Bartholomew County, IN

This county of 86,320 residents needs 2,001 more housing units over the next five years. Bartholomew County is part of the Columbus Area MPO.

Housing snapshot

Population
86,320 (2026)
Households
33,995
Median household income
$89,079 (2026)
Typical home value
$272,685
Owner-occupied
65%
Five-year housing need
2,001 units

Comparison to other Indiana counties

Bartholomew County: $89,079 Median income (2026 estimate)
<$54K >$105K
Bartholomew County: 1.54 jobs to household ratio
<0.39 >1.63
Bartholomew County: Permits since 2021 represent 2.7% of housing
<0.2% >8.2%
On this page

How affordable is this community?

A typical home in Bartholomew County, IN costs $272,685, somewhat above the Indiana average of $234,139. Bartholomew County, IN's median household income of $89,079 comfortably exceeds what is needed to afford the typical home, making this a relatively affordable market.

This chart tracks whether housing prices are keeping pace with local incomes. The gap between what homes cost and what households can afford reveals affordability trends over time.

How is the population changing?

Bartholomew County, IN has a population of roughly 83,536, growing modestly at 0.7% per year.

Population growth patterns reveal how communities are evolving. This chart shows historical population changes by age group and projects future trends based on demographic patterns.

How has employment changed over time?

Jobs by industry sector since 2012. Switch between local jobs — counted where the jobs are located — and resident jobs, counted where the workers live. On the local view the most recent year is a nowcast: it grows the latest local LODES job mix forward using recent county employment growth from QCEW and the BLS local employment series, so the newest point tracks today's economy instead of data that is roughly two years old.

How are households changing by income?

With roughly 33,995 households, Bartholomew County, IN is growing modestly at 0.7% per year.

Understanding how households at different income levels are growing or declining helps identify which groups face the greatest housing pressure and where new housing is most needed.

Who lives here today?

The housing stock in Bartholomew County, IN is heavily oriented toward detached single-family, which makes up 75% of units. Homeownership is the norm in Bartholomew County, IN, with 65% of units owner-occupied.

Households may have different structure type preferences depending on characteristics such as household size, income, employment, presence of children, age of individuals, and lifestyle choices. Understanding the housing stock in corresponding terms helps assess how well existing units align with existing households' ideals.

What does the housing stock look like?

The mix of housing types and ownership patterns shapes a community's character. This chart breaks down housing units by structure type and whether they're owner-occupied or rented.

How much new housing supply is needed?

To keep up with growth and fill current housing shortages, Bartholomew County, IN needs 2,001 new units over the next 5 years.

1,035
Units needed to keep up with expected growth
Projected total household growth from 2026 to 2031.
3.0%
Projected household growth rate
Expected increase in total households from 33,995 in 2026 to 35,030 in 2031.
966
Units to address shortages in existing housing stock
Production needs to address vacancy rates and other factors.
257
Replacement housing
Effective annual loss rate is 1.4 per 1,000 units.
91
Ownership vacancy adjustment
Owner-occupied vacancy is 1.1%. This is below the minimum stable target of 1.5%.
563
Rental vacancy adjustment
Rental vacancy is 2.5%. This is below the minimum stable target of 7.4%.
55
Substandard housing adjustment
Substandard housing rate is 1.15%. This is above National avg. of 0.98%.
2,001
Total 5-year housing production need (2026-2031)
400
Annual production pace
Average units needed per year to meet 5-year need
5.6%
Total housing unit growth
Percent increase in housing stock over 5 years
1.1%
Annual housing unit growth
Average percent increase in housing stock per year

How do these communities compare to each other?