1st Advantage MortgageBartholomew County households have a median income of $79,901 and median rent of $1,127 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Indiana before sharing details.
On this page
- Bartholomew County by the numbers
- Paychecks and income spread in Bartholomew County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Bartholomew County
- Work, industries and travel time in Bartholomew County
- Towns and communities in Bartholomew County
- Counties near Bartholomew County
- A Bartholomew County household budget, worked through
- Before borrowing in Bartholomew County
- More Bartholomew County figures
- Four steps for Bartholomew County borrowers
- Lender oversight for Bartholomew County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Bartholomew County by the numbers
Roughly 83,536 residents live in Bartholomew County, Indiana, 20th by population among the state's 92 counties and county equivalents. It covers 407 square miles of land, or about 205 people per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Columbus, IN metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. Columbus is the biggest of its 8 Census places, at roughly 51,824 people (62% of the county total).
Paychecks and income spread in Bartholomew County
Bartholomew County households have a median income of $79,901 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 11th of 92 in Indiana.
| Band | Bartholomew County | Compared with Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 20.8% | -1.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.2% | -3.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 28.6% | +2.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 10.4% | +2.2 pts |
About 21% of households earn under $35,000, while 39% clear $100,000. 10.5% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 12.3%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.446 here. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Bartholomew County median.
Rent, home values and ownership in Bartholomew County
Renters in Bartholomew County pay a median of $1,127 a month, 6% above the Indiana figure of $1,062. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 43% of renter households here. Home values center on $232,800, or 2.9 years of median income. The ownership rate is 69%. Median construction year: 1979.
| Home costs | Bartholomew County | Indiana | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,127/mo | $1,062/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $232,800 | $218,200 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 69% | 71% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 43% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 15% | 20% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 4.7% | 4.4% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 6% | 9% | n/a |
Work, industries and travel time in Bartholomew County
By the Census industry count, 29% of employed Bartholomew County residents work in manufacturing and 19% in education and health care. Compared with Indiana, the county leans toward manufacturing (29% against 18%). The survey's unemployment rate for Bartholomew County averages 4.1% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.3%). 10% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 14% work from home. Only 5.2% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Bartholomew County workers | vs Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 29.5% | +11.5 pts |
| Education and health care | 18.7% | -4.8 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.6% | +1.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.2% | -0.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.8% | 0.0 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 5.0% | -0.2 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Towns and communities in Bartholomew County
8 Census places fall mainly inside Bartholomew County; the 8 biggest are below. They account for 60,425 residents, leaving about 28% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Columbus has the highest median household income on the list ($77,456) and Edinburgh the lowest ($60,843), counting places with at least 500 residents. No Bartholomew County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 8.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus | city | 51,824 | $77,456 | $1,157 | 1 mi |
| Edinburgh | town | 4,381 | $60,843 | $845 | 11 mi |
| Hope | town | 2,029 | $76,188 | $1,156 | 10 mi |
| Taylorsville | CDP | 1,248 | n/a | $1,283 | 7 mi |
| Elizabethtown | town | 372 | $53,750 | $875 | 7 mi |
| Hartsville | town | 277 | $64,375 | $972 | 11 mi |
| Clifford | town | 165 | $58,750 | $776 | 6 mi |
| Jonesville | town | 129 | $55,179 | n/a | 10 mi |
Counties near Bartholomew County
Brown County is closest, 18 miles from center to center; the sixth, Shelby County, is 23 miles off. Income ranges from $69,322 in Jennings County to $90,454 in Johnson County; 1 of these neighbors top Bartholomew County's median.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bartholomew County | - | $79,901 | $1,127/mo | 69% |
| Brown County, IN | 18 mi | $78,528 | $895/mo | 87% |
| Jennings County, IN | 20 mi | $69,322 | $988/mo | 79% |
| Jackson County, IN | 22 mi | $70,262 | $1,004/mo | 73% |
| Decatur County, IN | 22 mi | $69,783 | $861/mo | 76% |
| Johnson County, IN | 23 mi | $90,454 | $1,271/mo | 73% |
| Shelby County, IN | 23 mi | $72,190 | $987/mo | 72% |
A Bartholomew County household budget, worked through
Bartholomew County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Median income divided by twelve: $6,658 before taxes
- Median rent: $1,127, or 17 cents of every gross dollar
- With a 35% ceiling, about $1,203 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- With a 45% ceiling, about $1,869 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Before borrowing in Bartholomew County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Bartholomew County borrowers.
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Bartholomew County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
More Bartholomew County figures
Degree holders: 34% of adults over 25. About 5% go without health insurance.
| Indicator | Bartholomew County | All of Indiana | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.5 | 38.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 34.1% | 29.5% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.0% | 9.6% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.5% | 7.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.2% | 6.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 13.8% | 10.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 10.5% | 12.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.1% | 4.3% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Bartholomew County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 36.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 40.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 12.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.5% |
| 60+ min | 6.0% |
Four steps for Bartholomew County borrowers
Before you apply, wherever you live in Bartholomew County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Lender oversight for Bartholomew County
Bartholomew County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Indiana Department of Financial Institutions. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. More on Indiana: Indiana personal loans.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Indiana guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bartholomew County a high-income county?
Its $79,901 median ranks 11th of 92 Indiana counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How does Bartholomew County rent compare with Indiana?
$1,127 locally versus $1,062 for the state, 6% above.
What are the biggest places in Bartholomew County?
By population: Columbus, Edinburgh, Hope, Taylorsville, Elizabethtown. The county has 8 Census places in all.
Will a Bartholomew County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Indiana as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Is there a Bartholomew County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Indiana it is the Indiana Department of Financial Institutions.