Sullivan County is located in southwestern Indiana along the Illinois border, within the lower Wabash Valley region. Established in 1817 and named for Revolutionary War hero Daniel Sullivan, it developed around agriculture and later expanded through coal mining and related industries, shaping its regional identity. The county is small in population (about 20,000 residents) and is predominantly rural, with a landscape of flat to gently rolling farmland, wooded areas, and waterways associated with the Wabash River basin. Local land use reflects a mix of row-crop agriculture, reclaimed mining lands, and small communities centered on county roads and state highways. Economic activity has historically included farming, energy production, and light manufacturing and services. The county seat and largest community is the city of Sullivan, which serves as the primary center for government, education, and commerce.

Sullivan County Local Demographic Profile

Sullivan County is in southwestern Indiana, near the Illinois state line, and is part of the Terre Haute metropolitan area region in state and federal statistical reporting. For local government and planning resources, visit the Sullivan County official website.

Population Size

According to the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts page for Sullivan County, Indiana, the county’s population was 20,669 (April 1, 2020). The same Census Bureau source provides the county’s most recent annual population estimate when available for the selected geography.

Age & Gender

Age and sex statistics are reported by the U.S. Census Bureau for counties through products such as QuickFacts (Sullivan County, Indiana) and detailed tables in data.census.gov (American Community Survey and decennial census tables).
Exact county-level values for:

  • Age distribution (shares by age bands or median age), and
  • Gender ratio (male/female shares or males per 100 females)
    are available in those Census Bureau tables, but specific figures are not provided here because they must be retrieved directly from the cited Census Bureau tables for the latest vintage.

Racial & Ethnic Composition

County-level race and Hispanic/Latino origin figures are published by the U.S. Census Bureau in the QuickFacts profile for Sullivan County and in decennial census/ACS tables on data.census.gov.
Exact county-level percentages by race and ethnicity are not listed here because they must be pulled directly from the Census Bureau tables for the desired year (e.g., 2020 decennial or the latest ACS 5-year release).

Household & Housing Data

Household and housing indicators for Sullivan County—commonly including measures such as number of households, average household size, owner- vs. renter-occupied housing, and housing unit counts—are published by the U.S. Census Bureau via QuickFacts and in detailed table format on data.census.gov.
Exact county-level household and housing figures are not included here because they must be retrieved directly from the Census Bureau tables for the latest available release.

Email Usage

Sullivan County, Indiana is a largely rural county where lower population density and longer last‑mile distances tend to constrain fixed broadband buildout, shaping how residents access email (often via mobile networks when wired options are limited). Direct county-level email usage statistics are not routinely published, so broadband subscription and device access are used as proxies.

Digital access indicators are available through the U.S. Census Bureau data portal (American Community Survey tables on household broadband subscriptions and computing devices), which provides the best public measures of likely email access capacity. Age structure also influences email adoption: older populations generally show lower adoption of some digital services and higher reliance on assisted access, and county age distributions are reported in ACS demographic profiles via U.S. Census Bureau demographic data. Gender distribution is measurable in the same profiles; it is typically less predictive of email access than age and broadband/device availability.

Connectivity limitations are commonly documented in federal availability maps; the FCC National Broadband Map provides location-based coverage and provider data relevant to rural service gaps in the county.

Mobile Phone Usage

County context and connectivity-relevant characteristics

Sullivan County is in southwestern Indiana along the Illinois border, with its county seat in the City of Sullivan. The county’s settlement pattern is predominantly small-town and rural outside the city. Lower population density and larger distances between towers are the main structural factors affecting mobile coverage quality (signal strength, indoor reception, and capacity) compared with more urban Indiana counties. Topography in this part of Indiana is generally rolling rather than mountainous, so coverage gaps are more commonly driven by tower spacing, land use (forests/low-lying areas), and backhaul availability than by extreme terrain barriers.

Primary reference points for geography and population context include the U.S. Census Bureau’s county profile resources on Census.gov and Sullivan County’s local information pages (for local place boundaries and community distribution) via the Sullivan County, Indiana website.

