The Town Files

Whitley County, Indiana

34,618 people. The median home is worth $219,400 (typical Indiana town: $150,400) and the median household earns $78,083.

Towns in Whitley County

Towns in Whitley County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Columbia City9,892$189,100$68,08937.3

People and housing

Whitley CountyTypical Indiana town
Median home value$219,400$150,400
Median rent$934$888
Median household income$78,083$61,953
Median age41.338.9
Bachelor's degree or higher23.6%17.4%
Below the poverty line9.9%11.6%

Jobs and pay

13,958 jobs in 2024, average pay $58,376 a year.

Largest industries in Whitley CountyManufacturing5,977 jobs · $73,516Retail1,262 jobs · $40,155Hotels & restaurants870 jobs · $17,684Construction650 jobs · $73,601Other services595 jobs · $30,907Wholesale trade484 jobs · $78,793
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Whitley County0%4%8%12%2000200420082012201620202023 2.7%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 384 storm events in Whitley County from 1996 to 2026.

Storm events in Whitley County by type since 1996Hail78Flood10Tornado7High Wind11Ice Storm4Lightning3Heavy Snow12Flash Flood10Winter Storm22Winter Weather51
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Whitley County has been included in 15 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
January 24, 2026Winter StormEM-3641: Severe Winter Storm
April 3, 2020BiologicalDR-4515: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3456: Covid-19
April 22, 2014Severe StormDR-4173: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm
April 22, 2009Severe StormDR-1832: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding
January 30, 2008Severe StormDR-1740: Severe Storms And Flooding
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).