Department of Numbers

Mobile County Alabama Residential Rent and Rental Statistics

The median monthly gross residential rent in Mobile County AL was $846 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Mobile County was $729 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 Mobile County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.

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

Show dollars as: Nominal Real

Real Gross Rent in Mobile 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%
Mobile County AL Median Gross Rent $846 +0.83% 0.00%

Mobile County AL Real Gross Rent Trends

Median gross rent for Mobile County peaked in real terms in 2014 at $868 and is now $22 (2.53%) lower. Average gross rent for Mobile County peaked in real terms in 2015 at $807 and is now $78 (9.67%) lower.

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

Lower quartile, median and upper quartile real gross rent

Real Gross Rent History for Mobile County

Date US
Median
Alabama
Median
Mobile County AL
Median
Mobile County AL
Average
2019 $1,097 $807 $846 $729
2018 $1,077 $802 $839 $786
2017 $1,043 $773 $835 $767
2016 $1,027 $778 $846 $805
2015 $1,017 $773 $845 $807
2014 $986 $757 $868 $780
2013 $953 $731 $801 $769
2012 $940 $733 $771 $732
2011 $941 $742 $799 $774
2010 $955 $745 $777 $722
2009 $960 $749 $816 $769

more history ...

Mobile 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 Mobile County Alabama was 7.44% according to Census ACS data.

Rental Vacancy Rate in Mobile County Alabama

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 5.97% -0.18% +0.08%
Alabama 9.69% -0.37% -0.65%
Mobile County AL 7.44% +2.72% -0.99%

Trends in Mobile County AL Rental Vacancy Rate

The rental vacancy rate in Mobile County peaked in 2015 at 14.12%. Since then it has fallen by 6.68% to 7.44%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2018 post peak low of 4.72%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 2.72%.

Rental Vacancy Rate: Mobile County AL, Alabama, US

Rental vacancy rate in Alabama

Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Mobile County

Date US Alabama Mobile County AL
2019 5.97% 9.69% 7.44%
2018 6.15% 10.06% 4.72%
2017 6.18% 10.99% 9.45%
2016 5.89% 10.34% 8.43%
2015 5.85% 9.72% 14.12%
2014 6.32% 10.37% 12.48%
2013 6.49% 9.17% 13.23%
2012 6.77% 7.79% 10.08%
2011 7.40% 8.30% 9.54%
2010 8.17% 9.64% 12.34%
2009 8.43% 10.33% 9.78%

more history ...

Rent as a Fraction of Income

Using median household income data for Mobile County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Mobile County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 20.45% in 2019 according to the ACS.

Mobile 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%
Mobile County AL 20.45% -2.51% -0.74%

Trends in Mobile County AL Rent as a Fraction of Income

The fraction of median Mobile County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2018 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 22.96%. Since then it has fallen by 2.51% to 20.45%.

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

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

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

Date US Alabama Mobile County AL
2019 20.03% 18.72% 20.45%
2018 20.50% 18.96% 22.96%
2017 20.13% 18.70% 21.12%
2016 20.43% 19.27% 21.20%
2015 20.63% 19.54% 22.40%
2014 20.89% 20.09% 22.60%
2013 20.78% 19.44% 21.26%
2012 20.65% 19.89% 21.92%
2011 20.70% 19.91% 20.96%
2010 20.50% 19.78% 20.85%
2009 20.12% 19.47% 21.45%

more history ...

Renter Fraction in Mobile County Alabama

You can calculate the renter fraction in Mobile 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 Mobile County as a fraction of total Mobile County households. In 2019 36.58% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.

Mobile 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%
Mobile County AL 36.58% -3.41% +2.14%

Trends in the Mobile County AL Renter Fraction

The Mobile County household renter fraction peaked in in 2018 at 39.99% and is now 3.41% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.

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

Fraction of renters in Mobile County

History of Mobile County Renter Fraction

Date US Alabama Mobile County AL
2019 35.89% 31.22% 36.58%
2018 36.05% 31.96% 39.99%
2017 36.13% 31.95% 35.74%
2016 36.88% 31.55% 34.44%
2015 36.97% 32.11% 34.60%
2014 36.90% 32.32% 34.77%
2013 36.50% 31.96% 33.74%
2012 36.09% 31.25% 35.77%
2011 35.42% 30.11% 32.33%
2010 34.65% 29.88% 32.88%
2009 34.13% 30.42% 34.60%

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.