County FMR · HUD FY2026

Putnam County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Putnam County, IN - 12% below the US average.

$843
1-bedroom FMR
$1,030
2-bedroom FMR
+3.3%
YoY change
-12%
vs US avg

The verdict

Putnam is the 44th most expensive of 92 counties in Indiana by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #1,573 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties.

#1,573
most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#44
most expensive of 92 in Indiana (2BR)
-4%
vs the state average
$33,720
income to afford it (30% rule)

General and Operations Managers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (9.3%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (35.8%).

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

Putnam County, Indiana carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $843 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,030/mo and a studio is $738/mo. That's 12% below the national benchmark of $959 and 4% below the Indiana average of $882.

Rent increased3.3% from FY 2025 ($816), outpacing inflation. Under the 30% rule, affordability starts near $33,720/year for a 1-bedroom.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Indiana. Population: 36,942. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (-1.2%, Census ACS). That's slower than Indiana's statewide growth of +2.6% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area PUTNAM·COUNTY·IN·IN

Putnam County, IN: $843/mo 1BR · #1573 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA IN
  • 1BR-FMR $843
  • 2BR-FMR $1,030
  • RANK-MID #1,573
  • YOY-UP +3.3%
  • VSUS-BELOW -12%
  • VS-ST-NEAR -4% IN
  • INC-ROOM 13%
  • POP-SMALL 37K
  • PHOTO-NEAR Marion County
  • VOUCH-90-110 $759–$927
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: Marion ($424 1BR gap)

Read with: How Fair Market Rent works

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $816 · US avg: $893
$738/mo
↓ 0.9% YoY -10% vs state -17% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $882 · US avg: $959
$843/mo
↑ 3.3% YoY -4% vs state -12% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,096 · US avg: $1,175
$1,030/mo
↓ 1.8% YoY -6% vs state -12% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,391 · US avg: $1,525
$1,390/mo
↓ 0.5% YoY -0% vs state -9% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $1,590 · US avg: $1,756
$1,634/mo
↓ 0.1% YoY +3% vs state -7% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $745
$738
$-7 (-0.9%)
1 Bedroom $816
$843
+$27 (+3.3%)
2 Bedroom $1,049
$1,030
$-19 (-1.8%)
3 Bedroom $1,397
$1,390
$-7 (-0.5%)
4 Bedroom $1,636
$1,634
$-2 (-0.1%)

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
11.6%
Affordable
Need $29,520/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
13.3%
Affordable
Need $33,720/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
16.2%
Affordable
Need $41,200/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
21.9%
Affordable
Need $55,600/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
25.7%
Affordable
Need $65,360/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%16.2%
Putnam County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $76,182 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Indiana rent burden →

Where Putnam sits among every US county

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

$1,030 higher than 50% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $1,200–$1,400: 417 counties (13%). Above this entry. $1,400–$1,600: 181 counties (6%). Above this entry. $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 Putnam compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Indiana counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Putnam is highlighted. Nearby Indiana counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Marion County ($1,267), Hamilton County ($1,267), St. Joseph County ($1,105), Lake County ($1,082), Elkhart County ($992), Allen County ($916), Putnam County (this county) ($843).

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

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

How a 1-bedroom at $843/mo compares to Indiana salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).

Occupation IN Salary Rent Burden Verdict
General & Operations Managers $108,410 9.3% Affordable
Software Developers $103,570 9.8% Affordable
Registered Nurses $80,740 12.5% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $77,410 13.1% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $71,540 14.1% Affordable
Electricians $65,480 15.4% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $60,090 16.8% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $58,370 17.3% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $50,690 20% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $41,600 24.3% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $40,020 25.3% Affordable
Janitors & Cleaners $35,240 28.7% Affordable
Teaching Assistants $30,460 33.2% Stretched
Retail Salespersons $30,300 33.4% Stretched
Fast Food & Counter Workers $28,290 35.8% Stretched
Salaries: BLS OES (Indiana) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

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

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Putnam (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 45.1% overall, from $581 to $843. The path there hasn't been smooth: year-over-year moves have swung by as much as 23.6% (FY 2024), a volatility pattern that makes single-year comparisons a poor guide to the underlying trend.

$500$600$700$800$900 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $843
Putnam County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑3.3% $738 $843 $1,030
FY 2025 ↓4.6% $745 $816 $1,049
FY 2024 ↑23.6% $827 $855 $1,124
FY 2023 ↑15.3% $663 $692 $901
FY 2022 ↑1.7% $589 $600 $769
FY 2021 ↑1.5% $572 $590 $762
FY 2020 $570 $581 $754
Total change (6yr): +45.1%
Annualized: +6.4%/yr
1 BR: $581 → $843

Part of the Greencastle, IN Micro Area

Putnam County is a central county of the Greencastle, IN micropolitan statistical area.

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Putnam 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).

Schuylkill County
PA · 2 BR $1,030/mo
Bay County
MI · 2 BR $1,030/mo
Lake and Peninsula Borough
AK · 2 BR $1,030/mo
Taney County
MO · 2 BR $1,029/mo

Similar rent burden

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

Crook County
WY · 16.2% of income · 2 BR $963/mo
Lancaster County
SC · 16.2% of income · 2 BR $1,011/mo
Kanabec County
MN · 16.2% of income · 2 BR $973/mo
Anderson County
KS · 16.2% of income · 2 BR $877/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 Putnam County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Putnam County is $843 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,030 and a studio is $738.
How does Putnam County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Putnam County is 12% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $843 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Putnam County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Putnam County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,030 ranks #1,573 most expensive among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the middle half of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in Putnam County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $33,720 ($2,810/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Putnam County.
Is rent going up or down in Putnam County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Putnam County increased by 3.3% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $816 to $843.
Which jobs can afford rent in Putnam 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 $843/mo. 12 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Putnam County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Putnam County went from $581 in FY 2020 to $843 in FY 2026, a total change of +45.1% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Putnam County? ▼
In Putnam County, the FY 2026 FMR of $843/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 Putnam County? ▼
For Putnam County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($843/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.