The Indianapolis metro is home to 2,106,327 people (up 4.9% over five years), with a median household income of $77,065. Typical rent of $1,528/month works out to 23.8% of the median household income — comfortably below the 30% affordability threshold (Census ACS + Zillow, September 2026).
The share of Indianapolis's workforce by sector — the base of tenant demand:
| Sector | % of workforce |
|---|---|
| Education & health care | 23.0% |
| Professional & management | 12.4% |
| Manufacturing | 12.0% |
| Retail trade | 11.0% |
| Arts, food & hospitality | 7.9% |
Education & health care is the metro's largest employment base — sectors like education and health care are recession-resilient anchors for rental demand.
Rents at 23.8% of median income leave room for rent growth without pricing out the median tenant. Market pricing, yields and the Star Score live on the Indianapolis market page; run a deal in the calculator.
At the 30%-of-income affordability rule, typical rent of $1,528/month suggests a household income around $61,000/year. The metro's median household income is $77,065.
By workforce share: Education & health care (23.0%), Professional & management (12.4%), Manufacturing (12.0%) (Census ACS 5-year).