’s primary population and service center.

Population Size

According to the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts for Perry County, Indiana, Perry County had an estimated population of 19,146 (2023). The same source reports a 2020 population of 19,170.

Age & Gender

County-level age and sex distributions are published by the U.S. Census Bureau through its QuickFacts and American Community Survey profile products. According to U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, Perry County’s population is reported across standard age groupings (including under 18, 18–64, and 65+) and by sex (male/female); the latest county-level shares are available directly in the QuickFacts table for Perry County.

Racial & Ethnic Composition

According to the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts demographic characteristics table, Perry County reports racial categories including (at minimum) White, Black or African American, American Indian and Alaska Native, Asian, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, and Two or More Races, as well as ethnicity for Hispanic or Latino (of any race). The most current county-level percentages for each category are provided in the QuickFacts table.

Household Data

The U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts county profile includes core household measures such as:

  • Number of households
  • Average household size
  • Owner-occupied housing rate
  • Median value of owner-occupied housing units
  • Median gross rent
  • Housing units total

These indicators are presented in the QuickFacts table under “Housing and Households.”

Housing Data

Housing stock and occupancy characteristics for Perry County are provided in the “Housing and Households” section of the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts profile, including total housing units and owner-occupancy. For local government and planning resources, visit the Perry County government page (State of Indiana county portal).

Email Usage

Perry County, Indiana is largely rural with small towns and lower population density, which typically reduces competition among internet providers and can limit last‑mile infrastructure—factors that shape how consistently residents can access email.

Direct, county-level email usage statistics are not published in standard federal datasets; email adoption is therefore inferred from digital access proxies. The most relevant indicators come from the U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey), including household broadband subscription and computer availability, which are closely associated with routine email use. Areas with lower broadband subscription or lower computer access generally face higher barriers to reliable email access, particularly for tasks requiring attachments, account verification, or multi-factor authentication.

Age structure also influences adoption: older populations tend to report lower use of online communication tools and may rely more on in‑person or phone contact. County age distributions from the American Community Survey provide context for likely email uptake and support needs.

Gender distribution is generally a weak predictor of email use relative to age and access, but county demographics are available via the Census Bureau.

Connectivity constraints can be further contextualized using broadband availability data from the FCC National Broadband Map.

Mobile Phone Usage

Perry County is a predominantly rural county in southern Indiana along the Ohio River, with extensive forested and hilly terrain (including areas adjacent to Hoosier National Forest) and a low population density relative to Indiana’s metropolitan counties. These physical and settlement characteristics commonly constrain mobile network design by increasing the number of sites needed for continuous coverage, particularly outside towns and along winding river-valley and ridge-and-hollow road networks. Baseline population and housing context is available from the U.S. Census Bureau’s county profile pages such as Census.gov QuickFacts for Perry County, Indiana.

County context and data limitations (what is and is not measured at county level)

County-level statistics rarely separate (1) network availability (where a provider reports service can be received) from (2) adoption (whether households subscribe and regularly use mobile service). For Perry County specifically:

  • Network availability is best documented through provider-reported coverage maps and modeled availability datasets, primarily the FCC’s Broadband Data Collection (BDC) and related map products.
  • Household adoption and device ownership are generally published at the state level (Indiana) or for larger geographies; county-level estimates for smartphone ownership, 4G/5G usage share, and “mobile-only internet” households are often not published directly for a single county.

Primary sources used for separating these concepts include the FCC National Broadband Map (BDC) for availability and the American Community Survey (ACS) for household technology and subscription indicators (often requiring custom tables and sometimes not stable at small geographies).

Network availability in Perry County (coverage where service is reported)

Availability describes where service is reported or modeled as usable, not whether residents subscribe or experience consistent performance.

4G/LTE availability

  • 4G/LTE is typically the baseline mobile broadband layer across rural Indiana counties. In Perry County, LTE coverage is generally concentrated along incorporated places and major corridors, with more variable service in heavily wooded, hilly, or remote areas.
  • The most authoritative nationwide public dataset for reported coverage and provider offerings is the FCC National Broadband Map, which allows location-based checks and provider comparisons. The FCC map is built from provider filings and can overstate real-world usability in difficult terrain; this is a known limitation of modeled and reported coverage.

