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City · 51,824 residents · Bartholomew County, Indiana

Columbus , Indiana

In Columbus, a typical home is worth $244,200 and typical rent is $1,157 a month. Compared with all of Bartholomew County, the share of households that own their home is 9 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $244,200

    5% above the county

    12% above Indiana

    • Columbus
    • Bartholomew
    • Indiana

  • Typical rent

    $1,157a month

    3% above the county

    9% above Indiana

    • Columbus
    • Bartholomew
    • Indiana

  • Typical household income

    $77,456a year

    3% below the county

    8% above Indiana

    • Columbus
    • Bartholomew
    • Indiana

  • Households that own their home

    61%

    9 points below the county

    10 points below Indiana

    • Columbus
    • Bartholomew
    • Indiana

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$278,652
2.2% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,385 a month
2.5% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Columbus is in Bartholomew County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Bartholomew County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Columbus apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Nearby, in North Vernon, the typical home value is $128,600: 47% less than in Columbus ($244,200).

  2. Nearby, in Greensburg, the typical rent is $859: 26% less than in Columbus ($1,157).

  3. 61% of households in Columbus own their home, against 69% in Bartholomew County.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Columbus

What homes there are in Columbus, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

Detached houses are the majority in Columbus (68%), but less so than in Bartholomew County (75%).

Year built

The typical year built in Columbus is 1982, about the same as in Bartholomew County (1979).

There are fewer big homes in Columbus than in Bartholomew County: 59% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 66%.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

By price, most homes in Columbus sit under the FHA limit for Bartholomew County ($541,287): about 93%.

Monthly rent with utilities

By rent, most homes in Columbus cost less than HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent ($1,493): about 80%.

With a mortgage

$1,475 a month

Bartholomew County: $1,433 a month

Without a mortgage

$514 a month

Bartholomew County: $508 a month

Owners with a mortgage

69%

Bartholomew County: 65%

Owning costs about the same in Columbus as in Bartholomew County: with a mortgage, $1,475 a month; without one, $514.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

Homes in Columbus gained value more slowly than in Bartholomew County: 47% since 2015–2019, against 52%.

The typical rent in Columbus rose 22% since 2015–2019, about the same as in Bartholomew County (20%).

To compare: typical income in Columbus rose 22%; the home, +47%; the rent, +22%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureColumbusBartholomew CountyIndianaUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate5.6%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate0.8%0.9%
More than one person per room 1.3%1.8%1.8%3.4%
People per household 2.342.472.462.53
Drive alone 71%76%76%69%
Carpool 10%8%9%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%3%
Walk or bike 2%1%2%3%
Work from home 16%14%11%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%1%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutes10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

More than one person per room: that is how 1.3% of households in Columbus live, near the figure in Bartholomew County (1.8%).

Households in Columbus are smaller: 2.34 people on average; in Bartholomew County, 2.47.

To get to work, 71% of workers in Columbus drive alone; in Bartholomew County, 76%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Columbus?

A typical home is tight for the typical income

We start with a typical home in Columbus, worth $244,200, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 31% of the typical household income in Columbus, which is $77,456 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $85,843 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Bartholomew County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Columbus. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $8,547 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$2,003

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$239,777
Total interest
$344,983
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $4,124 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,807 a month

  • Tight

    $1,807 to $2,324 a month

    Your payment · 31%

  • Hard

    more than $2,324 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Columbus ($77,456 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$2,003
Principal & interest$1,624
Property tax$169
Home insurance$102
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$108

You need at least $8,547 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Columbus and Bartholomew County

Columbus is in Bartholomew County, Indiana. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Columbus's own numbers

Typical home value
$244,200
Typical monthly rent
$1,157
Typical yearly household income
$77,456
Households that own their home
61%
Effective property tax rate
0.83%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Bartholomew County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,493
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+50%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
4.9%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Bartholomew County.

Everything about Bartholomew County

Buying

Buying a home in Columbus

A typical home in Columbus is worth $244,200: 5% above the county and 12% above Indiana. With the typical household income in Columbus ($77,456 a year), a typical home costs 3.2 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Columbus 3.2 years
  • Bartholomew 2.9 years
  • Indiana 3.0 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Bartholomew County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Bartholomew County rose 83% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Bartholomew County.

Period County Indiana U.S.
Last year (2025) +3.9% +4.3% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +50% +53% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +83% +95% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Columbus next to Bartholomew County, Indiana and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Columbus $244,200
  • Bartholomew $232,800
  • Indiana $218,200
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Columbus $1,157
  • Bartholomew $1,127
  • Indiana $1,062
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Columbus $77,456
  • Bartholomew $79,901
  • Indiana $71,957
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Columbus next to Bartholomew County and Indiana
Measure Columbus Bartholomew County Indiana U.S.
Typical home value $244,200 $232,800 $218,200 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,157 $1,127 $1,062 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $77,456 $79,901 $71,957 $80,734
Households that own their home 61% 69% 71% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $2,037 $1,738 $1,614 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.83% 0.75% 0.74% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 42% 43% 48% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Bartholomew County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Columbus

For a typical $244,200 home in Columbus, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Columbus's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $2,003a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $8,547
    Cash to close
    $15,873
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $108

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,958a month

    Down payment
    $12,210
    Cash to close
    $19,536
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $116

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,594a month

    Down payment
    $48,840
    Cash to close
    $56,166
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,820a month

    Down payment
    $36,630
    Cash to close
    $43,956
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Columbus and for Bartholomew County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Columbus

0.83%of the home’s value each year

$2,037 a year for the typical owner in Columbus.

