Shelby County Alabama Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Shelby County AL was $1,073 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Shelby County was $1,010 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 Shelby County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Shelby County rental vacancy rates, Shelby County rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Shelby County.
Real Gross Rent in Shelby 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% |
| Shelby County AL Median Gross Rent | $1,073 | +1.90% | +2.29% |
Shelby County AL Real Gross Rent Trends
At $1,073, real median gross rent in Shelby County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. Average gross rent for Shelby County peaked in real terms in 2016 at $1,057 and is now $47 (4.45%) lower.
Real Gross Rent: Shelby County AL Median, Shelby County AL Average, Alabama Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Shelby County
| Date | US Median |
Alabama Median |
Shelby County AL Median |
Shelby County AL Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $807 | $1,073 | $1,010 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $802 | $1,053 | $1,031 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $773 | $1,007 | $985 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $778 | $1,049 | $1,057 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $773 | $993 | $943 |
| 2014 | $986 | $757 | $988 | $1,005 |
| 2013 | $953 | $731 | $974 | $1,046 |
| 2012 | $940 | $733 | $965 | $983 |
| 2011 | $941 | $742 | $985 | $966 |
| 2010 | $955 | $745 | $1,000 | $977 |
| 2009 | $960 | $749 | $971 | $905 |
| 2007 | $927 | $706 | $888 | $782 |
| 2005 | $910 | $669 | $921 | $880 |
Shelby 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 Shelby County Alabama was 7.07% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Shelby County Alabama
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Alabama | 9.69% | -0.37% | -0.65% |
| Shelby County AL | 7.07% | -0.73% | -0.97% |
Trends in Shelby County AL Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Shelby County peaked in 2008 at 14.09%. Since then it has fallen by 7.02% to 7.07%. Data records for this series originated in 2005.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Shelby County AL, Alabama, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Shelby County
| Date | US | Alabama | Shelby County AL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 9.69% | 7.07% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 10.06% | 7.80% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 10.99% | 9.79% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 10.34% | 8.04% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 9.72% | 10.67% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 10.37% | 6.67% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 9.17% | 8.66% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 7.79% | 7.43% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 8.30% | 5.56% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 9.64% | 8.65% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 10.33% | 9.35% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 9.25% | 4.03% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 9.21% | 2.96% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Shelby County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Shelby County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 17.03% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Shelby 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% |
| Shelby County AL | 17.03% | -0.39% | +0.70% |
Trends in Shelby County AL Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Shelby County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2018 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 17.42%. Since then it has fallen by 0.39% to 17.03%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Shelby County AL, Alabama, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Shelby County Alabama
| Date | US | Alabama | Shelby County AL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 18.72% | 17.03% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 18.96% | 17.42% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 18.70% | 16.05% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 19.27% | 16.33% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 19.54% | 16.00% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 20.09% | 16.58% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 19.44% | 16.37% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 19.89% | 16.56% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 19.91% | 16.63% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 19.78% | 16.35% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 19.47% | 15.88% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 17.78% | 13.66% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 17.41% | 14.51% |
Renter Fraction in Shelby County Alabama
You can calculate the renter fraction in Shelby 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 Shelby County as a fraction of total Shelby County households. In 2019 18.43% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Shelby 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% |
| Shelby County AL | 18.43% | -0.59% | -1.84% |
Trends in the Shelby County AL Renter Fraction
The Shelby County household renter fraction peaked in in 2012 at 23.08% and is now 4.65% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Shelby County AL, Alabama, US
History of Shelby County Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Alabama | Shelby County AL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 31.22% | 18.43% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 31.96% | 19.02% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 31.95% | 21.37% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 31.55% | 20.27% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 32.11% | 20.85% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 32.32% | 21.90% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 31.96% | 20.98% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 31.25% | 23.08% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 30.11% | 20.00% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 29.88% | 20.32% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 30.42% | 21.47% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 29.10% | 19.48% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 29.48% | 21.18% |
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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