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City · 53,733 residents · Elkhart County, Indiana

Elkhart , Indiana

In Elkhart, a typical home is worth $139,500 and typical rent is $998 a month. Compared with all of Elkhart County, the typical home value is 34% lower, typical household income is 26% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 18 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $139,500

    34% below the county

    36% below Indiana

    • Elkhart
    • County
    • Indiana

  • Typical rent

    $998a month

    5% below the county

    6% below Indiana

    • Elkhart
    • County
    • Indiana

  • Typical household income

    $51,028a year

    26% below the county

    29% below Indiana

    • Elkhart
    • County
    • Indiana

  • Households that own their home

    53%

    18 points below the county

    17 points below Indiana

    • Elkhart
    • County
    • Indiana

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

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$229,980
6.1% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,185 a month
5.7% more than 12 months ago

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

Elkhart is in Elkhart 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 Elkhart County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Elkhart apart

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

  1. 53% of households in Elkhart own their home, against 72% in Elkhart County.

  2. The typical home in Elkhart is worth $139,500, 34% less than in Elkhart County as a whole ($210,400).

  3. The typical household income in Elkhart is $51,028, 26% less than in Elkhart County as a whole ($68,561).

  4. According to Zillow, in the 12 months to September 2026 the typical home value in Elkhart rose 6.1%; in Indiana, it rose 2.9%.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024); Zillow (September 2026 data). Zillow data

The homes here

Housing in Elkhart

What homes there are in Elkhart, 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 Elkhart (53%), but less so than in Elkhart County (70%).

Year built

In Elkhart, half of the homes were built before 1965; in Elkhart County, before 1977.

There are fewer big homes in Elkhart than in Elkhart County: 48% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 65%.

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

With an FHA limit of $541,287, at least 98% of owner-occupied homes in Elkhart sit below it: they are worth less than $500,000.

Monthly rent with utilities

HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent (FMR) for Elkhart County is $1,253; about 71% of rents in Elkhart are below it.

With a mortgage

$1,069 a month

Elkhart County: $1,323 a month

Without a mortgage

$471 a month

Elkhart County: $500 a month

Owners with a mortgage

61%

Elkhart County: 63%

The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Elkhart is $1,069 a month, less than in Elkhart County ($1,323); without one, $471.

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

The typical home value in Elkhart rose 46% since 2015–2019, about the same as in Elkhart County (46%).

Much as in Elkhart County, the typical rent in Elkhart rose 26% since 2015–2019.

While home values in Elkhart changed +46% and rent +26%, the typical household income rose 25%.

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

MeasureElkhartElkhart CountyIndianaUnited States
Rental vacancy 15.1%12.0%5.6%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate0.8%0.9%
More than one person per room 2.2%2.6%1.8%3.4%
People per household 2.452.832.462.53
Drive alone 75%74%76%69%
Carpool 18%16%9%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%3%
Walk or bike 3%4%2%3%
Work from home 3%5%11%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%1%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutes10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

The rental vacancy rate in Elkhart is 15.1%, higher than in Elkhart County (12.0%).

In Elkhart, 2.2% of households live with more than one person per room, about the same as in Elkhart County.

On average, a household in Elkhart has 2.45 people, fewer than in Elkhart County (2.83).

To get to work, 75% of workers in Elkhart drive alone; in Elkhart County, 74%.

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 Elkhart?

A typical home is within reach of the typical income

We start with a typical home in Elkhart, worth $139,500, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 27% of the typical household income in Elkhart, which is $51,028 a year.

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

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Elkhart. 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 $4,883 (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

$1,148

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$136,973
Total interest
$197,072
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $2,356 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,191 a month

    Your payment · 27%

  • Tight

    $1,191 to $1,531 a month

  • Hard

    more than $1,531 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Elkhart ($51,028 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,148
Principal & interest$928
Property tax$100
Home insurance$58
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$62

You need at least $4,883 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

Elkhart and Elkhart County

Elkhart is in Elkhart 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).

Elkhart's own numbers

Typical home value
$139,500
Typical monthly rent
$998
Typical yearly household income
$51,028
Households that own their home
53%
Effective property tax rate
0.86%

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

Numbers for all of Elkhart County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,253
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+53%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
1.8%

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 Elkhart County.

Everything about Elkhart County

Buying

Buying a home in Elkhart

A typical home in Elkhart is worth $139,500: 34% below the county and 36% below Indiana. With the typical household income in Elkhart ($51,028 a year), a typical home costs 2.7 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.

  • Elkhart 2.7 years
  • County 3.1 years
  • Indiana 3.0 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Elkhart County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Elkhart County rose 99% in the 10 years through 2025.