5G availability (including “5G NR” and higher-band deployments)

  • 5G availability is often uneven in rural counties, with service more likely near town centers and along higher-traffic routes. Higher-frequency 5G layers (often marketed as very high speed) generally require denser site placement and are less common outside urban areas.
  • The FCC map remains the main public reference for where providers report 5G-capable service by location. The map’s “Technology” and provider layers distinguish mobile broadband technologies and can be used to identify whether 5G is reported at specific points in Perry County: FCC National Broadband Map.

Terrain and coverage reliability considerations (availability vs. usable connectivity)

  • Hills, forest canopy, and river-valley topography can reduce line-of-sight and increase signal attenuation, producing pockets of weak coverage even where a provider reports availability.
  • Indoor coverage can be substantially weaker than outdoor coverage in rural areas due to longer distances from cell sites and building materials. Public coverage datasets generally do not guarantee indoor performance.

Actual household adoption and access (what residents subscribe to and use)

Adoption describes whether households have subscriptions and devices, not whether networks exist. County-specific adoption indicators are limited; the most consistent approach is to use Census/ACS household technology tables and interpret them carefully.

Household internet subscription and device indicators (ACS-based)

  • The ACS includes measures such as presence of a broadband subscription and computer/device ownership (including smartphones) at various geographies. County-level estimates may be available for some indicators, but margins of error can be large in sparsely populated counties.
  • The ACS is accessed through tools such as data.census.gov and documentation at the ACS program site.
  • Limitation: ACS “smartphone” and “cellular data plan” indicators typically do not directly quantify 4G vs. 5G usage, and they do not measure signal quality. They measure subscriptions and devices present in households.

Mobile-only reliance (cellular as primary home internet)

  • Rural counties with limited wired broadband in some areas often show some degree of cellular-only or cellular-primary internet reliance, but a defensible Perry-County-specific percentage requires extracting the relevant ACS table(s) for the county and reporting the estimate with margins of error.
  • Limitation: Without presenting a specific ACS table extract, a county-specific mobile-only figure cannot be stated definitively.

Mobile internet usage patterns (4G vs. 5G usage) and typical constraints

County-level “usage patterns” (share of users on 4G vs. 5G, average mobile data consumption, or time on network) are generally not published as official statistics for a single county. What can be stated using public datasets is the distinction between availability and likely usage drivers:

  • 4G/LTE remains the most universally usable layer in rural terrain because it is more mature and typically has broader geographic reach than higher-frequency 5G layers.
  • 5G usage is constrained by where 5G is available and usable, and by device ownership (5G-capable phones). Even in areas with reported 5G availability, users may spend substantial time on LTE due to signal strength, indoor conditions, or network configuration.
  • For availability verification by specific location in Perry County, the definitive public tool is the FCC National Broadband Map.

Common device types (smartphones vs. other devices)

  • Smartphones are the dominant mobile access device in the United States, and the ACS explicitly tracks smartphone presence in households (as part of household device and internet subscription questions).
  • Other device categories relevant to mobile connectivity include:
    • Mobile hotspots (standalone hotspot devices or phone tethering) used for home connectivity in areas lacking wired broadband
    • Tablets and laptops that connect via Wi‑Fi to a phone/hotspot
    • IoT devices (e.g., connected sensors), which are not typically captured well in household survey measures
  • Limitation: County-level breakdowns of device types (smartphones vs. flip phones vs. hotspots) are not routinely published as official statistics for a single county. The most credible public indicator available at county scale is ACS household device presence, where available via data.census.gov.

Demographic and geographic factors influencing mobile usage in Perry County

Rural settlement pattern and distance to infrastructure

  • Lower population density tends to reduce the economic incentive for dense cell-site grids, influencing coverage continuity and capacity (how well the network performs during busy hours).
  • The county’s dispersed housing outside towns increases the importance of propagation across uneven terrain and backhaul availability for tower sites.

Terrain, land cover, and the Ohio River corridor

  • Forested hills and ridges can create coverage shadows. River corridors often concentrate roads and settlements, which can lead to stronger service along those routes compared with upland or interior forested areas.
  • These factors mainly affect network usability rather than subscription demand, though they can influence satisfaction and willingness to rely on mobile-only internet.

