County FMR · HUD FY2026

Bartholomew County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Bartholomew County, IN - 31% above the US average.

$1,257
1-bedroom FMR
$1,415
2-bedroom FMR
+9.8%
YoY change
+31%
vs US avg

The verdict

Bartholomew is the 10th most expensive of 92 counties in Indiana by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #566 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 9.8% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.

#566
most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#10
most expensive of 92 in Indiana (2BR)
+43%
vs the state average
$50,280
income to afford it (30% rule)

General and Operations Managers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (13.9%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (53.3%).

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Bartholomew County, IN. Verify with HUD →

HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Bartholomew County, Indiana at $1,257 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,415/mo and a studio is $1,233/mo. This is 31% higher than the national average of $959 and 43% above the Indiana average of $882.

Rent increased9.8% from FY 2025 ($1,145), outpacing inflation. A household needs about $50,280/year to stay under the 30% rent-to-income line.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Indiana. Population: 82,371. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+1.2%, Census ACS). That's in line with Indiana's statewide growth of +2.6% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area BARTHOLOMEW·COUNTY·IN·IN

Bartholomew County, IN: $1,257/mo 1BR · #566 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA IN
  • 1BR-FMR $1,257
  • 2BR-FMR $1,415
  • RANK-MID #566
  • YOY-SURGE +9.8%
  • VSUS-HIGH +31%
  • VS-ST-HIGH +43% IN
  • INC-ROOM 19%
  • POP-MID 82K
  • PHOTO-FINISH Marion County
  • VOUCH-90-110 $1,131–$1,383
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: Marion ($10 1BR gap)

Read with: Understanding rent burden

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $816 · US avg: $893
$1,233/mo
↑ 11.8% YoY +51% vs state +38% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $882 · US avg: $959
$1,257/mo
↑ 9.8% YoY +43% vs state +31% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,096 · US avg: $1,175
$1,415/mo
↑ 11.6% YoY +29% vs state +20% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,391 · US avg: $1,525
$1,697/mo
↑ 10.4% YoY +22% vs state +11% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $1,590 · US avg: $1,756
$2,000/mo
↑ 12.6% YoY +26% vs state +14% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $1,103
$1,233
+$130 (+11.8%)
1 Bedroom $1,145
$1,257
+$112 (+9.8%)
2 Bedroom $1,268
$1,415
+$147 (+11.6%)
3 Bedroom $1,537
$1,697
+$160 (+10.4%)
4 Bedroom $1,776
$2,000
+$224 (+12.6%)

Rent Burden Analysis

How much of household income goes to rent in Bartholomew County. The 30% threshold indicates cost burden.

Studio
18.4%
Affordable
Need $49,320/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
18.8%
Affordable
Need $50,280/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
21.1%
Affordable
Need $56,600/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
25.3%
Affordable
Need $67,880/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
29.9%
Affordable
Need $80,000/yr for 30% rule
How we calculate this

Rent burden = (FMR × 12) ÷ county median household income. Required income = (FMR × 12) ÷ 0.3, the federal 30%-of-gross-income rule HUD uses to define cost burden. Median household income is from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey; FMR is from HUD's FY2026 release. See methodology.

0%100%National avg22%21.1%
Bartholomew County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $80,365 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Indiana rent burden →

Where Bartholomew sits among every US county

2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties

$1,415 Top 18% higher than 82% of 3,145 counties

$600–$800: 23 counties (1%). Below this entry. $800–$1,000: 1,406 counties (45%). Below this entry. $1,000–$1,200: 723 counties (23%). Below this entry. $1,200–$1,400: 417 counties (13%). Below this entry. $1,400–$1,600: 181 counties (6%). This entry sits in this band. $1,600–$1,800: 172 counties (5%). Above this entry. $1,800–$2,000: 108 counties (3%). Above this entry. $2,000–$2,200: 29 counties (1%). Above this entry. $2,200–$2,400: 40 counties (1%). Above this entry. $2,400–$2,600: 13 counties (0%). Above this entry. $2,600–$2,800: 9 counties (0%). Above this entry. $2,800–$3,000: 15 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,000–$3,200: 3 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,200–$3,400: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,400–$3,600: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,600–$3,800: 3 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,800–$4,000: 0 counties (0%). Above this entry. $4,000–$4,200: 0 counties (0%). Above this entry. $4,200–$4,400: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. This county $600 $4,400 every US county, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $0.2K-wide band; taller bars hold more counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Fair Market Rents · FY2026

How Bartholomew compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Indiana counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Bartholomew is highlighted. Nearby Indiana counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Marion County ($1,267), Hamilton County ($1,267), Bartholomew County (this county) ($1,257), St. Joseph County ($1,105), Lake County ($1,082), Elkhart County ($992), Allen County ($916).

Source U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) As of FY2026

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

Against a high local FMR of $1,257/mo, which of 15 common occupations still clear the 30% line using Indiana BLS wages?

