Brown County, Indiana: commercial real estate data.
Brown County, Indiana had an estimated 15,650 residents on July 1, 2024, up 1.2 percent since the 2020 census base of 15,468, across 312 square miles. County output reached $442.6 m in 2024, 371 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 19 7(a) approvals worth $7.5 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Brown County
How many people live in Brown County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202415,606
- Households6,781
- Average household size2.30
- Median household income$78,528
- Median age51.0
- Median gross rent$895 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$269,100
- Home value to household income3.4 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income13.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher26.4 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree11.6 percent
- Adults 25 and over12,135
- Population under 182,593
- Share under 1816.6 percent
- Population 65 and over4,154
- Share 65 and over26.6 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 648,859
- Civilian labor force7,906
- Unemployment rate2.2 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over60.8 percent
- Rank by population among Indiana counties79th of 92
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included2119th of 3,222
Brown County is the 79th largest of 92 Indiana counties by population. A median home costs 3.4 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 26.6 percent against 16.6 percent, which points demand at health care, services and single story product rather than schools.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Brown County
Is Brown County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202415,650
- Census 2020 base population15,468
- Population change since the 2020 census base1.18 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024-41
- Births, 202490
- Deaths, 2024214
- Natural change, 2024-124
- Net domestic migration, 202466
- Net international migration, 202418
- Total net migration, 202484
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024518
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1422nd of 3,144
The county has grown 1.18 percent since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 by more than net migration added, so the population fell even though more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Brown County
Where are people moving to Brown County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving600
- People arriving, from those returns1,123
- Tax returns filed by households leaving512
- Net household movement88
- Adjusted gross income arriving$45.2 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$11.3 m
- Average income of an arriving household$75,287
- Average income of a leaving household$66,070
- Largest single originJohnson County (117 households)
- Largest single destinationJohnson County (89 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Johnson County | 117 | 240 | $8.7 m |
| Marion County | 93 | 182 | $8.2 m |
| Bartholomew County | 75 | 157 | $4.9 m |
| Monroe County | 54 | 88 | $-269.5 m |
| Morgan County | 33 | 72 | $2.1 m |
Households arriving report $9,217 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Johnson County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Brown County
What is the Brown County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$442.6 m
- County GDP, 2023$410.2 m
- GDP change, 2023 to 20247.9 percent
- GDP change over five years52.0 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Indiana areas BEA publishes86th of 92
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes2476th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$28,358
Output grew 7.9 percent in the latest year and 52.0 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Brown County
Employment by industry in Brown County
- Covered employment, annual average3,261
- Establishments reporting365
- Average annual pay$37,453
- Average weekly wage$720
- Accommodation and food services, employment742
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$24,568
- Retail trade, employment402
- Retail trade, average annual pay$26,297
- Health care and social assistance, employment330
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$39,640
- Professional, scientific and technical services, employment258
- Professional, scientific and technical services, average annual pay$68,948
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment190
- Construction, employment171
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and food services | 742 | 54 | $24,568 |
| Retail trade | 402 | 74 | $26,297 |
| Health care and social assistance | 330 | 18 | $39,640 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 258 | 40 | $68,948 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 190 | 24 | $33,936 |
| Construction | 171 | 37 | $49,555 |
| Manufacturing | 154 | 13 | $40,093 |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation | 108 | 8 | $19,538 |
Accommodation and food services is the largest private sector at 742 jobs, 22.8 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Brown County
How many businesses are in Brown County?
- Establishments, all industries371
- Employment at those establishments2,567
- Annual payroll$88.3 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents23.8
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Brown County
Building permits in Brown County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 202476
- Declared construction value permitted$26.7 m
- Single family units authorized76
- Multifamily units authorized0
- Multifamily share of units0.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$351,370
- Units authorized per 1,000 households11.2
Single-family homes are 100.0 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Brown County
SBA loans in Brown County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded19
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$7.5 m
- Average 7(a) approval$396,968
- Median 7(a) approval$200,000
- Largest single approval$1,950,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)94
- Jobs per approval4.9
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active11
- Distinct industries receiving approvals16
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer36.8 percent
- Loans on real estate terms7
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter11
- Franchise loans3
- Franchise share of approvals15.8 percent
- Most active lenderNewtek Small Business Finance, Inc. (4)
- 504 approvals recorded5
- 504 gross approval dollars$5.1 m
- Average 504 approval$1,017,600
- Median 504 approval$993,000
- Distinct CDCs active1
- 504 jobs per approval21.4
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved21.0
- Most active CDCIndiana Statewide Certified Development Corporation (5)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$12.6 m
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Brown County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Brown County
Do SBA loans in Brown County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded4
- Paid in full4
- Charged off0
- Status: Exempt from disclosure13
- Status: Paid in full4
- Status: Cancelled1
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed1
Only 4 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Brown County
SBA lending by place in Brown County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending3
- Nashville, approvals12
- Columbus, approvals5
- Morgantown, approvals2
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville | 12 | $6,260,900 |
| Columbus | 5 | $1,240,500 |
| Morgantown | 2 | $41,000 |
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Brown County
How large is Brown County?
- Land area312 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Indiana counties76th of 92
- Width, east to west16.1 mi
- Height, north to south20.4 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary5
- Residents per square mile of land50
- Establishments per square mile1.19
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Brown County
Flood risk in Brown County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Brown County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 185174
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book2
- Of those, participating in the NFIP2
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Brown County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/LZone 2
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Brown County (community 185174), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Brown County in radon zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Brown County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Brown County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202415,606
- Households6,781
- Average household size2.30
- Median household income$78,528
- Median age51.0
Common questions
Brown County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Brown County, Indiana?
The Census Bureau estimates 15,650 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 15,606, in 6,781 households, ranking 79th of 92 Indiana counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Brown County's population growing?
The population has grown 1.18 percent since the 2020 census base of 15,468, to 15,650 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 90 births against 214 deaths, with net migration of 84. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Brown County?
$78,528. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $269,100, which is 3.4 times income, and median gross rent is $895 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Brown County?
371 establishments, employing 2,567 people with an annual payroll of $88.3 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Brown County?
Accommodation and food services is the largest private sector at 742 jobs, 22.8 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 3,261 jobs at an average annual pay of $37,453, or $720 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Brown County?
19 7(a) approvals totaling $7.5 m since FY2020, across 11 lenders, with a median approval of $200,000, plus 5 504 approvals worth $5.1 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Brown County?
76 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $26.7 m. Multifamily was 0.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Brown County?
Zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Brown County come from?
The largest single origin is Johnson County, with 117 households. Arriving households report an average income of $75,287 against $66,070 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Brown County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Brown County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Brown County
Cities and places in Brown.
3 Census places lie wholly or partly in Brown County. All 3 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville | town | 1,386 | 12 | Wholly in this county |
| Cordry Sweetwater Lakes | CDP | 1,190 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Helmsburg | CDP | 387 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 7 of the county's 19 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Brown County, the largest being Columbus (5), Morgantown (2). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.
Nearby