Allen County posts its ninth straight year of positive domestic migration

County surpasses 400,000 residents for the first time

Allen County continues to outpace both state and national trends, posting sustained population growth in 2025. According to data released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau, Allen County added 3,235 residents over the past year, a 0.81% increase. That growth exceeded Indiana’s rate of 0.56% and the national rate of 0.49%, bringing Allen County’s total population to 402,329 – the largest number in its history.

“Reaching the 400,000-resident mark for the first time and seeing positive net migration for the ninth consecutive year speaks to the continued momentum of Allen County,” said John Urbahns, President and CEO of Greater Fort Wayne Inc. “People are choosing Allen County because of the opportunities, quality of life, and sense of community they find here. This growth reflects the work happening across our community to make this a place where individuals and families want to live, work, and build their future.”

Population growth is shaped by several factors, including natural change, domestic migration, and international migration. Natural change measures the difference between births and deaths, while domestic migration reflects the number of people moving into Allen County from elsewhere in the United States, compared to those moving away. In 2025, Allen County’s domestic migration rose 34.1% over the previous year, increasing from 601 to 806 and marking the county’s ninth consecutive year of positive domestic migration.

Year Net Domestic Migration Growth/Loss

• 2012 -1,082
• 2013 -245
• 2014 -800
• 2015 -161
• 2016 -597
• 2017 +81
• 2018 +772
• 2019 +1,514
• 2020 +259
• 2021 +1,345
• 2022 +480
• 2023 +88
• 2024 +601
• 2025 +806

In Indiana, international migration was the largest contributor to population growth in 2025, however, Allen County’s growth story was more balanced. Both natural change and migration played significant roles in the county’s increase, with natural change contributing 1,510 residents and net migration (including international and domestic) adding 1,696. Allen County recorded the third-highest natural change among Indiana counties in 2025, trailing only Marion and Hamilton counties, and ranked fourth for international migration. Together, these figures point to a community that continues to attract new residents while also maintaining strong long-term population momentum.

“The fact that more individuals and families are choosing us says something real about this community — that we see them, that we’re invested in them, and that we’re serious about creating a place where they can thrive,” said Mayor Sharon Tucker. “We’re not just growing in numbers through public and private partnerships; we’re growing in opportunity, and the best is still ahead.”

The Fort Wayne metro also continued its upward trajectory in 2025. The metropolitan statistical area ranked 117th out of 387 metro areas nationwide by population, up from 120th in 2020. Fort Wayne remains among the top five metro areas in the Great Lakes region for post-pandemic population growth.

Within the 11-county Northeast Indiana region, 76% of all new residents added from 2024 to 2025 resided in Allen County. In addition, DeKalb, Huntington, Steuben, Wabash, Wells, and Whitley counties all experienced positive domestic migration, pointing to broader strength across Northeast Indiana.

“While a net growth of residents is a point of pride, there is a financial stability component to this optimistic news as well. Hitting that 400,000+ population mark due to positive migration is predictive of our community’s long-term health. When population grows, so does property, income, and sales tax revenues, which directly fund the most essential public services that our residents rely on every day – such as public safety, emergency response, public health, road maintenance, and more. As your Commissioners, we are committed to making the sound financial decisions that meet the needs of our growing population today and into the future,” shared Commissioners Rich Beck, Therese Brown, and Ron Turpin in a joint statement.

Allen County’s growth tells a larger story about the strength of this community. While national population growth slowed from 2024 to 2025, Allen County has continued to outpace both the state and the nation. That sustained momentum reflects a community that continues to create opportunity, invest in quality of life, and attract people who want to build their future here.