Auburn Alabama Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Auburn, AL (the Auburn-Opelika metro area) was $765 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Auburn was $798 in 2019. The median rent more accurately depicts rental rates in the middle of the distribution of rents and is thus preferred in the analysis below. 2020 Auburn median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Auburn rental vacancy rates, Auburn rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Auburn.
Real Gross Rent in Auburn Alabama (2019 dollars)2
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Median Gross Rent | $1,097 | +1.86% | +6.82% |
| Alabama Median Gross Rent | $807 | +0.62% | +3.73% |
| Auburn, AL Median Gross Rent | $765 | -6.71% | -12.97% |
Auburn, AL Real Gross Rent Trends
Median gross rent for Auburn peaked in real terms in 2015 at $891 and is now $126 (14.14%) lower. Average gross rent for Auburn peaked in real terms in 2015 at $885 and is now $87 (9.83%) lower.
Real Gross Rent in Auburn: Auburn AL Median, Auburn AL Average, Alabama Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Auburn
| Date | US Median |
Alabama Median |
Auburn, AL Median |
Auburn, AL Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $807 | $765 | $798 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $802 | $820 | $845 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $773 | $829 | $885 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $778 | $879 | $855 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $773 | $891 | $885 |
| 2014 | $986 | $757 | $790 | $811 |
| 2013 | $953 | $731 | $823 | $807 |
| 2012 | $940 | $733 | $829 | $811 |
| 2011 | $941 | $742 | $786 | $802 |
| 2010 | $955 | $745 | $778 | $872 |
| 2009 | $960 | $749 | $797 | $792 |
| 2007 | $927 | $706 | $720 | $730 |
| 2005 | $910 | $669 | $678 | $685 |
Auburn Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate is the fraction of homes for rent that are not occupied.3 In 2019 the rental vacancy rate for Auburn Alabama was 6.56% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Auburn Alabama
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Alabama | 9.69% | -0.37% | -0.65% |
| Auburn, AL | 6.56% | -4.95% | -1.71% |
Trends in Auburn, AL Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Auburn peaked in 2018 at 11.51%. Since then it has fallen by 4.95% to 6.56%. Data records for this series originated in 2005.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Auburn AL, Alabama, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Auburn
| Date | US | Alabama | Auburn, AL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 9.69% | 6.56% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 10.06% | 11.51% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 10.99% | 9.27% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 10.34% | 8.27% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 9.72% | 3.07% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 10.37% | 6.33% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 9.17% | 6.32% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 7.79% | 5.05% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 8.30% | 5.11% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 9.64% | 7.21% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 10.33% | 5.94% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 9.25% | 2.76% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 9.21% | 8.09% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Auburn, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Auburn, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 17.09% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Auburn Alabama Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 20.03% | -0.47% | -0.40% |
| Alabama | 18.72% | -0.25% | -0.56% |
| Auburn, AL | 17.09% | -3.70% | -3.86% |
Trends in Auburn, AL Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Auburn household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2009 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 22.72%. Since then it has fallen by 5.63% to 17.09%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Auburn AL, Alabama, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Auburn Alabama
| Date | US | Alabama | Auburn, AL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 18.72% | 17.09% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 18.96% | 20.79% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 18.70% | 18.22% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 19.27% | 20.95% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 19.54% | 21.64% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 20.09% | 22.48% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 19.44% | 20.37% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 19.89% | 20.75% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 19.91% | 20.33% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 19.78% | 21.21% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 19.47% | 22.72% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 17.78% | 18.69% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 17.41% | 18.48% |
Renter Fraction in Auburn Alabama
You can calculate the renter fraction in Auburn in at least two ways: by housing units or by population. I've gone with the housing units measure here. This measure looks at the number of renting households in Auburn as a fraction of total Auburn households. In 2019 32.72% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Auburn Fraction of Renters by Household Units
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 35.89% | -0.16% | -0.99% |
| Alabama | 31.22% | -0.74% | -0.33% |
| Auburn, AL | 32.72% | -5.77% | -8.78% |
Trends in the Auburn, AL Renter Fraction
The Auburn household renter fraction peaked in in 2013 at 42.16% and is now 9.44% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Auburn AL, Alabama, US
History of Auburn Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Alabama | Auburn, AL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 31.22% | 32.72% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 31.96% | 38.49% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 31.95% | 36.45% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 31.55% | 41.50% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 32.11% | 41.93% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 32.32% | 42.02% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 31.96% | 42.16% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 31.25% | 37.80% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 30.11% | 39.28% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 29.88% | 36.36% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 30.42% | 38.90% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 29.10% | 39.79% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 29.48% | 41.15% |
1. Gross rent is defined as contract rent plus the estimated average monthly cost of utilities (electricity, gas, water, and sewer) and fuel (oil, coal, kerosene, wood, etc.). Because some rentals include utilities and others don't, gross rent is a way of normalizing the variability. ↩
2. Real dollars are calculated using the CPI-U less shelter series. ↩
3. The rental vacancy rate is computed by dividing the number of vacant units for rent by the sum of the renter-occupied units, vacant units that are for rent, and vacant units that have been rented but not yet occupied. ↩
