Cost of Living in Jay County, Indiana
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Jay County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Jay County ranks #960 of 3,142 counties for affordability (top 31%)
Sourced county brief
Jay County Rent to Income Percentage Reaches 30.6%
In Jay County, the canonical rentToIncomePct, which is the official ACS B25071 median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI), was 30.6%. This is 3.7 percentage points higher than the Indiana unweighted county mean of 26.9%. Median gross rent was recorded at $770 per month, below the state unweighted mean of $911. The median home value was $117,500, which is $74,399 lower than the state unweighted county mean of $191,899. Median selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units were $780. Renter households in the county had a median income of $29,167. These figures represent housing costs as captured in the 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year Estimates. All data are provided as snapshot descriptions without forecasting future affordability trends or economic conditions. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Jay County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 30.6% of renter household income in Jay County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $770 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $780. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $30,800 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Indiana unweighted mean of county median rents is $911 per month. Jay County's $770 median is 15.4% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Jay County
Rent Burden
16.8%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,283
per month
Owner Cost Burden
17.0%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Jay County
Median home value is $117,500. Estimated monthly cost: $938 vs. your max of $1,283.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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