County FMR · HUD FY2026
Ripley County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Ripley County, IN - 22% below the US average.
- $752
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $987
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +4.4%
- YoY change
- -22%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Ripley is the 40th cheapest of 92 counties in Indiana by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #1,353 most affordable of 3,145 HUD counties.
- #1,353
- most affordable of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
- #40
- cheapest of 92 in Indiana (2BR)
- -15%
- vs the state average
- $30,080
- income to afford it (30% rule)
General and Operations Managers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (8.3%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (31.9%); 14 of 15 common occupations here can afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent without exceeding the 30% threshold.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Ripley County, IN. Verify with HUD →
HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Ripley County, Indiana at $752 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $987/mo and a studio is $681/mo. This is 22% lower than the national average of $959 and 15% below the Indiana average of $882.
Rent increased4.4% from FY 2025 ($720), outpacing inflation. The 30% affordability floor is comparatively reachable here at $30,080/year.
Observed renter burden: 39.6% of the 2,519 renter households counted by ACS paid at least 30% of income in gross rent. This ACS 2023 household measure is distinct from HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent benchmark above.
Market slack: The ACS rental vacancy rate here is 5.3%, close to the range where market rents and HUD's FMR benchmark tend to track each other.
Local labor market: The county's BLS unemployment rate has averaged 3.1% over the past 12 months, a tight labor market that typically supports steadier rent demand.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Indiana. Population: 28,990. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+2.2%, Census ACS). That's in line with Indiana's statewide growth of +2.6% over the same period.
FMR filing desk
Area RIPLEY·COUNTY·IN·IN
Ripley County, IN: $752/mo 1BR · #1353 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026
- FMR-AREA IN
- 1BR-FMR $752
- 2BR-FMR $987
- RANK-MID #1,353
- YOY-UP +4.4%
- VSUS-BELOW -22%
- VS-ST-LOW -15% IN
- INC-ROOM 13%
- POP-SMALL 29K
- PHOTO-NEAR Marion County
- VOUCH-90-110 $677–$827
- FY-2026 FY2026
Photo-finish peer: Marion ($515 1BR gap)
Read with: Section 8 housing guide
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $677 | $681 | +$4 (+0.6%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $720 | $752 | +$32 (+4.4%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $944 | $987 | +$43 (+4.6%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,323 | $1,302 | $-21 (-1.6%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,335 | $1,307 | $-28 (-2.1%) |
Rent Burden Analysis
How much of household income goes to rent in Ripley County. The 30% threshold indicates cost burden.
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.
Where Ripley sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$987 higher than 43% of 3,145 counties
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 Ripley compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Indiana counties
- Marion
Marion County
$1,267 1BR FMR / mo
- Hamilton
Hamilton County
$1,267 1BR FMR / mo
- St. Joseph
St. Joseph County
$1,105 1BR FMR / mo
- Lake
Lake County
$1,082 1BR FMR / mo
- Elkhart
Elkhart County
$992 1BR FMR / mo
- Allen
Allen County
$916 1BR FMR / mo
- Ripley
Ripley County
$752 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Ripley 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), Ripley County (this county) ($752).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
With a below-average 1-bedroom at $752/mo, most of these Indiana occupations clear, or miss, the 30% affordability line.
| Occupation | IN Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| General & Operations Managers | $108,410 | 8.3% | Affordable |
| Software Developers | $103,570 | 8.7% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $80,740 | 11.2% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $77,410 | 11.7% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $71,540 | 12.6% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $65,480 | 13.8% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $60,090 | 15% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $58,370 | 15.5% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $50,690 | 17.8% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $41,600 | 21.7% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $40,020 | 22.5% | Affordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $35,240 | 25.6% | Affordable |
| Teaching Assistants | $30,460 | 29.6% | Affordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $30,300 | 29.8% | Affordable |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $28,290 | 31.9% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Ripley County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Ripley (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 30.8% overall, from $575 to $752. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +14.0% in FY 2023, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑4.4% | $681 | $752 | $987 |
| FY 2025 ↑7.0% | $677 | $720 | $944 |
| FY 2024 ↑4.8% | $617 | $673 | $884 |
| FY 2023 ↑14.0% | $583 | $642 | $845 |
| FY 2022 ↓2.3% | $497 | $563 | $741 |
| FY 2021 ↑0.2% | $493 | $576 | $732 |
| FY 2020 | $471 | $575 | $714 |
Where Ripley County Ranks in Indiana
Ripley County is not part of any federally-designated metropolitan or micropolitan statistical area -- an independent rental market not administratively tied to a larger urban core. By 2-bedroom FMR, it ranks #40 of 92 counties in Indiana. Nearest by rank: Jennings County ($961), Fulton County ($962), Parke County ($964), Montgomery County ($966), Noble County ($967), Jefferson County ($971), Carroll County ($973), LaGrange County ($977), Ripley County (this county) ($987), Washington County ($988), Wells County ($991), Gibson County ($1,001), Daviess County ($1,003), Clinton County ($1,007), Marshall County ($1,008), Scott County ($1,009), Sullivan County ($1,028).
Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden
Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Ripley 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).
Similar rent burden
Nearest 2BR FMR as a share of median household income (outside IN).
Nearby Counties in Indiana
Largest counties by population in Indiana
Showing the 8 largest of 91 other counties in Indiana.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Ripley County?
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Ripley County is $752 per month. A 2-bedroom is $987 and a studio is $681.
How does Ripley County rent compare to the national average?
Rent in Ripley County is 22% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $752 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Ripley County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent?
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Ripley County's 2-bedroom FMR of $987 ranks #1,353 most affordable among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the middle half of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in Ripley County?
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $30,080 ($2,507/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Ripley County.
Is rent going up or down in Ripley County?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Ripley County increased by 4.4% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $720 to $752.
Which jobs can afford rent in Ripley 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 $752/mo. 14 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Ripley County over time?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Ripley County went from $575 in FY 2020 to $752 in FY 2026, a total change of +30.8% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Ripley County?
In Ripley County, the FY 2026 FMR of $752/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 Ripley County?
For Ripley County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($752/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).
Is the rental market tight or loose in Ripley County?
The ACS rental vacancy rate here is 5.3%, close to the range where market rents and HUD's FMR benchmark tend to track each other.
What is the unemployment rate in Ripley County?
The county's BLS unemployment rate has averaged 3.1% over the past 12 months, a tight labor market that typically supports steadier rent demand.
Data sources
What this means for renters
Treat Ripley's FY2026 Fair Market Rent as HUD's affordability benchmark, not a single market quote.
- Budget to roughly 30% of income: the FY2026 1-bedroom FMR of $752 implies about $30,080/yr to rent without being cost-burdened. Run your numbers
- Indiana counties vary widely around this figure - compare specific counties before assuming this applies to yours. Compare vs Marion
- See where Ripley ranks nationally on rent. National rankings
Fair Market Rent is HUD's 40th-percentile policy benchmark used to set Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. Actual asking rents can run higher or lower, and HUD updates FMRs once a year. This site is informational and not financial or relocation advice.
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.