Rents are 5% below what Bloomington's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,763 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
June. Asking rents in Bloomington usually run 0.5% below trend in June and 0.6% above it in November, about $19 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in Bloomington is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.
Rent in Bloomington changed +1.8% over the year to September 2026. Across the 49 Indiana cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.5%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in Bloomington rose 35.1% while median household income rose 36.1% ($37,077 to $50,465). Income kept ahead of rent.
Rent in Bloomington is 40.3% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 3 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($50,465) is $1,262 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,198); a 3-bedroom is $1,583.
The priciest of 4 ZIP codes in Bloomington, 47408 ($2,340/mo), costs 1.7 times the cheapest, 47403 ($1,360/mo).
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Bloomington. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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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.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Bloomington, IN has changed in 5 years
The median rent in Bloomington, IN stood at $1,323 in 2021 and currently runs about $1,763, reflecting a 33.3% 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.
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At $1,763/mo, how Bloomington rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Bloomington rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Bloomington. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Bloomington
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Bloomington is $1,763/mo as of October 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 42% of local median household income ($50,465/yr), Bloomington ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.9% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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At $1,763/mo, rent takes ~42% of Bloomington's median household income ($50,465/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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