Income, age structure, and commuting patterns (data source constraints)

  • Demographic variables such as income, age distribution, and educational attainment influence smartphone ownership and mobile data use, but county-specific relationships require county-level demographic tables paired with adoption indicators from ACS.
  • Official demographic baselines for the county are available via Census.gov QuickFacts. However, QuickFacts alone does not provide a complete mobile adoption profile.

Public sources for verification (availability vs. adoption)

Summary: what can be stated definitively for Perry County

  • Availability: Public, location-specific mobile broadband availability in Perry County is best verified through the FCC National Broadband Map; rural terrain and low density are structural factors associated with uneven real-world coverage in parts of the county.
  • Adoption: Household adoption and device presence are best supported by ACS household technology and subscription tables, accessed via data.census.gov; county-level estimates may be available but can carry substantial margins of error and do not identify 4G vs. 5G usage shares.
  • Usage patterns and device mix: County-specific breakdowns of 4G vs. 5G usage and detailed device type shares are not typically published in official public datasets; only higher-level or proxy indicators (reported availability, household smartphone presence, household internet subscription types) can be stated without unsupported inference.

Social Media Trends

Perry County is a rural county in southern Indiana along the Ohio River, with Tell City as the county seat and largest population center. The area’s small-town settlement pattern, commuting ties to nearby regional labor markets, and a mix of manufacturing and service employment are consistent with communication habits that emphasize mobile access, locally oriented Facebook community activity, and practical information-sharing.

User statistics (penetration and active use)

  • County-specific social media penetration is not published in major national datasets; standard sources report results at the U.S. level (and sometimes by broad region), not at the county level. The most defensible way to describe Perry County is to reference U.S. benchmarks and apply them as context for a rural Midwestern county.
  • Overall U.S. adult social media use: About 69% of U.S. adults report using at least one social media site (Pew Research Center). Source: Pew Research Center social media fact sheet.
  • Internet access as a practical ceiling on social media use: Rural areas tend to report lower home broadband adoption than urban/suburban areas, which commonly increases reliance on smartphones for social access. Source: Pew Research Center internet/broadband fact sheet.

Age group trends (who uses social media most)

National survey patterns strongly indicate that younger adults are the most active social media users, with use decreasing by age:

Interpretation for Perry County: the county’s age distribution and rural geography typically correspond with heavier reliance on Facebook among older adults, and stronger Instagram/Snapchat/TikTok presence among younger residents, consistent with national age gradients.

Gender breakdown

Pew’s U.S. adult platform data generally shows modest gender differences overall, with clearer differences by platform (for example, Pinterest skews female; some platforms skew male). Platform-by-platform gender splits are summarized here: Pew Research Center social media fact sheet.

County implication: In counties with strong local-community posting behavior, Facebook groups and community pages often show higher visible participation among women, reflecting national patterns of platform composition and community-oriented posting, while video-first platforms show more balanced participation.

Most-used platforms (percent of U.S. adults)

County-level platform market shares are not available from Pew; the most reliable comparable figures are U.S. adult usage rates:

Practical fit for Perry County: Facebook and YouTube align with local-news distribution, community event visibility, and how-to/entertainment video consumption, while Instagram/TikTok/Snapchat align more with younger cohorts.

Behavioral trends (engagement patterns and preferences)

  • Local information utility: Rural counties commonly exhibit high engagement with community Facebook pages/groups for school updates, weather impacts, local government notices, and event promotion, reflecting Facebook’s role as a local bulletin board in smaller markets.
  • Mobile-first usage: Lower rural broadband rates relative to non-rural areas correlate with heavier reliance on smartphones for social access and video viewing. Source context: Pew Research Center internet/broadband fact sheet.
  • Video as a dominant format: With YouTube’s broad reach nationally, video is a primary engagement mode across age groups, with short-form video platforms (notably TikTok) concentrated among younger adults. Source: Pew Research Center social media fact sheet.
  • Platform preference by life stage: Nationally, older adults cluster on Facebook, while younger adults diversify across Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat, producing a split where countywide “most-used” platforms skew toward Facebook/YouTube, but youth attention concentrates on short-form and messaging-forward apps.

Family & Associates Records

Perry County, Indiana maintains family-related public records primarily through Indiana’s vital records system and local courts. Birth and death records are vital records held by the Indiana Department of Health, Vital Records; county health departments commonly assist with applications and identity requirements. Marriage records (marriage licenses) are maintained by the Perry County Clerk. Divorce and other family-case filings are maintained by the Perry Circuit/Superior Courts and the Clerk’s office.