Network availability (coverage) vs. household adoption (use)

Network availability describes where mobile providers report service (e.g., 4G LTE or 5G) and where a usable signal is likely to exist.
Household adoption describes whether residents subscribe to mobile service, use mobile broadband, and rely on mobile devices for internet access, regardless of whether coverage exists.

These measures frequently differ in rural areas: coverage may exist along roads or in towns while adoption and consistent use may be constrained by pricing, device costs, indoor signal quality, and limited competition.

Mobile network availability in Sullivan County (4G/5G)

Reported carrier coverage (FCC Broadband Data Collection)

The most consistent public source for location-based reported mobile broadband availability is the FCC’s Broadband Data Collection (BDC), which provides provider-reported coverage by technology (including LTE and 5G) and allows map-based inspection and downloads.

  • The FCC’s mapping and data portal is the primary reference for reported mobile coverage layers and provider footprints: FCC National Broadband Map.
  • The FCC’s broader program documentation and methodology for availability reporting is published through the FCC Broadband Data Collection pages.

County-specific limitation: FCC BDC is address/hexagon based and provider-reported. It supports viewing coverage within county boundaries but does not consistently publish a single “countywide 5G coverage percentage” summary that can be cited without custom tabulation. For Sullivan County, map-based verification through the FCC National Broadband Map is the standard approach for distinguishing LTE vs. 5G footprints and identifying unserved/underserved pockets.

4G LTE vs. 5G availability patterns

  • 4G LTE is typically the baseline mobile broadband layer across most populated parts of Indiana counties and is the most common “coverage floor” in rural regions. LTE availability tends to be strongest in and around incorporated places and along major road corridors, with weaker indoor signal and more variability in outlying areas.
  • 5G availability in rural counties is often present in limited footprints (town centers, highway corridors, and areas near upgraded sites). Where 5G exists, performance depends on spectrum band and backhaul, and the user experience can resemble LTE in coverage-limited areas. The FCC map provides the most direct way to check reported 5G availability by provider and location within the county.

State broadband planning context (mobile considerations)

Indiana’s statewide broadband planning and federal grant administration provide additional context on coverage gaps and reporting resources:

County-specific limitation: State broadband offices generally prioritize fixed broadband deployment metrics; mobile availability and performance are often addressed indirectly or at broader geographies than the county level.

Household adoption and access indicators (mobile subscriptions, internet access)

What is typically available at county level

For county-level “adoption” indicators, the most commonly cited public datasets are U.S. Census Bureau surveys (especially the American Community Survey, ACS). These can capture:

  • Households with a smartphone
  • Households with any cellular data plan
  • Households with broadband subscriptions (often separating “cellular data plan” from “cable/fiber/DSL/satellite”)
  • Households that rely on smartphone-only internet access (measured in some Census products and research tabulations)

The entry point for these measures is:

  • data.census.gov (ACS tables, including “Computer and Internet Use” subject tables)

County-specific limitation: Not every mobile-specific metric is published in a single ready-made county table for every year, and margins of error can be large in smaller counties. When Sullivan County estimates are available, they should be interpreted with the ACS margin of error and multi-year averaging (commonly 5-year estimates) in mind.

Clear distinction: adoption vs. availability

  • A household may have a cellular data plan and smartphones even where 5G is not reported, because LTE supports most mobile use cases.
  • A household may live in a reported coverage area but remain non-adopting due to affordability constraints, device limitations, low digital literacy, or preference for fixed connections.

Mobile internet usage patterns (how networks are used)

County-specific behavioral usage patterns (streaming, hotspot reliance, smartphone-only internet use) are not consistently published at the county level in Indiana. The most defensible county-level indicators are the ACS “Computer and Internet Use” measures (device ownership and subscription types) accessible via data.census.gov.

Within rural counties like Sullivan, the common measurable usage-related patterns at county scale tend to be inferred only through:

  • Subscription type mix (cellular data plan vs fixed broadband subscription categories in ACS tables)
  • Device ownership (smartphone presence in households)

Important limitation: Performance experience (speeds/latency), congestion, and reliability are not captured by ACS and require measurement datasets (crowdsourced or drive testing). Those are generally not published as definitive countywide statistics by federal agencies.

