Bartholomew County, IN: Fair Market Rent 2027 and Income Limits

Official HUD figures for landlords and renters, effective October 1, 2026 (rents) and May 1, 2026 (income limits).

$1,4932-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$1,2761-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$77,70080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$94,200Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Bartholomew County is $1,493 a month, up 5.5% from $1,415 in FY2026. Bartholomew County belongs to the Columbus, IN MSA FMR area, so the same figures apply across that area. FMRs are gross rents: rent plus all tenant-paid utilities except phone, cable and internet.

Fair market rent in Bartholomew County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$1,261	$1,233	+2.3%	$1,135 – $1,387
1 bedroom	$1,276	$1,257	+1.5%	$1,149 – $1,403
2 bedrooms	$1,493	$1,415	+5.5%	$1,344 – $1,642
3 bedrooms	$1,779	$1,697	+4.8%	$1,602 – $1,956
4 bedrooms	$2,126	$2,000	+6.3%	$1,914 – $2,338

Source: HUD Fair Market Rents FY2027 (effective October 1, 2026) and FY2026 (revised file), details.

What can a landlord charge a Section 8 tenant here?

The FMR is not a cap on what you can ask on the open market. For a Housing Choice Voucher tenant, the local housing authority sets a payment standard, normally between 90% and 110% of the FMR (or of the ZIP-level Small Area FMR where those apply). For a two-bedroom unit in Bartholomew County that is typically $1,344 to $1,642 including utilities. You can charge more than the payment standard if the rent passes the housing authority's rent-reasonableness test and, at move-in, the tenant's share stays within 40% of their adjusted monthly income. Ask the housing authority for its current payment standard schedule.

Can local renters afford the fair market rent?

$48,145median income of renter households

$1,127Median gross rent, all units

28%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

43%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $48,145 can afford about $1,204 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,493 is $289 (24.0%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $59,720 a year under the 30% rule, or $53,748 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Bartholomew County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$1,127 ±$39
Median income of renter households	$48,145 ±$4,606
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	42.6% ±5.5
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	23.1% ±4.5
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	9,380

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$937	$1,127	+20.3%
Median renter household income	$45,368	$48,145	+6.1%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	36.0%	42.6%	+6.6 pts

Rent-to-income calculator: does an applicant qualify? → · Most affordable counties to rent in this state →

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates 2020–2024 and 2015–2019 (tables B25064, B25119, B25070). ± = margin of error at 90% confidence. Dollar figures are not adjusted for inflation.

Small Area FMRs by ZIP code (FY2027)

In metro areas HUD also publishes ZIP-level Small Area Fair Market Rents. Housing authorities in designated areas must use them for voucher payment standards; others may opt in. Here the two-bedroom SAFMR ranges from $1,080 to $1,580 depending on the ZIP code.

All 17 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
46124	$850	$940	$1,080	$1,380	$1,680
47201	$1,320	$1,330	$1,560	$1,860	$2,230
47202	$1,260	$1,270	$1,490	$1,780	$2,120
47203	$1,110	$1,140	$1,290	$1,540	$1,840
47226	$1,110	$1,140	$1,280	$1,530	$1,800
47232	$1,110	$1,140	$1,280	$1,530	$1,800
47234	$1,120	$1,210	$1,410	$1,760	$2,120
47236	$1,110	$1,140	$1,280	$1,530	$1,800
47240	$840	$860	$1,120	$1,340	$1,560
47244	$1,280	$1,290	$1,510	$1,800	$2,150
47246	$1,180	$1,200	$1,400	$1,670	$1,990
47247	$1,110	$1,140	$1,280	$1,530	$1,800
47273	$1,110	$1,140	$1,300	$1,730	$1,800
47274	$870	$880	$1,150	$1,460	$1,560
47280	$1,330	$1,350	$1,580	$1,880	$2,250
47283	$1,110	$1,140	$1,280	$1,530	$1,800
47448	$1,000	$1,120	$1,290	$1,670	$2,030

Source: HUD FY2027 Small Area FMRs (effective October 1, 2026).

HUD income limits for Bartholomew County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $94,200 (FY2025: $104,700, −10.0%). Small figures under each limit show the change from FY2025.

Household size	1 person	2 people	3 people	4 people	5 people	6 people	7 people	8 people
Extremely low income (30%)	$20,450 −4.9%	$23,350 −4.9%	$27,320 −1.0%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$34,050 −4.9%	$38,900 −4.9%	$43,700 −5.0%	$48,550 −5.0%	$52,450 −5.0%	$56,350 −5.0%	$60,250 −5.0%	$64,150 −5.0%
Low income (80%)	$54,400 −5.0%	$62,200 −4.9%	$69,950 −5.0%	$77,700 −5.0%	$83,950 −4.9%	$90,150 −5.0%	$96,350 −5.0%	$102,600 −5.0%

The 30% limit is HUD's “extremely low income” limit: the higher of 30% of median income or the federal poverty guideline, but never above the 50% limit. That is why it can rise faster than 30% of median for larger households. Tax-credit (LIHTC) properties use separate Multifamily Tax Subsidy Project limits.

Source: HUD Section 8 Income Limits FY2026 (effective May 1, 2026) and FY2025, details.