City Report · IN

Lowell

Pop. 11,073·35th most expensive in Indiana·One of the most affordable rental markets in the US
Median rent (all units)
$1,304/mo
Year-over-Year
Stable
Month-over-Month
+1.9%
vs US Median
-$628
Reported rents
Rising (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Lowell · $1,304
More affordable than 88% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo
Affordability
19% of income
VERY AFFORDABLE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,304/mo, rent takes about 19% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$52,000/yr
Local median income
$84,024/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Lowell's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$1,000
1 BR
$1,140
2 BR
$1,390
3 BR
$1,710
4 BR+
$1,840
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$1,390/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,304 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 →

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($84,024) is $2,101 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($1,840).

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Lowell. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost
$15,648/yr
At $1,304/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Landlord's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are climbing (0.0% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.
Based on rent-price momentum (+0.0% YoY, +1.9% MoM), not inventory.
Rent check

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Demographics

Who lives here

Lowell, IN is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, 24.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
11,073
Median income
$84,024
Median age
39.2
Renters
15.7%
Age distribution
24.7%
20%
23.3%
22.1%
Under 1824.7%
18–3420%
35–5423.3%
55–649.9%
65+22.1%
Gender
48.5%
51.5%
Male48.5%
Female51.5%
Race & ethnicity
88.7%
White88.7%
Hispanic9.8%
Other1.2%
Education (25+)
38.1%
35.4%
24.2%
No HS diploma2.3%
HS diploma38.1%
Some college35.4%
Bachelor's+24.2%
Housing tenure
84.3%
15.7%
Owner84.3%
Renter15.7%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Lowell, IN has changed in 5 years

Income
$71,463 → $84,024
up 17.6%
Population
10,569 → 11,073
up 4.8%
Renter share
17.4% → 15.7%
-1.7 pts
Bachelor's+
20.1% → 24.2%
+4.1 pts
Median age
37.5 → 39.2
+1.7 yrs

Household income in the area moved from $71,463 to $84,024 across the same window, up 17.6% versus 2021. Headcount in the area went from 10,569 to 11,073 between 2021 and 2024, a 4.8% change. About 15.7% of households rent today, against 17.4% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 20.1% to 24.2%.

Community

Discussions about Lowell

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View Lowell rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Lowell on your salary?

At $1,304/mo, how Lowell rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Lowell rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Lowell

About renting in Lowell, IN

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Lowell is $1,304/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,000/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,390/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,140/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,710/mo.

At 19% of local median household income ($84,024/yr), Lowell ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Lowell?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $52,000/year (about $25/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,304/mo in Lowell. The local median household income is $84,024/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Lowell?

Rent in Lowell has been roughly flat over the past year, a 0.0% change.

How does Lowell rent compare to other cities in Indiana?

Lowell is in the middle among Indiana cities for rent, ranking #35 of 60 tracked cities at $1,304/mo.
Income Affordability
19%
VERY AFFORDABLE

At $1,304/mo, rent takes ~19% of Lowell's median household income ($84,024/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Lowell 19%Benchmark 30%
State income tax3.05%
Run the Lowell affordability calculator →
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Lowell, IN

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