Common device types (smartphones vs. other devices)

Household device indicators (Census/ACS)

The most authoritative public county-level source for device prevalence is the ACS “Computer and Internet Use” topic, which tracks household access to:

  • Smartphones
  • Tablets or other portable wireless computers
  • Desktop/laptop computers

These tables can be accessed and filtered for Sullivan County on data.census.gov.

What can be stated without overreach:

  • Smartphones are the dominant personal mobile device category in the U.S. and are the primary device type captured by Census household device questions.
  • At county level, the ACS can document the share of households reporting a smartphone and the share reporting a cellular data plan, but it does not enumerate brand/model mixes or carrier-specific device distributions.

County-specific limitation: Detailed device-type breakdown beyond the ACS categories (e.g., feature phones vs. smartphones, handset age, 5G-capable handset share) is not typically available as an official county statistic.

Demographic and geographic factors influencing mobile usage in Sullivan County

Rural settlement and tower economics

  • Lower density settlement patterns generally reduce the number of economically viable tower sites per square mile, which can increase the likelihood of coverage variability and weaker indoor reception in outlying areas.
  • Town centers and major road corridors typically receive earlier and denser network upgrades than sparsely populated areas, affecting where 5G is reported and where LTE capacity is strongest.

Income, affordability, and subscription choice (adoption side)

  • Household adoption measures (smartphone ownership and cellular data plan subscriptions) vary with income, age, and educational attainment. These relationships are well-documented in Census internet access data products, but county-specific interpretation should be grounded in Sullivan County ACS estimates rather than generalized assumptions.
  • The ACS provides county-level estimates for internet subscription types and device ownership; those measures represent adoption rather than reported coverage.

Age structure and digital adoption

  • Counties with larger shares of older residents often show different device ownership and subscription patterns (for example, lower smartphone-only reliance and different broadband subscription mixes). County-specific confirmation requires ACS tabulations for Sullivan County from data.census.gov.

Land use and local physical environment (availability side)

  • Forested areas, low-lying terrain, and dispersed housing can reduce signal penetration and increase dead zones even where a provider reports outdoor coverage. These effects influence real-world usability but are not directly quantified in official county tables.

Practical, county-appropriate sources for verification (what is measurable)

Data limitations specific to the requested topics

  • Mobile penetration at county level: Official county-level “mobile subscription penetration” is not routinely published as a single metric. The closest public proxies are ACS household smartphone ownership and cellular data plan subscription categories on data.census.gov.
  • 4G/5G usage patterns (actual traffic behavior): Not available as definitive county statistics from federal sources; FCC BDC focuses on availability, not usage intensity.
  • Device mix beyond broad categories: County-level distributions of 5G-capable phones, feature-phone prevalence, and carrier-specific handset mixes are not standard official outputs.
  • Performance and reliability: Official, countywide measured-performance datasets are limited; FCC availability layers do not directly represent experienced speeds, indoor coverage, or congestion.

This separation—FCC for reported availability and Census/ACS for adoption indicators—is the most reliable framework for describing mobile phone usage and connectivity in Sullivan County using publicly auditable sources.

Social Media Trends

Sullivan County is a rural county in southwestern Indiana, with Sullivan as the county seat and a local economy influenced by agriculture, energy/coal legacy, manufacturing, and outdoor recreation (including nearby public lands). Its settlement pattern (small towns and dispersed households) and commuting ties to larger regional hubs shape social media use toward mobile-first access, community groups, and locally focused news and marketplace activity.

User statistics (penetration/active use)

  • Local (county-specific) penetration: Publicly available, methodologically comparable social-media penetration estimates are generally not published at the county level for Sullivan County. County-level figures are typically modeled by commercial vendors and are not consistently transparent or comparable across sources.
  • Best-available benchmark (U.S./regional proxy): Nationally, ~7 in 10 U.S. adults use social media per Pew Research Center’s Social Media Fact Sheet. Sullivan County usage is most reliably contextualized against this national baseline and Indiana’s rural/older population profile (which tends to lower overall adoption relative to younger, urban areas in survey research).

