New data shows rent in Alabama metros + how much it ‘should’ be

Rent across the country has been rising steadily, and Alabama is not exception. In fact, average rent in Alabama metro areas has increased more than 6 percent over the last year, with some areas seeing an increase of more than 10 percent.

The most recent rental report from Waller, Weeks and Johnson shows rent in Alabama keeps rising, but in actuality, should be lower than it really is in most metros.

Rent in Alabama metros

According to the Waller, Weeks and Johnson Rental Index, the Daphne/Mobile/Fairhope metro area has the highest average monthly rent, followed by Tuscaloosa and Huntsville.

You can find the lowest rent in the Alabama metros in Florence and Talladega.

Here’s how rent in Alabama metro areas compare:

Metro	Average Rent	Where Average Rent Should Be	Change Year over Year	Income to Avoid Rent Burden
Auburn	$1,508.88	$1,397.10	10.34%	$60,355.21
Birmingham	$1,372.30	$1,331.01	4.73%	$54,891.98
Daphne	$1,707.51	$1,715.97	-1.10%	$68,300.38
Decatur	$1,300.21	$1,166.10	9.76%	$52,008.56
Enterprise	$1,298.08	$1,231.54	5.97%	$51,923.33
Florence	$976.81	$859.45	11.01%	$39,072.59
Huntsville	$1,517.56	$1,500.31	3.87%	$60,702.50
Montgomery	$1,250.60	$1,196.04	4.78%	$50,023.97
Talladega	$977	$932.17	6.69%	$39,080.00
Tuscaloosa	$1,595.23	$1,482.90	8.25%	$63,809.07

The data shows where rents should be — based on a history of rents — compared with actual current rents.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) defines cost-burdened families as those “who pay more than 30% of their income for housing including utilities and may have difficulty affording necessities such as food, clothing, transportation, or medical care.” 

Alabama’s college towns

Tuscaloosa’s rent — which is about $100 per month above where it should be — is due in large part to student demand for housing. This may also explain the higher rent in the Auburn metro (also about $100 above projection).

However, the Florence metro, home to the University of North Alabama, has some of the lowest rent in Alabama. At an average of $976 per month, that is still more than $100 above where rent should be, according to the index.

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