  • Columbus 0.83%
  • Bartholomew 0.75%
  • Indiana 0.74%

What Indiana publishes Homestead standard deduction: the amount drops each year (Indiana Department of Local Government Finance (DLGF), Form HC10)

Exemptions and deadlines in Indiana

Flood risk in Bartholomew County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Bartholomew County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
4.9%
1,484
Of those, with NFIP insurance
18%
County Indiana U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 4.9% 2.3% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 18% 17% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Columbus

Typical rent in Columbus is $1,157 a month: 3% above the county. In Columbus, 42% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Bartholomew County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,493 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $28.71 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Bartholomew County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $1,261 $24.25 $50,440
1 bedroom $1,276 $24.54 $51,040
2 bedrooms $1,493 $28.71 $59,720
3 bedrooms $1,779 $34.21 $71,160
4 bedrooms $2,126 $40.88 $85,040

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Columbus

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Columbus has 2 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,290 in 47203 to $1,560 in 47201.

1 of the 2 is above the fair market rent for Bartholomew County ($1,493).

  • 47201 $1,560$1,860
  • 47203 $1,290$1,540

2 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Columbus when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Columbus

HUD lists 23 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Columbus. These are the largest.

  • Heritage Woods 222 Sycamore St, Columbus 47201 157 low-income homes · Run by Columbus Housing Authority · Average payment: $447 a month · Average wait: 59 months (812) 378-0005
  • Arbors at Waters Edge 4060 N 150 W, Columbus 47201 152 low-income homes · 1 bd: 8 · 2 bd: 80 · 3 bd: 40 · 4 bd: 24 · In service since 2006
  • Fairington Apartments Columbus 2351 Fairington Ct, Columbus 47203 136 low-income homes · For older adults (812) 376-8836
  • Canterbury House Apts - Columbus 3501 Nicholas Ln, Columbus 47203 144 homes, 128 low-income · 1 bd: 16 · 2 bd: 72 · 3 bd: 42 · 4 bd: 14 · In service since 2004
  • Villas Apartments 4101 Waycross Dr, Columbus 47203 99 low-income homes · For older adults (812) 379-1225

See all 23 buildings in Bartholomew County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Columbus

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Bartholomew County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

A man smiles on a bench outside his apartment building.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Columbus

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Columbus or Bartholomew County. The ones below are statewide in Indiana: they work in Columbus the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Indiana

  • Next Home

    Statewide in Indiana

    Indiana state agency program with down payment assistance of 2.5% or 3.5% of the price, alongside a 30-year FHA or conventional mortgage. Offered by Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA).

    Type not stated

    See the program Official page

  • First Step

    Statewide in Indiana

    Indiana state agency 30-year FHA or conventional mortgage for first-time buyers (or homes in designated areas), with down payment assistance as a second mortgage with no interest or payments, repaid when the first mortgage ends. Offered by Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Columbus

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Columbus, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • City of Bloomington - Housing and Neighborhood Development (HAND)

    401 N Morton St, Bloomington · 33 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Homelessness services
    • and 6 more
    (812) 349-3420

  • Intend Indiana, Inc

    1704 Bellefontaine St, Indianapolis · 42 miles away · Spanish

    • Pre-purchase counseling
    • Homebuyer education workshops
    (317) 924-8116

  • Indianapolis Neighborhood Housing Partnership

    2690 N Meridian St, Indianapolis · 43 miles away · Spanish

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Budget and credit workshops
    • and 2 more
    (317) 610-4663

All counseling agencies in Indiana

Help in Spanish near Columbus

2 of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Columbus

HUD’s record names them for Columbus or Bartholomew County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Columbus Housing Authority Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (812) 378-0005

All housing agencies in Indiana Source: HUD

Cities

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Columbus, with the typical home value.

Everything about Bartholomew County Housing in Indiana

Neighboring counties

If Bartholomew County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Columbus.

All guides
A man and two girls read a book together on the sofa.

Questions

Housing questions about Columbus

Short answers with the numbers for Columbus and all of Bartholomew County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Columbus?

The typical home value in Columbus is $244,200, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Bartholomew County it is $232,800.

How much does it cost to rent in Columbus?

Typical rent in Columbus is $1,157 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Bartholomew County is $1,493.

What is the FHA loan limit in Columbus?

Columbus uses the FHA limit for all of Bartholomew County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Columbus?

The typical homeowner in Columbus pays $2,037 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.83% of the home’s value; in Bartholomew County, the rate is 0.75%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Columbus?

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Bartholomew County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).