Age group trends

Based on Pew’s national findings, social media usage is strongly age-graded:

  • Highest use: Ages 18–29 (the most likely to use multiple platforms and to use them frequently).
  • Middle: Ages 30–49 (high adoption; often concentrated on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram).
  • Lower: Ages 50–64 (moderate adoption; typically Facebook/YouTube-centered).
  • Lowest: Ages 65+ (lowest overall adoption, with Facebook and YouTube most common among users).
    Source: Pew Research Center (platform and age breakdowns).

Gender breakdown

Gender patterns in U.S. surveys vary by platform more than by overall social media use:

  • Overall use: Men and women are relatively similar in overall social media adoption in Pew’s reporting, with clearer differences emerging at the platform level.
  • Platform-skewed differences (typical patterns in Pew):

Most-used platforms (percent using, U.S. adults)

County-specific platform shares are not consistently published; the most defensible approach is to cite nationally measured platform reach:

Behavioral trends (engagement patterns and preferences)

  • Community information and local networks: In rural counties, Facebook remains a central channel for community groups, local events, church/civic communication, and peer-to-peer exchange (buy/sell/trade). This aligns with Facebook’s broad reach and older-age adoption documented by Pew.
  • Video-led consumption: YouTube’s very high adult reach supports heavy use for how-to content, entertainment, local sports highlights, and news clips. Pew’s platform reach indicates YouTube is the most universal social platform across age groups.
  • Short-form video growth among younger adults: TikTok and Instagram usage is concentrated among younger cohorts in Pew’s age breakdowns, supporting higher engagement with short videos and creator content among younger residents.
  • Messaging as a parallel layer: Pew reports substantial WhatsApp usage among U.S. adults; in practice, many users treat messaging (including Messenger and SMS) as a companion to social feeds for coordinating family and small-group communication.
  • News and civic information: Social platforms are commonly used as news pathways, though trust and verification behaviors vary widely; national survey work on social media and news is summarized by Pew Research Center’s Social Media and News Fact Sheet.

Family & Associates Records

Sullivan County family-related public records include vital records (birth and death certificates) maintained at the state level by the Indiana Department of Health (IDOH) Vital Records. Local filing and verification functions may involve the Sullivan County government, including the local health department and recorder for supporting documents. Marriage records are typically available through the Sullivan County Clerk. Adoption records are generally sealed under Indiana law and are not treated as public records; access is handled through state processes and courts rather than routine county public access channels.

Associate-related public records commonly include court case records (e.g., divorces, guardianships, name changes, estate/probate matters) and recorded documents used to establish relationships or authority (e.g., deeds, powers of attorney). Court records are accessed through the Sullivan County Clerk, and many Indiana case dockets are searchable via Indiana MyCase. Land and recording indexes are associated with the Sullivan County Recorder.

Access occurs online (state portals and case search) and in person at the clerk/recorder offices for certified copies and non-digitized materials. Privacy restrictions commonly apply to adoptions, many juvenile matters, and certain confidential vital records; certified copies generally require identity/eligibility verification and statutory fees.

Marriage & Divorce Records

Types of records available

  • Marriage license applications and licenses (Sullivan County)

    • Maintained as county vital records. Indiana marriage records are created at the county level when a couple applies for and receives a license.
    • Counties may also retain marriage returns/certificates (the officiant’s completed return that is filed after the ceremony) as part of the marriage record packet.

  • Divorce records (dissolution of marriage)

    • Maintained as court case records for dissolution proceedings filed in Sullivan County courts.
    • Common record components include the decree of dissolution (final order), orders on custody/parenting time, child support, property division, and related filings.

  • Annulment records

    • Annulments are handled as court actions (not a clerk-issued vital record) and are maintained as court case records in the county where filed, including Sullivan County when jurisdiction and venue requirements are met.