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

Period County Indiana U.S.
Last year (2025) +5.8% +4.3% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +53% +53% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +99% +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

Elkhart next to Elkhart 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
  • Elkhart $139,500
  • County $210,400
  • Indiana $218,200
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Elkhart $998
  • County $1,047
  • Indiana $1,062
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Elkhart $51,028
  • County $68,561
  • Indiana $71,957
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Elkhart next to Elkhart County and Indiana
Measure Elkhart Elkhart County Indiana U.S.
Typical home value $139,500 $210,400 $218,200 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $998 $1,047 $1,062 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $51,028 $68,561 $71,957 $80,734
Households that own their home 53% 72% 71% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $1,198 $1,717 $1,614 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.86% 0.82% 0.74% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 48% 48% 48% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Elkhart 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 Elkhart

For a typical $139,500 home in Elkhart, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Elkhart's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $1,148a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $4,883
    Cash to close
    $9,068
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $62

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,122a month

    Down payment
    $6,975
    Cash to close
    $11,160
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $66

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $914a month

    Down payment
    $27,900
    Cash to close
    $32,085
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,043a month

    Down payment
    $20,925
    Cash to close
    $25,110
    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 Elkhart and for Elkhart County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Elkhart

0.86%of the home’s value each year

$1,198 a year for the typical owner in Elkhart.

  • Elkhart 0.86%
  • County 0.82%
  • 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 Elkhart County

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

Homes in the high-risk zone
1.8%
1,257
Of those, with NFIP insurance
23%
County Indiana U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 1.8% 2.3% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 23% 17% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Elkhart

Typical rent in Elkhart is $998 a month: 5% below the county. In Elkhart, 48% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Elkhart County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,253 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $24.10 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Elkhart 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 $1,008 $19.38 $40,320
1 bedroom $1,048 $20.15 $41,920
2 bedrooms $1,253 $24.10 $50,120
3 bedrooms $1,653 $31.79 $66,120
4 bedrooms $1,752 $33.69 $70,080

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 Elkhart

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Elkhart has 3 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,170 in 46517 to $1,320 in 46514.

1 of the 3 is above the fair market rent for Elkhart County ($1,253).

  • 46514 $1,320$1,740
  • 46516 $1,230$1,620
  • 46517 $1,170$1,460

3 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Elkhart 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 Elkhart

HUD lists 19 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Elkhart. These are the largest.

  • Washington Gardens 410 W Indiana Ave, Elkhart 46516 198 homes, 194 low-income · Run by Housing Authority of the City of Elkhart · Average payment: $308 a month · Average wait: 31 months (574) 295-8392
  • Overlook 58720 Vista Blvd, Elkhart 46517 188 low-income homes · 1 bd: 60 · 2 bd: 64 · 3 bd: 64 · In service since 2002
  • North Lake Apts 25800 Brookstream Cir, Elkhart 46514 192 homes, 167 low-income · 1 bd: 48 · 2 bd: 92 · 3 bd: 52 · In service since 2004
  • Stratford Commons 2601 Oakland Ave, Elkhart 46517 159 low-income homes · For older adults (574) 522-0550
  • Riverside Terrace 181 N Elkhart Ave, Elkhart 46516 147 low-income homes · Run by Housing Authority of the City of Elkhart · Average payment: $367 a month · Average wait: 39 months (574) 295-8392

See all 30 buildings in Elkhart County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Elkhart

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.

There are 2 HUD-approved agencies with an office in Elkhart County; 2 say they serve in Spanish.

A man leans over the armchair where a girl is reading a book.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Elkhart

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Elkhart or Elkhart County. The ones below are statewide in Indiana: they work in Elkhart 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 Elkhart

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

  • Lacasa of Goshen Inc - Branch Office

    516 S Main St, Elkhart · 1 miles away · Spanish

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Budget and credit workshops
    • and 3 more
    (574) 533-4450

  • Lacasa of Goshen, Inc.

    202 N Cottage Ave, Goshen · 10 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 6 more
    574-533-4450x72

  • City of Gary Department of Community Development

    401 Broadway, Gary · 72 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 7 more
    (219) 881-5075

Every agency in Elkhart County All counseling agencies in Indiana

Help in Spanish near Elkhart

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 Elkhart

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

  • Housing Authority of the City of Elkhart Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (574) 295-8392

All housing agencies in Indiana Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Elkhart County

These cities are also in Elkhart County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Elkhart County Housing in Indiana

Nearby cities

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

Neighboring counties

If Elkhart 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 Elkhart.

All guides
A smiling girl holds up a small mushroom she found on a forest outing.

Questions

Housing questions about Elkhart

Short answers with the numbers for Elkhart and all of Elkhart 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 Elkhart?

The typical home value in Elkhart is $139,500, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Elkhart County it is $210,400.

How much does it cost to rent in Elkhart?

Typical rent in Elkhart is $998 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Elkhart County is $1,253.

What is the FHA loan limit in Elkhart?

Elkhart uses the FHA limit for all of Elkhart 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 Elkhart?

The typical homeowner in Elkhart pays $1,198 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.86% of the home’s value; in Elkhart County, the rate is 0.82%.

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

There are 2 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Elkhart County. 2 say they serve in Spanish. 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).