Scott County, Indiana
A shallow water table limits basements on 76% of Scott County's mapped land, a higher share than 85% of US counties. Shrink-swell clay limits houses without basements on 2%.
None of the county is in drought on the October 13, 2026 Drought Monitor map. FEMA's flood data list 3 flood losses here since 2016. 46% of homes were built before 1980, against 50% nationally; the median home dates from 1983.
Data as of October 13, 2026 · sources
expansive clay: shrink-swell limits slab homes
high water table: limits basements
in drought, October 13, 2026
of homes built before 1980
Soil under Scott County
| Expansive clay (limits slab homes) | 2.4% |
| High water table (limits basements) | 76.0% |
| Septic fields very limited | 94.0% |
| Clay swell (LEP, by area) | 3.0% |
| High-swell land (LEP 6%+) | 2.2% |
| Mapped soil | 123,341 acres |
| Soil series | Share here | Series nationally: high water table |
|---|---|---|
| Nabb | 8% | n/a |
| Cincinnati | 8% | n/a |
| Stendal | 7% | n/a |
| Avonburg | 6% | n/a |
| Blocher | 6% | n/a |
| Haubstadt | 5% | n/a |
How we count · survey areas IN143 (2025-09-03)
What the numbers mean here
On 76% of Scott County's mapped land, soil stays saturated within about 6 feet of the surface for part of the year, which is basement depth.
Rain over the 12 months to August 2026: 49.41 in, 1.35 in above the 1991-2020 average year of 48.06 in.
USDA rates 94% of the land very limited for septic absorption fields.
Drought
0% of the county is in drought (D1 or worse) on the October 13, 2026 map. Part of the county was in drought in 1 of the last 52 weeks; the most was 93.6% of its area, on the March 3, 2026 map.
| Category, October 13, 2026 | Share of county |
|---|---|
| D0 abnormally dry or worse | 100% |
| D1 moderate drought or worse | 0% |
| D2 severe or worse | 0% |
| D3 extreme or worse | 0% |
| D4 exceptional | 0% |
Flood losses since 2016
3 flood losses since 2016, $144,842 paid. The worst year was 2026, with 1.
| Year | Flood losses |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 to date | 1 |
Rain
| Average year, 1991-2020 | 48.06 in |
| 12 months to August 2026 | 49.41 in (+1.35) |
| 2025 | 46.82 in (-1.24) |
| Wettest year since 1895 | 2018: 63.40 in |
| Driest year since 1895 | 1901: 28.29 in |
| Days with 1 inch or more, normal at MADISON SEWAGE PLT (20 mi away) | 14.3 |
Homes
| Housing units | 10,840 |
| Median year built | 1983 |
| Built before 1980 | 46% |
| Built 2000 or later | 23% |
| Owner-occupied | 71% |
| Median value, owner-occupied | $158,400 |
| Single-family detached | 66% |
What repairs cost
Published ranges from cost guides, not quotes. More sources, and where they disagree.
Nearby counties
| Place | Distance | Expansive clay | High water table |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clark County, IN | 14 mi | 13% | 44% |
| Jefferson County, IN | 18 mi | 13% | 56% |
| Washington County, IN | 20 mi | 16% | 31% |
| Trimble County, KY | 22 mi | 6% | 11% |
| Jackson County, IN | 22 mi | 4% | 60% |
| Jennings County, IN | 23 mi | 5% | 76% |
| Oldham County, KY | 25 mi | 7% | 17% |
| Floyd County, IN | 26 mi | 27% | 20% |
Sources: USDA SSURGO (September 3, 2025) · US Drought Monitor (October 13, 2026) · FEMA NFIP v3 (September 9, 2026) · NOAA (August 2026) · Census ACS 2020-2024. Methods · Data status