Where records are filed and how they can be accessed

  • Marriage records

    • Filed and maintained by the Sullivan County Clerk / Clerk’s Office (marriage license division as part of the county clerk’s responsibilities).
    • Access is typically provided through:
      • In-person requests at the county clerk’s office for certified copies.
      • Mail requests where accepted by the office.
      • State-level index/search tools and certified-copy services for certain time periods through the Indiana Department of Health (IDOH) and the Indiana courts/partners, depending on the record type.
    • Indiana’s statewide marriage record system is coordinated through the Indiana courts and county clerks; certified copies are commonly issued by the county of application/issuance.

  • Divorce and annulment court records

    • Filed and maintained by the Sullivan County Clerk as clerk of the courts as part of the court case file.
    • Access is typically provided through:
      • In-person inspection of non-confidential case filings at the clerk’s office, subject to court rules and local procedures.
      • Copies ordered from the clerk’s office (certified copies of decrees and orders are commonly available).
      • Online case information (docket/case summary) and, in some instances, document access through the Indiana judiciary’s case management/public access systems, subject to redaction and access limitations.
    • The most authoritative copy of a decree or order is the certified copy issued by the clerk from the case file.

Typical information included in these records

  • Marriage licenses and related marriage records

    • Full legal names of both parties (and, in many records, prior/maiden names).
    • Date and place of marriage license issuance; license number.
    • Ages/birth dates; residences; birthplaces (fields vary by era and form).
    • Names of parents/guardians (often present on applications; may vary by time period).
    • Officiant name and title; date and place of ceremony; filing date of the completed return (when a return/certificate is part of the file).
    • Signatures/attestations (applicants, clerk, officiant), depending on the document.

  • Divorce (dissolution) decrees and case files

    • Caption information (court, cause number/case number, party names).
    • Filing date; dates of hearings; date the dissolution is granted.
    • Final decree terms addressing:
      • Property and debt division.
      • Spousal maintenance (when ordered).
      • Child custody, parenting time, child support, and income withholding terms (when applicable).
      • Name restoration provisions (when granted).
    • Associated filings may include petitions, summons/service returns, settlement agreements, child support worksheets, parenting plans, and other orders.

  • Annulment case records

    • Caption information and case identifiers (court and cause number).
    • Petition allegations supporting annulment under Indiana law.
    • Court findings and final order (often describing the legal basis and effect of annulment).
    • Related orders involving property, support, or custody issues when addressed.

Privacy or legal restrictions

  • Marriage records

    • Certified copies are issued under Indiana vital records rules. Indiana generally permits access to marriage records, but identification and fee requirements apply for certified copies, and some administrative restrictions may exist based on the request method and the record’s format/age.
    • Some personal data elements included in applications may be treated as nonpublic in copies or may be redacted depending on the office’s practices and statewide rules.

  • Divorce and annulment court records

    • Indiana court records are governed by the Indiana Rules on Access to Court Records, which designate certain information as confidential and restrict public access to specified categories of records and data elements.
    • Common restrictions include:
      • Confidential personal identifiers (e.g., Social Security numbers, certain financial account numbers) and protected addresses in particular contexts.
      • Confidential case types or protected information in family-law matters, including some information relating to minors, abuse/neglect, protective orders, and certain evaluations or reports.
      • Sealed or expunged materials are not publicly accessible except by court order.
    • Public access is generally available to the fact of the case and many filings, but documents may be redacted, partially restricted, or accessible only at the courthouse depending on confidentiality classifications and the system used for electronic access.

Education, Employment and Housing

Sullivan County is a rural county in southwestern Indiana, anchored by the City of Sullivan and smaller towns such as Carlisle and Dugger. The county’s population is roughly in the low-20,000s (recent estimates vary by source and year), with community life shaped by agriculture, small-manufacturing activity, and regional commuting to larger employment centers in the Wabash Valley.

Education Indicators

Public school districts, schools, and names

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

  • Southwest School Corporation (Shelburn area)
    • Southwest Elementary School
    • Southwest Middle/High School
  • Sullivan County Community School Corporation (Sullivan area)
    • Sullivan Elementary School
    • Sullivan Middle School
    • Sullivan High School

School naming and counts can change with consolidations; the most authoritative current listings are maintained by the Indiana Department of Education’s school and corporation directory (Indiana Department of Education) and each corporation’s website.

