PlainZIP

ZIP Code 47978

standard

Source:

Rensselaer · Jasper County · Indiana

Population
11,793

18/sq mi

Median income
$71,616

▼ 6% vs US

higher than 49% of US ZIPs

Median home value
$189,200

▼ 32% vs US

higher than 41% of US ZIPs

Bachelor's or higher
19.2%

Median age 38.1

Land area
666.3 sq mi

Chicago

ZIP code 47978 in Rensselaer, Indiana has a population of 11,793. The median household income is $71,616, which is 6% below the national average. Median home value is $189,200, 32% below the US average. 19.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

ZIP code 47978 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 666.3 square miles in Rensselaer, Jasper County, Indiana. The area is home to 11,793 residents, producing a population density of 18 people per square mile, and falls within the Chicago time zone. These USPS and Census boundary values drive every downstream statistic on this page, including the benchmarks that compare 47978 against Indiana and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 47978 sits at $71,616 (3% below the Indiana average), while per-capita income is $33,531. The poverty rate stands at 10.2% and the unemployment rate at 4.4%. On housing, the median home value is $189,200 (2% below the state average) with median rent at $936 per month, and 73.7% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 47978 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 19.2% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 38.1, and the average commute is 25 minutes. Use the benchmarks above to see where 47978 sits relative to Indiana and the national baseline rather than viewing the numbers in isolation. Every figure is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, HUD Fair Market Rents, and FHFA Home Price Index data, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with HUD →

Top industries in ZIP 47978

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 47978.

establishments

What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + HUD FMR + FHFA HPI ACS demographics, ZBP business establishments, HUD Fair Market Rents, FHFA HPI for ZIP 47978, Rensselaer, IN · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; HUD FMR + FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.

Quick Facts

11,793

Population

666.3

Area (sq mi)

18

People / sq mi

Chicago

Time Zone

standard

ZIP Type

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 47978?

38.1

Median Age

48.5%

Male

51.5%

Female

6.6%

Foreign-Born

White 82.9%
African American 1.5%
Asian 0.3%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.1%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 7.5%
Hispanic or Latino 11.1%

Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

How much do residents earn?

$71,616

Median Household Income

-3% vs state

$33,531

Per Capita Income

10.2%

Poverty Rate

4.4%

Unemployment Rate

25.2 min

Mean Commute Time

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What is the education profile here?

High School Graduate or Higher 55.2%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 19.2%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

4,309

Total Housing Units

3,959

Occupied Units

350

Vacant Units

2.49

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 73.7%
Renter 26.3%

$189,200

Median Home Value

-2% vs state

$936

Median Rent

1972

Median Year Built

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

How have home values changed over time?

FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals

+6.0%

YoY Change (2024)

192

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+92%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 47978 have increased 6.0% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +92% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +3.0% 139
2021 +9.3% 152
2022 +11.4% 169
2023 +7.3% 181
2024 +6.0% 192

Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.

What businesses operate in this ZIP?

Census Bureau data shows 313 business establishments in ZIP 47978, employing approximately 3,585 people with a combined annual payroll of $188,289,000.

313

Businesses

3,585

Employees

$188.3M

Annual Payroll

14

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Retail trade 45 14.4%
Other services (except public administration) 34 10.9%
Health care and social assistance 30 9.6%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 28 8.9%
Accommodation and food services 27 8.6%
Wholesale trade 25 8.0%
Transportation and warehousing 23 7.3%
Manufacturing 22 7.0%
Finance and insurance 21 6.7%
Construction 19 6.1%
Information 10 3.2%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 9 2.9%
Real estate and rental and leasing 7 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 7 2.2%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.

More ZIP Codes in Jasper County

46310 standard
Demotte, IN
Pop: 13,565
46392 standard
Wheatfield, IN
Pop: 7,957
47977 standard
Remington, IN
Pop: 2,206
47943 standard
Fair Oaks, IN
Pop: 932

Related Areas

Jasper County Rensselaer, IN Indiana

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 47978 in? ▼
ZIP code 47978 (Rensselaer) is located in Jasper County, Indiana. Jasper County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/jasper-in.
What is the population of ZIP code 47978? ▼
ZIP code 47978 in Rensselaer, IN has a population of 11,793 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 47978? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 47978 is $71,616, which is 6% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 47978? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 47978 is $189,200, which is 32% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 47978? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 47978 is White at 82.9%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 11.1% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 47978? ▼
ZIP code 47978 has 313 business establishments employing approximately 3,585 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 47978? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 47978 are: Retail trade (45), Other services (except public administration) (34), Health care and social assistance (30). There are 14 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 47978? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 47978 increased by 6.0% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 92%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 47978? ▼
In ZIP code 47978, 55.2% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 19.2% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 47978? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 47978 is 25.2 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 47978? ▼
In ZIP code 47978, approximately 73.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 26.3% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 47978? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 47978 is 10.2% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

ZIP Code Research Guides

Reading Census Demographics
How to interpret population, income, and education data from the Census Bureau.
Understanding ZIP Code Data
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ZIP Codes for Relocation
Data-driven tips for evaluating ZIP codes before a move.

Official Data Resources for Rensselaer, IN

Verify and explore additional data for this area using these official government sources.

U.S. Census Bureau
Official demographic, economic, and housing data from the American Community Survey.
HUD Fair Market Rents
Department of Housing and Urban Development rental cost estimates by metropolitan area.
FBI Uniform Crime Reports
Official crime statistics compiled from law enforcement agencies nationwide.
FHFA House Price Index
Federal Housing Finance Agency home value trends based on repeat sales and appraisals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023). Business data: Source: Census ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023. Home value trends: Source: FHFA House Price Index (HPI), Five-Digit ZIP Codes.

PlainZIP is not affiliated with the U.S. Census Bureau or any government agency.

Read our methodology , how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.