Tuscaloosa Alabama Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Tuscaloosa, AL (the Tuscaloosa metro area) was $858 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Tuscaloosa was $833 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 Tuscaloosa median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Tuscaloosa rental vacancy rates, Tuscaloosa rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Tuscaloosa.
Real Gross Rent in Tuscaloosa 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% |
| Tuscaloosa, AL Median Gross Rent | $858 | +1.42% | +5.67% |
Tuscaloosa, AL Real Gross Rent Trends
At $858, real median gross rent in Tuscaloosa was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. At $833, real average gross rent in Tuscaloosa was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.
Real Gross Rent in Tuscaloosa: Tuscaloosa AL Median, Tuscaloosa AL Average, Alabama Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Tuscaloosa
| Date | US Median |
Alabama Median |
Tuscaloosa, AL Median |
Tuscaloosa, AL Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $807 | $858 | $833 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $802 | $846 | $798 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $773 | $851 | $778 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $778 | $812 | $794 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $773 | $825 | $782 |
| 2014 | $986 | $757 | $833 | $768 |
| 2013 | $953 | $731 | $760 | $732 |
| 2012 | $940 | $733 | $713 | $695 |
| 2011 | $941 | $742 | $815 | $775 |
| 2010 | $955 | $745 | $825 | $793 |
| 2009 | $960 | $749 | $765 | $702 |
| 2007 | $927 | $706 | $740 | $724 |
| 2005 | $910 | $669 | $700 | $666 |
Tuscaloosa 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 Tuscaloosa Alabama was 5.56% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Tuscaloosa Alabama
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Alabama | 9.69% | -0.37% | -0.65% |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | 5.56% | +0.63% | +1.43% |
Trends in Tuscaloosa, AL Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Tuscaloosa peaked in 2009 at 21.07%. Since then it has fallen by 15.51% to 5.56%. Data records for this series originated in 2005.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Tuscaloosa AL, Alabama, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Tuscaloosa
| Date | US | Alabama | Tuscaloosa, AL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 9.69% | 5.56% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 10.06% | 4.93% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 10.99% | 5.62% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 10.34% | 4.13% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 9.72% | 5.83% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 10.37% | 5.47% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 9.17% | 6.34% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 7.79% | 7.07% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 8.30% | 5.27% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 9.64% | 13.55% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 10.33% | 21.07% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 9.25% | 5.75% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 9.21% | 9.39% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Tuscaloosa, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Tuscaloosa, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 20.71% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Tuscaloosa 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% |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | 20.71% | +1.13% | +0.53% |
Trends in Tuscaloosa, AL Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Tuscaloosa household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2011 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 22.39%. Since then it has fallen by 1.68% to 20.71%. From a 2013 low of 19.30%, the fraction of income going to rent has increased by 1.41%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Tuscaloosa AL, Alabama, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Tuscaloosa Alabama
| Date | US | Alabama | Tuscaloosa, AL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 18.72% | 20.71% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 18.96% | 19.58% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 18.70% | 19.35% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 19.27% | 20.18% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 19.54% | 20.09% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 20.09% | 21.45% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 19.44% | 19.30% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 19.89% | 20.75% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 19.91% | 22.39% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 19.78% | 21.58% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 19.47% | 20.12% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 17.78% | 19.37% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 17.41% | 21.19% |
Renter Fraction in Tuscaloosa Alabama
You can calculate the renter fraction in Tuscaloosa 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 Tuscaloosa as a fraction of total Tuscaloosa households. In 2019 34.05% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Tuscaloosa 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% |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | 34.05% | -1.70% | -2.54% |
Trends in the Tuscaloosa, AL Renter Fraction
The Tuscaloosa household renter fraction peaked in in 2005 at 38.07% and is now 4.02% below that level. From a recent low of 33.51% in 2010, the household based renter fraction has now grown by 0.54%. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Tuscaloosa AL, Alabama, US
History of Tuscaloosa Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Alabama | Tuscaloosa, AL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 31.22% | 34.05% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 31.96% | 35.75% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 31.95% | 35.13% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 31.55% | 36.59% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 32.11% | 35.67% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 32.32% | 35.56% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 31.96% | 35.69% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 31.25% | 34.66% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 30.11% | 34.08% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 29.88% | 33.51% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 30.42% | 36.17% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 29.10% | 35.46% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 29.48% | 38.07% |
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. ↩
Department of Numbers
The Department of Numbers contextualizes public data so that individuals can form independent opinions on everyday social and economic matters.
Here's where you are
- Home
- / Rent
- / Alabama
- / Tuscaloosa