Student–teacher ratios and graduation outcomes

  • Student–teacher ratios (proxy): District- and school-level ratios are published by state and federal datasets, but frequently cited countywide “one number” ratios are typically drawn from ACS/NCES-style aggregates rather than audited staffing rosters. For Sullivan County schools, ratios generally fall in the mid-teens to around 20:1 range in public reporting sources; the precise figure varies by school and year. For official accountability and enrollment/staffing context, use Indiana’s INview/IDOE reporting (Indiana DOE data).
  • Graduation rates: Indiana reports 4-year cohort graduation rates by high school. Sullivan County’s high schools commonly report graduation rates around the high-80s to low-90s percent range in recent years, with annual variation. The official values are in the state’s graduation rate reporting and school report cards (Indiana DOE data reporting).

Note: A single, countywide graduation rate is not the standard accountability unit; the official measure is reported by high school and graduating cohort year.

Adult educational attainment (county residents)

The most comparable “adult education level” measures come from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS):

  • High school diploma or higher (age 25+): Sullivan County typically reports about 85–90%.
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher (age 25+): Sullivan County typically reports about 12–18%, below the Indiana and U.S. averages.

These levels are consistent with many rural Indiana counties. The most current ACS releases and county profiles are available through U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts (Sullivan County QuickFacts).

Notable programs (STEM, CTE, AP/dual credit)

  • Career and Technical Education (CTE): Indiana districts commonly participate in state-recognized CTE pathways (e.g., manufacturing, construction trades, health, business, agriculture). In Sullivan County, CTE access is typically delivered through in-district programs and/or regional career centers (when used). Program offerings are documented in district course catalogs and Indiana CTE reporting (Indiana CTE).
  • Advanced coursework: Advanced Placement (AP) and dual credit participation is common statewide; availability varies by high school staffing and demand. Indiana’s College Core and dual-credit frameworks are reflected in local course catalogs and state guidance (Indiana College Core).
  • STEM: STEM offerings are typically integrated through math/science sequences, project-based learning, and electives (e.g., computer science, engineering/technology), with variation by school.

Because program rosters are set locally and updated annually, the most definitive sources are the district course guides and school board-approved curriculum documents.

School safety measures and counseling resources

Indiana public schools generally operate under:

  • State-required safety planning, drills, and school safety grant supports, coordinated through the state (e.g., safety planning standards, threat assessment practices, and infrastructure upgrades). See the Indiana School Safety program overview (Indiana School Safety).
  • Student support services, including school counseling. Staffing levels vary by building; counseling resources are typically listed on individual school webpages and district student services pages.

County-specific inventories of security hardware and counseling staffing are not consistently published in a single public countywide table; they are typically documented at the school/district level and through board minutes, safety plans, and state grant reporting.

Employment and Economic Conditions

Unemployment rate (most recent year available)

  • The most current official unemployment figures are published monthly by the Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD) and can be retrieved by county (Indiana DWD labor market information).
  • Sullivan County’s unemployment rate generally tracks above or near the Indiana average and tends to move with regional manufacturing and construction cycles. A precise “most recent year” value depends on the latest finalized annual average from DWD; the county’s monthly series is the definitive reference.

Major industries and employment sectors

Sullivan County’s employment base is typical of rural southwestern Indiana, with jobs concentrated in:

  • Manufacturing (often a key private-sector base in the region)
  • Health care and social assistance
  • Retail trade and accommodation/food services
  • Educational services and public administration
  • Construction
  • Agriculture and related services (smaller share of wage-and-salary employment but significant land-use and local business impact)

Sector shares can be verified through U.S. Census Bureau ACS industry tables and DWD regional profiles.

Common occupations and workforce breakdown

Common occupational groups in the county and surrounding region typically include:

  • Production (manufacturing-related)
  • Office and administrative support
  • Sales and related
  • Transportation and material moving
  • Construction and extraction
  • Healthcare support and practitioners (depending on local facilities and commuting)

Occupational breakdowns are most consistently available via ACS “occupation” tables and state labor market profiles.