Public databases include the Indiana statewide court case portal, which provides online access to many case dockets and entries for family-related matters (with protected information withheld): Indiana MyCase (statewide case search). Perry County local government contact points and offices are listed on the county’s official site: Perry County, Indiana (official website). State-level vital records ordering information is available from: Indiana Department of Health — Vital Records.

Access occurs online (state portals and state vital records ordering) and in person through the Perry County Clerk and local court offices for record copies and certification procedures. Privacy restrictions apply to confidential records such as adoptions, many juvenile matters, and portions of family-case filings; access is limited by statute and court order. Birth records are generally restricted for a defined period, while death records are more broadly available under state rules.

Marriage & Divorce Records

Types of records available

  • Marriage licenses and certificates (Perry County, Indiana)

    • Indiana counties issue marriage licenses through the county clerk’s office and retain the local record of the license and return (proof of solemnization).
    • The State of Indiana maintains a statewide marriage record through the Indiana Department of Health (IDOH) for marriages registered in Indiana.
  • Divorce records (dissolution of marriage)

    • Divorces are handled as civil court cases (“dissolution of marriage”) and generate a case file and court orders, including a final decree of dissolution.
  • Annulments

    • Annulments are also handled through the courts and are maintained as civil case records with an order/decree declaring the marriage void or voidable under Indiana law, along with related filings.

Where records are filed and how they can be accessed

  • Marriage records

    • Perry County Clerk (county level): Maintains marriage license records created in Perry County (application, license, and return). Requests are typically handled by the county clerk as the local custodian of these records.
    • Indiana Department of Health – Vital Records (state level): Maintains statewide marriage records and issues certified copies consistent with IDOH rules and state law.
      Reference: Indiana Department of Health – Vital Records
  • Divorce and annulment records

    • Perry Circuit Court / Perry Superior Court (court level): Divorce and annulment case files are filed and maintained by the Perry County Clerk in the clerk’s role as clerk of the courts. Access is generally through the clerk’s records or the court file.
    • Statewide case access (docket-level information): Indiana’s online case management system provides public case summaries for many cases, subject to exclusions and redactions.
      Reference: Indiana MyCase (public case search)

Typical information included in these records

  • Marriage license record (county) / marriage record (state)

    • Full names of parties
    • Date and place of marriage (county and/or venue)
    • Date of license issuance and date of ceremony (as recorded on the return)
    • Officiant name and title, and filing/return date
    • Additional application details commonly collected in Indiana (varies by era and form), such as ages/date of birth, residences, and prior marital status
  • Divorce (dissolution) case file

    • Case caption (party names), case number, filing date, and court
    • Petition and responsive pleadings
    • Orders related to provisional matters (where applicable)
    • Final decree of dissolution and any incorporated settlement terms
    • Information addressing property division, debts, spousal maintenance (where ordered), custody/parenting time, and child support (where applicable)
  • Annulment case file

    • Case caption, case number, filing date, and court
    • Petition alleging statutory grounds
    • Orders and final judgment/decree determining the legal status of the marriage
    • Related determinations on property and, where applicable, custody/support

Privacy or legal restrictions

  • Marriage records

    • Marriage records are generally treated as public records in Indiana, but certified copies are issued under state and local procedures. Some personally identifying details present on applications may be limited in copies or withheld depending on record format and applicable disclosure rules.
  • Divorce and annulment records

    • Indiana courts generally presume public access to court records, but access is limited by:
      • Sealed records and confidentiality orders entered by the court
      • Excluded or confidential information (commonly including Social Security numbers, certain financial account identifiers, and other protected data)
      • Sensitive case components (for example, some documents or information involving minors, protective orders, or certain health information may be restricted or redacted)
    • Public online access through statewide systems may show summaries while restricting document images or specific fields, depending on the case type and confidentiality rules.
  • Governing framework

    • Court-record access and confidentiality are governed by Indiana public access rules and court orders; vital-record issuance is governed by IDOH and state vital records law and policies.

