Executive Summary
Where You Live Matters – and so does the future we grow together.
It begins with understanding what life is like here—where we are most vulnerable and where opportunities for change can make the most impact. Imagine a region with lower food insecurity, reduced housing cost burdens, or fewer disparities across our communities.
Where You Live Matters is an analysis of regional data, designed to paint a vivid picture of life in the Greater Evansville Region and highlight how factors like housing, health, and opportunity shape quality of life. This Executive Summary presents critical insights from the full report.
As you lead, work, and advocate across issue areas, having accurate, timely data is essential. For deeper exploration and action planning, Grow’s resources—including the Where You Live Matters full report, Grow Library, and SAVI regional data system—offer best-in-class information, tools, and data.
We invite you to engage with these findings, share them with colleagues, and consider how your work can contribute to a more flourishing future for every resident.
Demographics
Greater Evansville’s population growth rate remains flat with a 0.6% decline overall. County growth is driven by Warrick County (+3.5%) with declines elsewhere. Rising diversity, especially in Vanderburgh, Warrick, and Henderson counties, reflects subtle demographic shifts.
Environment
Environmental disparities persist across the region—11% of residents live in census tracts with the nation’s highest pollution burden, and 144,000 face poor water quality; impacts are most concentrated in central Evansville and near major industrial sites.
Food Access & Security
Food access and affordability are challenges across the region—food deserts impact the population, primarily in Vanderburgh (15,300 residents) and Henderson (5,100 residents) counties. Food insecurity is highest in Henderson (17.0%) and Vanderburgh (14.9%), exceeding the national average of 13.5%.
Health
Regional life expectancy (76.4 years) exceeds the state average but varies from 74.3 years to 79.0 years across the counties. Heart disease is the region’s top and increasing cause of death and one in four adults reports depression. Provider shortages are most acute in rural Posey County.
Housing
70% of the region own their homes, but in recent years, rising costs and limited inventory strained affordability for many residents. Across five years, home sale prices increased 43% and rents 22%. 24% of households—especially renters—spend a burdensome share of their income on housing.
Justice
Disparities in housing, income, and employment persist across race, ethnicity, and gender. Black households earn half the income of white households, face higher unemployment, and have lower homeownership, while women earn 35% less than men despite higher educational attainment.
Religion
Evangelicals have been the region’s largest denomination since 1980, with declining Catholic and Mainline Protestant membership. Religious communities have helped shape the region and today serve as hubs for community engagement and provide services like food assistance and counseling.
Socioeconomic Status
Median income in the Greater Evansville Region, $65,812 is below state and national levels and educational attainment is uneven across racial groups. While overall poverty matches Indiana’s rate at 12.4%, Black and Hispanic communities are more impacted, and unemployment varies by county from 2.8% to 4.7%.
Areas of Vulnerability: Neighborhoods
23 regional neighborhoods have vulnerabilities in health, socioeconomic status, environment, food access, and housing, with the most vulnerabilities in Northeast Jacobsville, Old Erie and Ballard, Center City Improvement Association (CCIA), and Downtown Henderson/East End.
Demographics
Where You Live Matters is a product of Grow
in partnership with The Polis Center.
Guide