Department of Numbers

Columbus Indiana Residential Rent and Rental Statistics

The median monthly gross residential rent in Columbus, IN (the Columbus metro area) was $935 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Columbus was $915 in 2019. The median rent more accurately depicts rental rates in the middle of the distribution of rents and is thus preferred in the analysis below. 2020 Columbus median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.

Data is also available below for Columbus rental vacancy rates, Columbus rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Columbus.

Show dollars as: Nominal Real

Real Gross Rent in Columbus Indiana (2019 dollars)2

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US Median Gross Rent $1,097 +1.86% +6.82%
Indiana Median Gross Rent $840 +0.60% +4.48%
Columbus, IN Median Gross Rent $935 +0.75% +1.74%

Columbus, IN Real Gross Rent Trends

At $935, real median gross rent in Columbus was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. Average gross rent for Columbus peaked in real terms in 2018 at $988 and is now $73 (7.39%) lower.

Real Gross Rent in Columbus: Columbus IN Median, Columbus IN Average, Indiana Median, US Median

Lower quartile, median and upper quartile real gross rent

Real Gross Rent History for Columbus

Date US
Median
Indiana
Median
Columbus, IN
Median
Columbus, IN
Average
2019 $1,097 $840 $935 $915
2018 $1,077 $835 $928 $988
2017 $1,043 $818 $898 $829
2016 $1,027 $804 $919 $851
2015 $1,017 $804 $895 $833
2014 $986 $795 $855 $840
2013 $953 $769 $782 $822
2012 $940 $761 $838 $839
2011 $941 $764 $832 $826
2010 $955 $763 $839 $808
2009 $960 $783 $823 $745

more history ...

Columbus Rental Vacancy Rate

The rental vacancy rate is the fraction of homes for rent that are not occupied.3 In 2018 the rental vacancy rate for Columbus Indiana was 6.57% according to Census ACS data.

Rental Vacancy Rate in Columbus Indiana

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 5.97% -0.18% +0.08%
Indiana 6.89% +0.30% -0.07%
Columbus, IN

Trends in Columbus, IN Rental Vacancy Rate

The rental vacancy rate in Columbus peaked in 2012 at 9.70%. Since then it has fallen by 3.13% to 6.57%. Data records for this series originated in 2005.

Rental Vacancy Rate: Columbus IN, Indiana, US

Rental vacancy rate in Indiana

Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Columbus

Date US Indiana Columbus, IN
2019 5.97% 6.89%
2018 6.15% 6.59% 6.57%
2017 6.18% 7.14%
2016 5.89% 6.96%
2015 5.85% 7.94%
2014 6.32% 8.09%
2013 6.49% 7.00%
2012 6.77% 8.43% 9.70%
2011 7.40% 8.47% 1.92%
2010 8.17% 8.78%
2009 8.43% 10.44%

more history ...

Rent as a Fraction of Income

Using median household income data for Columbus, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Columbus, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 15.46% in 2019 according to the ACS.

Columbus Indiana Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 20.03% -0.47% -0.40%
Indiana 17.50% -0.15% -0.12%
Columbus, IN 15.46% -2.17% -2.36%

Trends in Columbus, IN Rent as a Fraction of Income

The fraction of median Columbus household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2010 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 19.10%. Since then it has fallen by 3.63% to 15.46%.

Fraction of Income towards Rent: Columbus IN, Indiana, US

Percent of median household income going towards median monthly gross rent in Columbus Indiana

Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Columbus Indiana

Date US Indiana Columbus, IN
2019 20.03% 17.50% 15.46%
2018 20.50% 17.65% 17.64%
2017 20.13% 17.56% 16.99%
2016 20.43% 17.62% 17.83%
2015 20.63% 18.00% 18.60%
2014 20.89% 18.27% 18.34%
2013 20.78% 18.43% 16.98%
2012 20.65% 18.27% 17.62%
2011 20.70% 18.27% 17.05%
2010 20.50% 18.37% 19.10%
2009 20.12% 18.15% 17.53%

more history ...

Renter Fraction in Columbus Indiana

You can calculate the renter fraction in Columbus in at least two ways: by housing units or by population. I've gone with the housing units measure here. This measure looks at the number of renting households in Columbus as a fraction of total Columbus households. In 2019 27.61% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.

Columbus Fraction of Renters by Household Units

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 35.89% -0.16% -0.99%
Indiana 30.69% -0.37% -0.96%
Columbus, IN 27.61% -1.48% -2.08%

Trends in the Columbus, IN Renter Fraction

The Columbus household renter fraction peaked in in 2010 at 32.75% and is now 5.14% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.

Fraction of Renting Households: Columbus IN, Indiana, US

Fraction of renters in Columbus

History of Columbus Renter Fraction

Date US Indiana Columbus, IN
2019 35.89% 30.69% 27.61%
2018 36.05% 31.06% 29.09%
2017 36.13% 30.96% 29.14%
2016 36.88% 31.65% 29.69%
2015 36.97% 31.82% 28.80%
2014 36.90% 31.42% 30.17%
2013 36.50% 31.48% 30.54%
2012 36.09% 30.62% 28.72%
2011 35.42% 30.28% 28.10%
2010 34.65% 29.71% 32.75%
2009 34.13% 29.57% 26.74%

more history ...

1. Gross rent is defined as contract rent plus the estimated average monthly cost of utilities (electricity, gas, water, and sewer) and fuel (oil, coal, kerosene, wood, etc.). Because some rentals include utilities and others don't, gross rent is a way of normalizing the variability.

2. Real dollars are calculated using the CPI-U less shelter series.

3. The rental vacancy rate is computed by dividing the number of vacant units for rent by the sum of the renter-occupied units, vacant units that are for rent, and vacant units that have been rented but not yet occupied.