Department of Numbers

Jefferson County Alabama Residential Rent and Rental Statistics

The median monthly gross residential rent in Jefferson County AL was $907 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Jefferson County was $885 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 Jefferson County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.

Data is also available below for Jefferson County rental vacancy rates, Jefferson County rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Jefferson County.

Show dollars as: Nominal Real

Real Gross Rent in Jefferson 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%
Jefferson County AL Median Gross Rent $907 -2.89% +3.42%

Jefferson County AL Real Gross Rent Trends

Median gross rent for Jefferson County peaked in real terms in 2018 at $934 and is now $27 (2.89%) lower. Average gross rent for Jefferson County peaked in real terms in 2018 at $916 and is now $31 (3.38%) lower.

Real Gross Rent: Jefferson County AL Median, Jefferson County AL Average, Alabama Median, US Median

Lower quartile, median and upper quartile real gross rent

Real Gross Rent History for Jefferson County

Date US
Median
Alabama
Median
Jefferson County AL
Median
Jefferson County AL
Average
2019 $1,097 $807 $907 $885
2018 $1,077 $802 $934 $916
2017 $1,043 $773 $891 $887
2016 $1,027 $778 $877 $855
2015 $1,017 $773 $873 $849
2014 $986 $757 $877 $850
2013 $953 $731 $843 $840
2012 $940 $733 $813 $810
2011 $941 $742 $829 $828
2010 $955 $745 $847 $838
2009 $960 $749 $883 $860

more history ...

Jefferson 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 Jefferson County Alabama was 9.02% according to Census ACS data.

Rental Vacancy Rate in Jefferson County Alabama

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 5.97% -0.18% +0.08%
Alabama 9.69% -0.37% -0.65%
Jefferson County AL 9.02% -2.02% -0.93%

Trends in Jefferson County AL Rental Vacancy Rate

The rental vacancy rate in Jefferson County peaked in 2009 at 13.27%. Since then it has fallen by 4.25% to 9.02%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2015 post peak low of 6.49%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 2.53%.

Rental Vacancy Rate: Jefferson County AL, Alabama, US

Rental vacancy rate in Alabama

Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Jefferson County

Date US Alabama Jefferson County AL
2019 5.97% 9.69% 9.02%
2018 6.15% 10.06% 11.04%
2017 6.18% 10.99% 8.45%
2016 5.89% 10.34% 9.95%
2015 5.85% 9.72% 6.49%
2014 6.32% 10.37% 7.93%
2013 6.49% 9.17% 7.68%
2012 6.77% 7.79% 10.79%
2011 7.40% 8.30% 8.24%
2010 8.17% 9.64% 9.14%
2009 8.43% 10.33% 13.27%

more history ...

Rent as a Fraction of Income

Using median household income data for Jefferson County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Jefferson County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 20.18% in 2019 according to the ACS.

Jefferson 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%
Jefferson County AL 20.18% +0.24% +0.14%

Trends in Jefferson County AL Rent as a Fraction of Income

The fraction of median Jefferson County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2014 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 22.34%. Since then it has fallen by 2.16% to 20.18%.

Fraction of Income towards Rent: Jefferson County AL, Alabama, US

Percent of median household income going towards median monthly gross rent in Jefferson County Alabama

Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Jefferson County Alabama

Date US Alabama Jefferson County AL
2019 20.03% 18.72% 20.18%
2018 20.50% 18.96% 19.93%
2017 20.13% 18.70% 20.45%
2016 20.43% 19.27% 20.04%
2015 20.63% 19.54% 20.37%
2014 20.89% 20.09% 22.34%
2013 20.78% 19.44% 21.35%
2012 20.65% 19.89% 20.86%
2011 20.70% 19.91% 21.96%
2010 20.50% 19.78% 21.87%
2009 20.12% 19.47% 21.49%

more history ...

Renter Fraction in Jefferson County Alabama

You can calculate the renter fraction in Jefferson 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 Jefferson County as a fraction of total Jefferson County households. In 2019 39.01% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.

Jefferson 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%
Jefferson County AL 39.01% +2.03% +1.80%

Trends in the Jefferson County AL Renter Fraction

At 39.01%, the 2019 household based renter fraction in Jefferson County was at its highest level. The origin year for the series is 2005.

Fraction of Renting Households: Jefferson County AL, Alabama, US

Fraction of renters in Jefferson County

History of Jefferson County Renter Fraction

Date US Alabama Jefferson County AL
2019 35.89% 31.22% 39.01%
2018 36.05% 31.96% 36.98%
2017 36.13% 31.95% 38.75%
2016 36.88% 31.55% 37.21%
2015 36.97% 32.11% 38.20%
2014 36.90% 32.32% 38.42%
2013 36.50% 31.96% 37.69%
2012 36.09% 31.25% 35.91%
2011 35.42% 30.11% 35.80%
2010 34.65% 29.88% 35.37%
2009 34.13% 30.42% 34.93%

more history ...

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.