Education, Employment and Housing

Perry County is a largely rural county in south‑central/southern Indiana along the Ohio River, with Tell City as the county seat and largest population center. The county’s settlement pattern is a mix of small towns (notably Tell City and Cannelton) and dispersed rural housing. Population characteristics and day‑to‑day community context reflect a smaller labor market, a significant manufacturing base relative to many counties, and common out‑commuting to nearby regional job centers in Indiana and the Louisville, Kentucky metro area.

Education Indicators

Public schools (number and names)

Public K‑12 education is primarily provided by two districts:

  • Tell City‑Troy Township School Corporation (Tell City area)
  • Cannelton City Schools (Cannelton area)

School‑level counts and names vary over time due to consolidation and grade reconfiguration. The most consistently available current reference lists and administrative contacts are maintained by the Indiana Department of Education “Schools and Corporations” directory (Indiana DOE data center and school/corporation directory resources) and each district’s official site. District websites generally publish current school names (elementary/middle/high) and any building changes.

Student‑teacher ratios and graduation rates

  • Student‑teacher ratios: Indiana’s official staffing ratios are reported through state accountability and staffing datasets; district‑level ratios for Perry County schools are typically near the state range for small districts (often in the mid‑teens students per teacher). The most comparable figures are published in Indiana DOE annual data releases (Indiana DOE data center).
  • High school graduation rates: Indiana reports 4‑year cohort graduation rates by high school and corporation. Perry County high schools’ graduation rates are published annually through the state’s graduation rate reporting. For the most recent year available, use the Indiana DOE graduation rate files and dashboards (Indiana DOE graduation rate reporting).
    Note: A single countywide graduation rate is not always published as a standalone statistic; school/corporation rates are the standard unit of reporting.

Adult educational attainment

Adult attainment for Perry County is tracked through the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS). The standard indicators are:

  • High school diploma or equivalent (age 25+)
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher (age 25+)

The most recent ACS 5‑year estimates provide county‑level percentages (commonly used for small counties due to sample size). Perry County’s attainment profile is generally characterized by a high share with a high school diploma or some college and a lower bachelor’s‑and‑higher share than Indiana overall, consistent with rural southern Indiana patterns. The authoritative county tables are accessible via data.census.gov (ACS Educational Attainment tables for Perry County, IN).

Notable programs (STEM, vocational, AP)

Program availability is typically school‑specific and is best verified via district course catalogs and state program reporting:

  • Career and Technical Education (CTE)/vocational pathways: Indiana high schools commonly offer CTE concentrator pathways aligned with state graduation requirements and regional workforce needs (manufacturing, skilled trades, health, business, and related areas). Indiana’s statewide CTE framework is maintained by the state (Indiana Career and Technical Education).
  • Advanced Placement (AP) / dual credit: Many Indiana districts participate in AP and/or dual‑credit offerings through partnerships and state initiatives; specific course lists are published by the high schools and often summarized in state course and program reporting.
  • STEM: STEM offerings (e.g., Project Lead The Way, lab sciences, computer science) are generally reported at the school level rather than by county; confirmation typically comes from district curriculum pages and Indiana DOE program records.

School safety measures and counseling resources

Indiana public schools operate under statewide school safety requirements and commonly implement:

  • Controlled entry procedures and visitor management
  • Emergency response planning and drills (fire, severe weather, lockdown)
  • Coordination with local law enforcement and emergency management
  • Student support services such as school counseling and referral pathways for mental health supports

Baseline statewide frameworks and requirements are documented through the state’s school safety resources (Indiana DOE School Safety and Wellness). School‑specific counseling staffing levels and service models are typically reported locally in district/student services materials rather than in a single countywide dataset.

Employment and Economic Conditions

Unemployment rate (most recent year available)

County unemployment rates are published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) program and Indiana workforce agencies. The most recent annual average unemployment rate for Perry County is available from:

Note: The exact most recent annual percentage depends on the latest published year and should be taken directly from LAUS annual averages for Perry County.

Major industries and employment sectors

Perry County’s employment base is typically anchored by:

  • Manufacturing (a comparatively large share for the region; includes durable goods and production‑related supply chains)
  • Health care and social assistance
  • Retail trade
  • Educational services and public administration
  • Construction and transportation/warehousing (smaller but regionally significant due to connectivity to nearby metros and river/road corridors)

The most standardized sector breakdowns come from the ACS “Industry by Occupation/Employment” tables and federal County Business Patterns context; county profiles can be compiled through data.census.gov and state labor market portals.

