Houston County Alabama Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Houston County AL was $736 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Houston County was $709 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 Houston County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Houston County rental vacancy rates, Houston County rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Houston County.
Real Gross Rent in Houston County 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% |
| Houston County AL Median Gross Rent | $736 | -1.08% | -3.16% |
Houston County AL Real Gross Rent Trends
Median gross rent for Houston County peaked in real terms in 2016 at $760 and is now $24 (3.16%) lower. Average gross rent for Houston County peaked in real terms in 2016 at $739 and is now $30 (4.06%) lower.
Real Gross Rent: Houston County AL Median, Houston County AL Average, Alabama Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Houston County
| Date | US Median |
Alabama Median |
Houston County AL Median |
Houston County AL Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $807 | $736 | $709 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $802 | $744 | $700 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $773 | $739 | $704 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $778 | $760 | $739 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $773 | $756 | $720 |
| 2014 | $986 | $757 | $749 | $709 |
| 2013 | $953 | $731 | $711 | $666 |
| 2012 | $940 | $733 | $710 | $683 |
| 2011 | $941 | $742 | $691 | $665 |
| 2010 | $955 | $745 | $689 | $636 |
| 2009 | $960 | $749 | $679 | $652 |
| 2007 | $927 | $706 | $673 | $657 |
| 2005 | $910 | $669 | $619 | $611 |
Houston County 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 Houston County Alabama was 10.35% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Houston County Alabama
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Alabama | 9.69% | -0.37% | -0.65% |
| Houston County AL | 10.35% | -3.55% | -2.41% |
Trends in Houston County AL Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Houston County peaked in 2006 at 16.33%. Since then it has fallen by 5.98% to 10.35%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2011 post peak low of 4.93%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 5.42%.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Houston County AL, Alabama, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Houston County
| Date | US | Alabama | Houston County AL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 9.69% | 10.35% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 10.06% | 13.90% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 10.99% | 11.08% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 10.34% | 12.76% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 9.72% | 8.68% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 10.37% | 12.98% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 9.17% | 11.55% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 7.79% | 6.59% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 8.30% | 4.93% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 9.64% | 7.20% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 10.33% | 10.46% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 9.25% | 15.13% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 9.21% | 8.18% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Houston County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Houston County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 17.63% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Houston County 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% |
| Houston County AL | 17.63% | -0.61% | -2.96% |
Trends in Houston County AL Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Houston County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2014 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 21.52%. Since then it has fallen by 3.89% to 17.63%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Houston County AL, Alabama, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Houston County Alabama
| Date | US | Alabama | Houston County AL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 18.72% | 17.63% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 18.96% | 18.24% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 18.70% | 19.32% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 19.27% | 20.59% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 19.54% | 19.65% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 20.09% | 21.52% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 19.44% | 20.77% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 19.89% | 19.81% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 19.91% | 19.04% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 19.78% | 19.19% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 19.47% | 18.65% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 17.78% | 17.08% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 17.41% | 15.61% |
Renter Fraction in Houston County Alabama
You can calculate the renter fraction in Houston County 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 Houston County as a fraction of total Houston County households. In 2019 35.09% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Houston County 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% |
| Houston County AL | 35.09% | +2.42% | -0.47% |
Trends in the Houston County AL Renter Fraction
The Houston County household renter fraction peaked in in 2013 at 37.00% and is now 1.91% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Houston County AL, Alabama, US
History of Houston County Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Alabama | Houston County AL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 31.22% | 35.09% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 31.96% | 32.67% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 31.95% | 33.31% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 31.55% | 35.56% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 32.11% | 36.04% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 32.32% | 34.60% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 31.96% | 37.00% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 31.25% | 35.05% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 30.11% | 33.87% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 29.88% | 35.93% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 30.42% | 33.48% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 29.10% | 29.16% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 29.48% | 31.76% |
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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