Occupation IN Salary Rent Burden Verdict
General & Operations Managers $108,410 13.9% Affordable
Software Developers $103,570 14.6% Affordable
Registered Nurses $80,740 18.7% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $77,410 19.5% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $71,540 21.1% Affordable
Electricians $65,480 23% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $60,090 25.1% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $58,370 25.8% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $50,690 29.8% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $41,600 36.3% Stretched
Pharmacy Technicians $40,020 37.7% Stretched
Janitors & Cleaners $35,240 42.8% Stretched
Teaching Assistants $30,460 49.5% Stretched
Retail Salespersons $30,300 49.8% Stretched
Fast Food & Counter Workers $28,290 53.3% Unaffordable
Salaries: BLS OES (Indiana) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

7-year Fair Market Rent history for Bartholomew County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Bartholomew (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 72.7% overall, from $728 to $1,257. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +15.9% in FY 2024, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.

$600$800$1,000$1,200$1,400 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $1,257
Bartholomew County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑9.8% $1,233 $1,257 $1,415
FY 2025 ↑7.5% $1,103 $1,145 $1,268
FY 2024 ↑15.9% $1,037 $1,065 $1,196
FY 2023 ↑11.4% $899 $919 $1,038
FY 2022 ↑8.0% $822 $825 $953
FY 2021 ↑4.9% $760 $764 $901
FY 2020 $724 $728 $876
Total change (6yr): +72.7%
Annualized: +9.5%/yr
1 BR: $728 → $1,257

Part of the Columbus, IN Metro Area

Bartholomew County is a central county of the Columbus, IN metropolitan statistical area.

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Bartholomew County, both outside Indiana so the link neighborhoods are not the same-state geography lattice above. Axes stay disjoint: burden peers exclude the FMR peer set.

Similar 2-bedroom FMR

Nearest HUD 2BR Fair Market Rents outside IN (FY2026).

Silver Bow County
MT · 2 BR $1,414/mo
Kennebec County
ME · 2 BR $1,416/mo
Yellowstone County
MT · 2 BR $1,417/mo
Carbon County
MT · 2 BR $1,417/mo

Similar rent burden

Nearest 2BR FMR as a share of median household income (outside IN).

Dare County
NC · 21.1% of income · 2 BR $1,430/mo
Woodruff County
AR · 21.1% of income · 2 BR $880/mo
Gloucester County
NJ · 21.1% of income · 2 BR $1,810/mo
Glascock County
GA · 21.1% of income · 2 BR $973/mo

Nearby Counties in Indiana

Largest counties by population in Indiana

Showing the 8 largest of 91 other counties in Indiana.

Marion County
1 BR: $1,267/mo Pop: 971,737
Lake County
1 BR: $1,082/mo Pop: 497,682
Allen County
1 BR: $916/mo Pop: 385,456
Hamilton County
1 BR: $1,267/mo Pop: 349,527
St. Joseph County
1 BR: $1,105/mo Pop: 272,388
Elkhart County
1 BR: $992/mo Pop: 206,841
Tippecanoe County
1 BR: $1,032/mo Pop: 186,955
Vanderburgh County
1 BR: $860/mo Pop: 179,900
View all counties in Indiana →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Bartholomew County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Bartholomew County is $1,257 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,415 and a studio is $1,233.
How does Bartholomew County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Bartholomew County is 31% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $1,257 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Bartholomew County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Bartholomew County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,415 ranks #566 most expensive among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the upper-rent quarter of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in Bartholomew County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $50,280 ($4,190/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Bartholomew County.
Is rent going up or down in Bartholomew County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Bartholomew County increased by 9.8% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $1,145 to $1,257.
Which jobs can afford rent in Bartholomew County? ▼
Based on Indiana BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like General and Operations Managers, Software Developers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $1,257/mo. 9 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Bartholomew County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Bartholomew County went from $728 in FY 2020 to $1,257 in FY 2026, a total change of +72.7% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Bartholomew County? ▼
In Bartholomew County, the FY 2026 FMR of $1,257/mo for a 1-bedroom sets the baseline that local housing authorities use for Section 8 payment standards.
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Bartholomew County? ▼
For Bartholomew County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($1,257/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and HUD Fair Market Rents. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.

All federal data sources used on this page
  • HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) - county-level fair-market rent estimates by bedroom count. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr
  • HUD Income Limits - area median income for affordability calculations. huduser.gov/datasets/il
  • HUD Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS) - rent burden and housing-cost distribution. huduser.gov/datasets/cp
  • U.S. Census Bureau ACS - county and metro housing characteristics + median rent. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
  • BLS Consumer Price Index, Rent of Primary Residence - rent inflation by metro. bls.gov/cpi
  • IRS Migration Data (SOI) - interstate migration aggregates affecting county demand. irs.gov/statistics/migration
  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics - state-level median wages by occupation, used for job affordability analysis. bls.gov/oes

Every figure on PlainRent is rendered directly from HUD's published Fair Market Rent records, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of FY 2026.