Decatur Alabama Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Decatur, AL (the Decatur metro area) was $694 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Decatur was $642 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 Decatur median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Decatur rental vacancy rates, Decatur rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Decatur.
Real Gross Rent in Decatur 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% |
| Decatur, AL Median Gross Rent | $694 | -3.34% | +15.86% |
Decatur, AL Real Gross Rent Trends
Median gross rent for Decatur peaked in real terms in 2018 at $718 and is now $24 (3.34%) lower. Average gross rent for Decatur peaked in real terms in 2018 at $688 and is now $46 (6.69%) lower.
Real Gross Rent in Decatur: Decatur AL Median, Decatur AL Average, Alabama Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Decatur
| Date | US Median |
Alabama Median |
Decatur, AL Median |
Decatur, AL Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $807 | $694 | $642 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $802 | $718 | $688 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $773 | $618 | $557 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $778 | $599 | $592 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $773 | $633 | $595 |
| 2014 | $986 | $757 | $636 | $660 |
| 2013 | $953 | $731 | $620 | $574 |
| 2012 | $940 | $733 | $594 | $553 |
| 2011 | $941 | $742 | $618 | $559 |
| 2010 | $955 | $745 | $655 | $597 |
| 2009 | $960 | $749 | $620 | $586 |
| 2007 | $927 | $706 | $584 | $517 |
| 2005 | $910 | $669 | $620 | $576 |
Decatur Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate is the fraction of homes for rent that are not occupied.3 In 2018 the rental vacancy rate for Decatur Alabama was 7.13% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Decatur Alabama
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Alabama | 9.69% | -0.37% | -0.65% |
| Decatur, AL | — | — | — |
Trends in Decatur, AL Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Decatur peaked in 2005 at 11.46%. Since then it has fallen by 4.33% to 7.13%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2007 post peak low of 1.07%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 6.06%.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Decatur AL, Alabama, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Decatur
| Date | US | Alabama | Decatur, AL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 9.69% | — |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 10.06% | 7.13% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 10.99% | 7.15% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 10.34% | — |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 9.72% | 8.27% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 10.37% | 4.32% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 9.17% | 4.36% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 7.79% | 1.93% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 8.30% | — |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 9.64% | 3.92% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 10.33% | — |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 9.25% | 1.07% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 9.21% | 11.46% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Decatur, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Decatur, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 15.58% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Decatur 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% |
| Decatur, AL | 15.58% | -1.64% | +0.18% |
Trends in Decatur, AL Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Decatur household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2009 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 17.31%. Since then it has fallen by 1.73% to 15.58%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Decatur AL, Alabama, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Decatur Alabama
| Date | US | Alabama | Decatur, AL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 18.72% | 15.58% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 18.96% | 17.22% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 18.70% | 15.28% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 19.27% | 15.40% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 19.54% | 15.52% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 20.09% | 16.20% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 19.44% | 16.59% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 19.89% | 15.91% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 19.91% | 16.35% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 19.78% | 16.67% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 19.47% | 17.31% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 17.78% | 14.01% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 17.41% | 14.36% |
Renter Fraction in Decatur Alabama
You can calculate the renter fraction in Decatur 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 Decatur as a fraction of total Decatur households. In 2019 23.91% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Decatur 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% |
| Decatur, AL | 23.91% | -4.58% | +0.70% |
Trends in the Decatur, AL Renter Fraction
The Decatur household renter fraction peaked in in 2012 at 28.55% and is now 4.64% below that level. From a recent low of 23.21% in 2016, the household based renter fraction has now grown by 0.70%. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Decatur AL, Alabama, US
History of Decatur Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Alabama | Decatur, AL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 31.22% | 23.91% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 31.96% | 28.49% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 31.95% | 27.22% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 31.55% | 23.21% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 32.11% | 26.86% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 32.32% | 28.09% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 31.96% | 26.49% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 31.25% | 28.55% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 30.11% | 24.62% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 29.88% | 25.24% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 30.42% | 27.78% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 29.10% | 24.19% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 29.48% | 24.25% |
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. ↩
