At $1,155/mo, rent takes about 27% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.
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 $1,155 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: August 17, 2026
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Who lives here
Elkhart, IN is roughly split between renters and owners, has a large share of families with children, has a median income below the national average, 17.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Elkhart, IN has changed in 5 years
Five years ago, renters in Elkhart, IN paid around $1,042 a month. That figure now sits near $1,155, up 10.8% from the 2023 baseline. On the earnings side, the typical household in Elkhart, IN now reports about $51,028, up from $43,868 in 2021. With wages climbing faster than rent over the same window, renters here have a bit more breathing room than they did five years back. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 15.4% to 17.7% across the same window. For context, the 2023 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and Elkhart, IN reflects that arc in its own way.
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Can you afford rent in Elkhart on your salary?
At $1,155/mo, how Elkhart rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Elkhart rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Elkhart. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Elkhart
Last updated: August 17, 2026
The median rent in Elkhart is $1,155/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $855/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,055/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $870/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,375/mo.
At 27% of local median household income ($51,028/yr), Elkhart ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 7.3% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does Elkhart rent compare to the national average?
At $1,155/mo, rent takes ~27% of Elkhart's median household income ($51,028/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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