Birmingham Alabama Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Birmingham, AL (the Birmingham-Hoover metro area) was $913 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Birmingham was $876 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 Birmingham median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Birmingham rental vacancy rates, Birmingham rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Birmingham.
Real Gross Rent in Birmingham 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% |
| Birmingham, AL Median Gross Rent | $913 | +0.55% | +5.18% |
Birmingham, AL Real Gross Rent Trends
At $913, real median gross rent in Birmingham was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. At $876, real average gross rent in Birmingham was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.
Real Gross Rent in Birmingham: Birmingham AL Median, Birmingham AL Average, Alabama Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Birmingham
| Date | US Median |
Alabama Median |
Birmingham, AL Median |
Birmingham, AL Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $807 | $913 | $876 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $802 | $908 | $874 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $773 | $868 | $845 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $778 | $868 | $835 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $773 | $858 | $822 |
| 2014 | $986 | $757 | $841 | $825 |
| 2013 | $953 | $731 | $829 | $819 |
| 2012 | $940 | $733 | $806 | $781 |
| 2011 | $941 | $742 | $813 | $795 |
| 2010 | $955 | $745 | $837 | $818 |
| 2009 | $960 | $749 | $864 | $815 |
| 2007 | $927 | $706 | $799 | $774 |
| 2005 | $910 | $669 | $805 | $739 |
Birmingham 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 Birmingham Alabama was 8.50% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Birmingham Alabama
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Alabama | 9.69% | -0.37% | -0.65% |
| Birmingham, AL | 8.50% | -0.93% | -0.82% |
Trends in Birmingham, AL Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Birmingham peaked in 2009 at 11.75%. Since then it has fallen by 3.25% to 8.50%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2015 post peak low of 7.09%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 1.41%.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Birmingham AL, Alabama, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Birmingham
| Date | US | Alabama | Birmingham, AL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 9.69% | 8.50% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 10.06% | 9.43% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 10.99% | 7.88% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 10.34% | 9.32% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 9.72% | 7.09% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 10.37% | 7.50% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 9.17% | 7.34% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 7.79% | 9.26% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 8.30% | 7.15% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 9.64% | 8.77% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 10.33% | 11.75% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 9.25% | 9.38% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 9.21% | 8.50% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Birmingham, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Birmingham, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 18.77% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Birmingham 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% |
| Birmingham, AL | 18.77% | -0.20% | -0.28% |
Trends in Birmingham, AL Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Birmingham household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2014 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 20.33%. Since then it has fallen by 1.56% to 18.77%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Birmingham AL, Alabama, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Birmingham Alabama
| Date | US | Alabama | Birmingham, AL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 18.72% | 18.77% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 18.96% | 18.98% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 18.70% | 19.03% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 19.27% | 19.05% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 19.54% | 18.87% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 20.09% | 20.33% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 19.44% | 19.54% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 19.89% | 19.45% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 19.91% | 19.80% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 19.78% | 20.33% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 19.47% | 20.27% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 17.78% | 17.29% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 17.41% | 17.64% |
Renter Fraction in Birmingham Alabama
You can calculate the renter fraction in Birmingham 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 Birmingham as a fraction of total Birmingham households. In 2019 32.28% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Birmingham 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% |
| Birmingham, AL | 32.28% | +1.57% | +1.71% |
Trends in the Birmingham, AL Renter Fraction
The Birmingham household renter fraction peaked in in 2014 at 32.50% and is now 0.22% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Birmingham AL, Alabama, US
History of Birmingham Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Alabama | Birmingham, AL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 31.22% | 32.28% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 31.96% | 30.71% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 31.95% | 32.02% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 31.55% | 30.57% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 32.11% | 31.07% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 32.32% | 32.50% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 31.96% | 31.12% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 31.25% | 30.57% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 30.11% | 29.98% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 29.88% | 29.30% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 30.42% | 29.53% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 29.10% | 27.82% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 29.48% | 28.45% |
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. ↩
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