How much does it cost to rent in Bloomington, IN?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Bloomington, IN is $1,444. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Bloomington cheaper than other Indiana cities?

Bloomington falls in the middle range for Indiana, ranking #32 out of 65 cities at $1,444/mo.

When was Bloomington rent data last updated?

Bloomington rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · IN

Bloomington

Name: Average Rent Prices in Bloomington, IN
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 80,049·32nd most expensive in Indiana·Rental market data updated monthly for Bloomington, IN

Median rent (all units)

$1,444/mo

Year-over-Year

-0.6%

Month-over-Month

+2.3%

vs US Median

-$521

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Bloomington · $1,444

More affordable than 79% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

60/100

Good value

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 5% below what Bloomington's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.

Actual rent

$1,444/mo

Expected by trend

$1,523/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Bloomington's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$938

1 BR

$1,055

2 BR

$1,198

3 BR

$1,583

4 BR+

$1,885

Research median

$1,198/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$17,328/yr

At $1,444/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (0.6% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (-0.6% YoY, +2.3% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Bloomington, IN is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income below the national average, 58.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

80,049

Median income

$50,465

Median age

25.1

Renters

65.3%

Age distribution

53.7%

17.1%

Under 1810.6%

18–3453.7%

35–5417.1%

55–647.2%

65+11.4%

Gender

49.6%

50.4%

Male49.6%

Female50.4%

Race & ethnicity

75.8%

White75.8%

Black5%

Hispanic5.5%

Asian10.8%

Other2.9%

Education (25+)

16.3%

19.8%

58.8%

No HS diploma5.2%

HS diploma16.3%

Some college19.8%

Bachelor's+58.8%

Housing tenure

34.7%

65.3%

Owner34.7%

Renter65.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Bloomington, IN has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,111 → $1,444

up 30.0%

Income

$41,995 → $50,465

up 20.2%

Population

80,064 → 80,049

up 0.0%

Renter share

65% → 65.3%

+0.3 pts

Bachelor's+

59.3% → 58.8%

-0.5 pts

Median age

24 → 25.1

+1.1 yrs

The median rent in Bloomington, IN stood at $1,111 in 2021 and currently runs about $1,444, reflecting a 30.0% increase over the period. On the earnings side, the typical household in Bloomington, IN now reports about $50,465, up from $41,995 in 2021. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and Bloomington, IN reflects that arc in its own way.

Community

Discussions about Bloomington

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View Bloomington rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Bloomington on your salary?

At $1,444/mo, how Bloomington rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $86,922/yr · Rent = 19.9% income

very comfortable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $61,714/yr · Rent = 28.1% income

affordable

Police Officer

Avg $71,088/yr · Rent = 24.4% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $127,061/yr · Rent = 13.6% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $162,352/yr · Rent = 10.7% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $57,785/yr · Rent = 30% income

affordable

Truck Driver

Avg $52,173/yr · Rent = 33.2% income

stretched

Electrician

Avg $64,308/yr · Rent = 26.9% income

affordable

By apartment size

Bloomington rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Bloomington. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Bloomington

About renting in Bloomington, IN

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Bloomington is $1,444/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $938/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,198/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,055/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,583/mo.

At 34% of local median household income ($50,465/yr), Bloomington ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 0.6% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Bloomington an affordable city for renters?

Bloomington is considered moderate for renters. At $1,444/mo, rent takes approximately 34% of the local median household income ($50,465/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Bloomington slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

How much income do you need to rent in Bloomington?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $58,000/year (~$28/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,444/mo in Bloomington. The local median household income is $50,465/yr, meaning the typical Bloomington household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Bloomington?

Rent in Bloomington has decreased 0.6% over the past year as of July 2026, offering some relief compared to 12 months ago.

Which Bloomington neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Bloomington are 47403 ($1,254/mo), 47404 ($1,488/mo), and 47401 ($1,500/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Bloomington is $1,444/mo.

How does Bloomington rent compare to other cities in Indiana?

Bloomington is middle-of-the-pack for Indiana for rent, ranking #32 out of 65 tracked cities at $1,444/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Bloomington?

Greencastle is nearby and more affordable at $1,050/mo, which is $394 less than Bloomington.

What percentage of Bloomington residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 65.3% of Bloomington households are renters, while 34.7% are owner-occupied. With a majority renter population, Bloomington has a strong rental market.

How does Bloomington rent compare to the national average?

Bloomington's median rent of $1,444/mo is $521 (27%) below the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within Indiana, it ranks #32 out of 65 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

34%

MODERATE

At $1,444/mo, rent takes ~34% of Bloomington's median household income ($50,465/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Bloomington 34%Benchmark 30%

State income tax3.05%

Run the Bloomington affordability calculator →

Nearby cities