Common occupations and workforce breakdown

Occupational distribution in Perry County generally reflects:

  • Production occupations (manufacturing‑related)
  • Office/administrative support
  • Sales and related
  • Transportation and material moving
  • Management and business
  • Healthcare support and practitioner roles (reflecting local healthcare demand)

County occupational percentages are available through ACS occupation tables on data.census.gov.

Commuting patterns and mean commute times

Commuting for Perry County includes:

  • A local commuting core into Tell City and nearby towns for schools, manufacturing, healthcare, and retail
  • Regular out‑commuting to adjacent counties and the broader regional labor market (including corridors toward the Louisville metro area)

Mean commute time (minutes) is reported by the ACS and is the standard measure for county comparisons. Perry County’s mean commute is typically in the mid‑to‑upper 20‑minute range, consistent with rural counties where longer drives to job sites are common. The definitive county value is available in ACS commuting tables at data.census.gov.

Local employment versus out‑of‑county work

The share of workers who live in Perry County but work outside the county is commonly substantial in rural southern Indiana. The most direct measurements are:

  • ACS “place of work” commuting tables on data.census.gov
  • Origin‑destination commuting flows from the Census Bureau’s LEHD/OnTheMap tools (home‑to‑work flow analysis)

These sources quantify in‑county vs out‑of‑county commuting and identify the primary destination counties for out‑commuters.

Housing and Real Estate

Homeownership rate and rental share

Homeownership and rental occupancy are reported by the ACS (occupied housing units):

  • Perry County typically has a majority owner‑occupied housing stock, with renting concentrated in Tell City/Cannelton and smaller pockets near employment and services. The most recent county percentages (owner vs renter) are available from data.census.gov (ACS tenure tables).

Median property values and recent trends

  • Median owner‑occupied home value for Perry County is published in ACS 5‑year estimates at data.census.gov.
  • Recent trends in southern Indiana have generally reflected post‑2020 value increases followed by moderation, with rural counties often showing slower growth than major metro counties while still experiencing appreciation over the longer term.
    Proxy note: County‑specific year‑over‑year “trend” series is not always stable in ACS for small counties; multi‑year comparisons (e.g., successive 5‑year releases) are the standard approach.

Typical rent prices

  • Median gross rent (including utilities where captured by the ACS definition) is reported by the ACS and is the most consistent “typical rent” measure for counties. Perry County’s median gross rent is available at data.census.gov (ACS gross rent tables).
    Rental markets are generally smaller and more limited in inventory outside Tell City/Cannelton, with a higher share of single‑family rentals and small multi‑unit properties than large apartment complexes.

Types of housing

The county’s housing stock is typically characterized by:

  • Single‑family detached homes as the dominant form (especially outside town centers)
  • Small multifamily properties and limited apartment supply in Tell City/Cannelton
  • Manufactured homes present in some rural areas
  • Rural lots/acreage housing patterns, with greater distances to services and amenities

ACS housing structure type tables provide the definitive breakdown by unit type at data.census.gov.

Neighborhood characteristics (proximity to schools/amenities)

  • Tell City functions as the main hub for proximity to schools, grocery/retail, clinics, and civic services; housing closer to the town core generally offers shorter trips to schools and services.
  • Rural areas and smaller unincorporated communities typically feature larger lots, more distance to schools/medical services, and reliance on personal vehicles.

Because Perry County is small and districts are limited, school proximity is most meaningfully described by town vs rural location rather than by many distinct neighborhoods.

Property tax overview (average rate and typical homeowner cost)

Indiana property taxes are administered locally but operate under statewide constitutional caps (“circuit breaker” limits) that restrict property tax bills to a percentage of gross assessed value for homesteads, rentals, and other property types. Key references include:

For Perry County, the most defensible “average rate” and “typical homeowner cost” are obtained from:

  • County tax rate schedules and billed tax distributions (DLGF and county treasurer/assessor publications)
  • Effective tax rates derived from assessed value and net tax bills (often summarized in county budget/tax reports)

Proxy note: Without a single countywide “average effective rate” published as a headline statistic, the standard proxy is Indiana’s capped structure for homesteads (maximum 1% of gross assessed value for qualified homestead property, subject to deductions and local rates), with actual bills varying by township/city tax district, deductions, and assessed value.