Commuting patterns and mean commute time

  • Mean commute time: Rural Indiana counties commonly fall near the 20–30 minute range. Sullivan County’s mean commute time is generally reported in the mid‑20 minutes in recent ACS estimates (year-to-year variation occurs). The official figure is published by ACS (ACS commute metrics in QuickFacts).
  • Commuting mode: The county is predominantly car-commuter, with a high share of drive-alone commuting typical of rural areas; public transit commuting is limited.

Local employment versus out‑of‑county work

Sullivan County functions partly as a commuter county within the Wabash Valley labor shed:

  • A sizable share of employed residents work outside the county (commuting to nearby counties and regional hubs), while local jobs are concentrated in public services, schools, healthcare, retail, and manufacturing.
  • The most definitive measure is the federal LEHD/OnTheMap “Residence Area Characteristics” and inflow/outflow data (LEHD OnTheMap), which quantify the share of residents working in-county versus out-of-county and where workers travel.

Housing and Real Estate

Homeownership and rental share

  • Sullivan County has a high homeownership rate typical of rural Indiana—commonly around three-quarters of occupied housing units (ACS-based), with renters comprising the remainder.
  • The most current official owner/renter split is published in ACS housing tables and summarized in QuickFacts (Housing tenure in QuickFacts).

Median property values and recent trends

  • Median home value: Sullivan County’s median owner-occupied home value is typically well below the U.S. median, generally reported in the low-to-mid $100,000s in recent ACS estimates, with variation by year.
  • Trend: Like much of Indiana, values rose notably during 2020–2023, with more recent appreciation generally moderating; county-specific year-over-year movement is best tracked via ACS 1-year/5-year comparisons and private-market indices (private indices may not cover the county well due to smaller transaction volume).

Proxy note: In small counties, median value estimates can be sensitive to sample size and the mix of homes sold; ACS provides the most consistent public benchmark.

Typical rent prices

  • Median gross rent in Sullivan County is commonly reported in the $700–$900/month range in recent ACS estimates, depending on the year and sample. The official benchmark is ACS gross rent (Gross rent in QuickFacts).

Types of housing stock

Housing in Sullivan County is characterized by:

  • Single-family detached homes as the dominant form
  • Manufactured/mobile homes with a meaningful presence in rural areas
  • Small multifamily properties and apartments primarily in and near Sullivan and other towns
  • Rural lots and farmsteads outside town limits, often with larger parcel sizes and reliance on private wells/septic (common in rural Indiana)

Neighborhood and location characteristics

  • In-town areas (Sullivan and smaller towns): Greater proximity to schools, parks, and basic retail/health services; more grid-pattern streets and older housing stock.
  • Rural areas: Larger lots and greater distance to amenities and schools; higher reliance on personal vehicles for commuting, services, and student transport.

Because Sullivan County is largely rural, school proximity is most significant within municipal boundaries and along key state routes connecting towns.

Property tax overview (rate and typical homeowner cost)

Indiana property taxes are governed by assessment practices and constitutional “circuit breaker” caps (generally 1% of gross assessed value for homesteads, 2% for other residential, 3% for business, before certain credits and exemptions), with actual bills influenced by local levies and deductions. See the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance overview (Indiana DLGF).

  • Effective property tax rate (proxy): Many Indiana counties fall around ~0.8%–1.2% effective rate for owner-occupied housing, but Sullivan County’s exact effective rate and typical bill vary by township, school district boundaries, and deductions (homestead, mortgage, veteran, etc.).
  • Typical homeowner cost (proxy): Using a median home value in the low-to-mid $100,000s and an effective rate near ~1%, a representative annual bill often falls in the low-to-mid $1,000s, but the actual amount for individual parcels depends on assessed value, deductions, and local tax rates.

For parcel-level accuracy, the most definitive sources are the county auditor/assessor tax records and the Indiana DLGF’s certified rates and levies.

Table of Contents

Other Counties in Indiana