Tuscaloosa County Alabama Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Tuscaloosa County AL was $889 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Tuscaloosa County was $889 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 County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Tuscaloosa County rental vacancy rates, Tuscaloosa County rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Tuscaloosa County.
Real Gross Rent in Tuscaloosa 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% |
| Tuscaloosa County AL Median Gross Rent | $889 | +2.54% | +8.15% |
Tuscaloosa County AL Real Gross Rent Trends
At $889, real median gross rent in Tuscaloosa County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. At $889, real average gross rent in Tuscaloosa County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.
Real Gross Rent: Tuscaloosa County AL Median, Tuscaloosa County AL Average, Alabama Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Tuscaloosa County
| Date | US Median |
Alabama Median |
Tuscaloosa County AL Median |
Tuscaloosa County AL Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $807 | $889 | $889 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $802 | $867 | $848 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $773 | $862 | $832 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $778 | $822 | $840 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $773 | $850 | $832 |
| 2014 | $986 | $757 | $868 | $829 |
| 2013 | $953 | $731 | $779 | $755 |
| 2012 | $940 | $733 | $749 | $738 |
| 2011 | $941 | $742 | $834 | $827 |
| 2010 | $955 | $745 | $843 | $836 |
| 2009 | $960 | $749 | $781 | $754 |
| 2007 | $927 | $706 | $747 | $758 |
| 2005 | $910 | $669 | $718 | $705 |
Tuscaloosa 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 Tuscaloosa County Alabama was 5.54% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Tuscaloosa County Alabama
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Alabama | 9.69% | -0.37% | -0.65% |
| Tuscaloosa County AL | 5.54% | +0.04% | +1.09% |
Trends in Tuscaloosa County AL Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Tuscaloosa County peaked in 2009 at 23.10%. Since then it has fallen by 17.56% to 5.54%. Data records for this series originated in 2005.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Tuscaloosa County AL, Alabama, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Tuscaloosa County
| Date | US | Alabama | Tuscaloosa County AL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 9.69% | 5.54% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 10.06% | 5.50% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 10.99% | 6.15% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 10.34% | 4.45% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 9.72% | 6.18% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 10.37% | 6.07% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 9.17% | — |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 7.79% | 6.55% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 8.30% | 5.83% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 9.64% | 14.81% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 10.33% | 23.10% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 9.25% | 6.21% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 9.21% | 10.15% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Tuscaloosa County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Tuscaloosa County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 20.42% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Tuscaloosa 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% |
| Tuscaloosa County AL | 20.42% | +1.65% | +0.71% |
Trends in Tuscaloosa County AL Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Tuscaloosa County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2011 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 22.03%. Since then it has fallen by 1.61% to 20.42%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Tuscaloosa County AL, Alabama, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Tuscaloosa County Alabama
| Date | US | Alabama | Tuscaloosa County AL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 18.72% | 20.42% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 18.96% | 18.77% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 18.70% | 19.18% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 19.27% | 19.71% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 19.54% | 19.59% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 20.09% | 20.75% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 19.44% | 19.08% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 19.89% | 20.54% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 19.91% | 22.03% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 19.78% | 20.82% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 19.47% | 19.69% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 17.78% | 18.64% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 17.41% | 20.88% |
Renter Fraction in Tuscaloosa County Alabama
You can calculate the renter fraction in Tuscaloosa 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 Tuscaloosa County as a fraction of total Tuscaloosa County households. In 2019 36.71% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Tuscaloosa 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% |
| Tuscaloosa County AL | 36.71% | -0.87% | -1.83% |
Trends in the Tuscaloosa County AL Renter Fraction
The Tuscaloosa County household renter fraction peaked in in 2005 at 39.63% and is now 2.92% below that level. From a recent low of 34.57% in 2011, the household based renter fraction has now grown by 2.14%. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Tuscaloosa County AL, Alabama, US
History of Tuscaloosa County Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Alabama | Tuscaloosa County AL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 31.22% | 36.71% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 31.96% | 37.58% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 31.95% | 37.13% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 31.55% | 38.54% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 32.11% | 37.46% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 32.32% | 36.35% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 31.96% | 38.24% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 31.25% | 35.87% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 30.11% | 34.57% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 29.88% | 34.98% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 30.42% | 37.47% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 29.10% | 37.04% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 29.48% | 39.63% |
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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