Vermillion County, Indiana
A shallow water table limits basements on 50% of Vermillion County's mapped land, a higher share than 67% of US counties. Shrink-swell clay limits houses without basements on 6%.
None of the county is in drought on the October 13, 2026 Drought Monitor map. FEMA's flood data list no flood losses here since 2016. 68% of homes were built before 1980, against 50% nationally; the median home dates from 1962.
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 Vermillion County
| Expansive clay (limits slab homes) | 6.0% |
| High water table (limits basements) | 50.3% |
| Septic fields very limited | 89.8% |
| Clay swell (LEP, by area) | 3.8% |
| High-swell land (LEP 6%+) | 6.0% |
| Mapped soil | 166,413 acres |
| Soil series | Share here | Series nationally: high water table |
|---|---|---|
| Sable | 10% | n/a |
| Hennepin | 7% | n/a |
| Xenia | 7% | 98% |
| Ragsdale | 7% | n/a |
| Genesee | 7% | n/a |
| Reesville | 7% | n/a |
How we count · survey areas IN165 (2025-09-02)
What the numbers mean here
On 50% of Vermillion 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: 46.47 in, 4.71 in above the 1991-2020 average year of 41.76 in.
USDA rates 90% 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 23 of the last 52 weeks; the most was 100% of its area, in 14 weeks, most recently on the March 10, 2026 map.
| Category, October 13, 2026 | Share of county |
|---|---|
| D0 abnormally dry or worse | 0% |
| D1 moderate drought or worse | 0% |
| D2 severe or worse | 0% |
| D3 extreme or worse | 0% |
| D4 exceptional | 0% |
Flood losses since 2016
FEMA's flood data list no flood losses in Vermillion County since 2016.
Rain
| Average year, 1991-2020 | 41.76 in |
| 12 months to August 2026 | 46.47 in (+4.71) |
| 2025 | 30.20 in (-11.56) |
| Wettest year since 1895 | 1990: 54.30 in |
| Driest year since 1895 | 1914: 26.71 in |
| Days with 1 inch or more, normal at ROCKVILLE (14 mi away) | 13 |
Homes
| Housing units | 7,337 |
| Median year built | 1962 |
| Built before 1980 | 68% |
| Built 2000 or later | 12% |
| Owner-occupied | 75% |
| Median value, owner-occupied | $113,100 |
| Single-family detached | 82% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parke County, IN | 15 mi | 1% | 42% |
| Edgar County, IL | 19 mi | 16% | 83% |
| Fountain County, IN | 22 mi | 8% | 64% |
| Vermilion County, IL | 27 mi | 34% | 90% |
| Vigo County, IN | 29 mi | 1% | 58% |
| Montgomery County, IN | 33 mi | 20% | 77% |
| Warren County, IN | 35 mi | 5% | 82% |
| Putnam County, IN | 35 mi | 2% | 65% |
Sources: USDA SSURGO (September 2, 2025) · US Drought Monitor (October 13, 2026) · FEMA NFIP v3 (September 9, 2026) · NOAA (August 2026) · Census ACS 2020-2024. Methods · Data status