FMR Lookup › Indiana › Indianapolis-Carmel
Section 8 Fair Market Rent in Indianapolis-Carmel, IN (FY2026)
HUD's official FY2026 Fair Market Rents for the Indianapolis-Carmel, IN HUD Metro FMR Area, by bedroom count. These figures set the baseline for what the Housing Choice Voucher program pays landlords in this area.
| Unit size | FY2026 FMR | Payment standard range (90–110%) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio / efficiency | $1,118 | $1,006 – $1,230 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,267 | $1,140 – $1,394 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,473 | $1,326 – $1,620 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,907 | $1,716 – $2,098 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,338 | $2,104 – $2,572 |
Source: HUD User — FY 2026 Fair Market Rents. FY2026 FMRs are effective October 1, 2025. Retrieved 2026-06-11.
How this market compares
The 2-bedroom FMR here is $1,473 — 52% above the Indiana median of $971 across all 73 FMR areas in the state.
Counties and towns covered
The Indianapolis-Carmel, IN FMR area is a metro area covering: Boone County, Brown County, Hamilton County, Hancock County, Hendricks County, Johnson County, Marion County, Morgan County, Shelby County. One FMR applies across the whole area — HUD does not publish separate figures per city or ZIP here (some large metros have Small Area FMRs by ZIP; check with the local housing authority).
What a landlord actually collects
FMR is the baseline, not the contract rent. The local housing authority sets a payment standard between 90% and 110% of FMR (the range in the table above), and your unit must pass a rent-reasonableness comparison against similar unassisted rentals nearby. The voucher then covers the gap between the tenant's share (roughly 30% of their income) and the approved rent.
Run the numbers for a deal in Indianapolis-Carmel: Section 8 vs market rent, DSCR, or cash-on-cash return.
Comparable Indiana markets by 2BR FMR
| FMR area | 1 BR | 2 BR | 3 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus | $1,257 | $1,415 | $1,697 |
| Cincinnati | $1,051 | $1,353 | $1,785 |
| Gary | $1,082 | $1,317 | $1,612 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka | $1,105 | $1,292 | $1,567 |
| Louisville | $1,047 | $1,272 | $1,625 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette | $1,032 | $1,242 | $1,489 |
Informational only — not financial, legal, or lending advice. Confirm current payment standards with the housing authority serving Indianapolis-Carmel.