Starke County
IN · Pop. 23,300 · Suburban County
Starke County sits in Indiana across 309 square miles, home to 23,300 people at 75.4 per square mile. The agricultural economy is rated moderate, built on corn, soybeans, mint. The median home price is $148,000, with an effective property tax rate of 0.6%. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 5b with a 170-day growing season, average summer highs of 81.1°F and average winter lows of 20.8°F. Annual rainfall averages 41.6 inches, generally adequate for the region's crops and pasture. Northwest Health - Starke is 1.2 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 93% of homes. On the hazard side, tornado risk is high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- A low effective property tax rate of 0.6% holds annual carrying costs down.
- A median home price of $148,000 makes land and property relatively affordable.
- Broadband reaches 93% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- Northwest Health - Starke, with an emergency room, is just 1.2 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
- Annual rainfall of 41.6 inches supports rain-fed gardens and pasture in most years.
At a glance
Starke County, IN is a strong overall fit for homesteading.
- Homestead score
- 93/100
- Median home price
- $148k
- Property tax
- 0.6%
- Growing season
- 170 days (zone 5b)
- Annual rainfall
- 41.6"
- Broadband
- 93%
- Nearest hospital
- Northwest Health - Starke, 1.2 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Starke County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Starke County?
- Starke County is in USDA hardiness zone 5b with a 170-day growing season, average summer highs of 81.1°F, and average winter lows of 20.8°F. The established crops are corn, soybeans, mint.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $148,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.6%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 93% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- Northwest Health - Starke is 1.2 miles away and includes an emergency room; there is 1 hospital in the county.
Explore Indiana Resources
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LandWatch
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Lands of America
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AcreTrader
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More counties in Indiana
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The closest counties to Starke County by distance, including across state lines.
Data sources
Verified
Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.
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