Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Bloomington, IN?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 31.3% of gross income.

Bloomington rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Indiana state estimate).

Bloomington median rent
$1,463/mo
Carpenter salary (Indiana)
$56,065/yr
Rent as % of income
31.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,672, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,402/mo in rent. Bloomington's median rent of $1,463 exceeds that threshold by $61/mo, putting a carpenter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A carpenter works roughly 54.3 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a carpenter salary

Carpenter pay sits modestly above the US median household income and covers comfortable rent in most lower- and mid-cost metros. Union carpenters in high-cost cities often earn well above the BLS mean. At the national-average carpenter salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,524 a month in rent.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Indiana cities have lower median rent than Bloomington, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Valparaiso, IN
$1,458/mo (31.2% of income)
Hammond, IN
$1,454/mo (31.1% of income)
Valparaiso, IN
$1,450/mo (31% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Bloomington

View full rent data for Bloomington, IN

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Bloomington, IN?

Median rent in Bloomington is $1,463 a month. A typical carpenter in Indiana earns about $56,065 a year, which makes that rent 31.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a carpenter afford in Bloomington?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Indiana (~$56,065/yr) supports up to $1,402 a month in rent. Bloomington's current median rent is $1,463/mo, which is $61/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a carpenter work to cover rent in Bloomington?

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a carpenter in Indiana works roughly 54.3 hours a month to cover Bloomington's median rent of $1,463.

Where is rent cheaper than Bloomington for a carpenter?

Nearby Indiana cities with lower median rent include Valparaiso ($1,458/mo), Hammond ($1,454/mo), Valparaiso ($1,450/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a carpenter salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Indiana state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Bloomington, IN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.