The Town Files

Jay County, Indiana

20,229 people. The median home is worth $117,500 (typical Indiana town: $150,400) and the median household earns $54,969.

Towns in Jay County

Towns in Jay County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Portland6,320$96,700$51,51337.4

People and housing

Jay CountyTypical Indiana town
Median home value$117,500$150,400
Median rent$770$888
Median household income$54,969$61,953
Median age39.538.9
Bachelor's degree or higher13.3%17.4%
Below the poverty line14.4%11.6%

Jobs and pay

7,027 jobs in 2024, average pay $48,103 a year.

Largest industries in Jay CountyManufacturing2,680 jobs · $57,579Retail664 jobs · $30,594Hotels & restaurants393 jobs · $18,160Construction279 jobs · $52,866Wholesale trade216 jobs · $56,640Finance & insurance140 jobs · $61,787
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Jay County0%2%4%6%8%10%12%2000200420082012201620202023 3.1%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 212 storm events in Jay County from 1996 to 2026, with 2 deaths.

Storm events in Jay County by type since 1996Hail27Flood9Tornado11High Wind9Ice Storm4Lightning4Heavy Snow12Flash Flood9Winter Storm18Winter Weather30
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Jay County has been included in 16 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
August 15, 2026FloodEM-3651: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding
January 24, 2026Winter StormEM-3641: Severe Winter Storm
April 3, 2020BiologicalDR-4515: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3456: Covid-19
June 8, 2008Severe StormDR-1766: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes
March 12, 2007SnowstormEM-3274: Snow
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).