3 Alabama cities among WalletHub’s top 50 for renters in the U.S.

A recent study from WalletHub highlights the best American cities for renters and three Alabama towns were featured in the top 50 including one in the top 10.

Huntsville topped the list for our state, coming in at No. 8 in the country. Mobile was ranked 31st and Montgomery made the list at No. 43. Birmingham was the only other Alabama city included in the study and was ranked 125 out of 182 U.S. cities.

“In the best cities for renters, rent can cost you as little as around 15% of your income. You’ll also have access to robust laws that protect renters, such as limiting deposits to only a month or two of rent. Our study also considers quality-of-life factors such as a city’s traffic congestion, job market or recreation options to make sure you can get a good living experience, not just inexpensive housing.”

Chip Lupo, WalletHub Analyst

Keep reading to learn more about the WalletHub study + what helped Huntsville stand out.

Huntsville tops list of best cities for Alabama renters

WalletHub compared 182 cities across the two key categories of “Rental Market & Affordability” and “Quality of Life.” The study looked at 21 different metrics with the heaviest factors including:

• Rental affordability
• Historical rental price changes
• Cost of living
• Job market
• Safety

Huntsville was 4th overall in the Rental Market & Affordability rankings and 38th in Quality of Life. The city’s 63.10 final score was less than six full points back from Scottsdale, Arizona which took the top spot on WalletHub’s list.

The Rocket City is the only Southeast city to feature in the top 20.

Here is how the other Alabama cities ranked:

• No. 31 Mobile: 55.79
  • Rental Market & Affordability: #26
  • Quality of Life: #85
• No. 43 Montgomery:
  • Rental Market & Affordability: #27
  • Quality of Life: #100
• No. 125 Birmingham:
  • Rental Market & Affordability: #101
  • Quality of Life: #130

“Value is not just about the lowest monthly rent; it is about the total cost of occupancy over your lease term. Savvy renters look for concessions, such as one month of free rent or waived application fees, which landlords are increasingly using to attract tenants in slower markets. Treat your search like a project: map out your total monthly obligations, including utilities, parking, and transit costs.”

Andrew Burnstine, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Lynn University

WalletHub’s best cities for renters in the U.S.

WalletHub’s top 10 cities for renters is dominated by Arizona, with four cities in the top 10 (and holding the 1-3 spots on the list). Here’s the top 10:

1. Scottsdale, Arizona
2. Gilbert, Arizona
3. Chandler, Arizona
4. Overland Park, Kansas
5. Colombia, Maryland
6. Peoria, Arizona
7. Bismarck, North Dakota
8. Huntsville, Alabama
9. Sioux Falls, South Dakota
10. Amarillo, Texas