Huntsville Alabama Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Huntsville, AL (the Huntsville metro area) was $858 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Huntsville was $866 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 Huntsville median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Huntsville rental vacancy rates, Huntsville rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Huntsville.
Real Gross Rent in Huntsville 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% |
| Huntsville, AL Median Gross Rent | $858 | +1.06% | +4.38% |
Huntsville, AL Real Gross Rent Trends
At $858, real median gross rent in Huntsville was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. At $866, real average gross rent in Huntsville was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.
Real Gross Rent in Huntsville: Huntsville AL Median, Huntsville AL Average, Alabama Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Huntsville
| Date | US Median |
Alabama Median |
Huntsville, AL Median |
Huntsville, AL Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $807 | $858 | $866 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $802 | $849 | $798 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $773 | $808 | $810 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $778 | $822 | $776 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $773 | $804 | $786 |
| 2014 | $986 | $757 | $758 | $770 |
| 2013 | $953 | $731 | $763 | $793 |
| 2012 | $940 | $733 | $755 | $789 |
| 2011 | $941 | $742 | $751 | $778 |
| 2010 | $955 | $745 | $770 | $767 |
| 2009 | $960 | $749 | $770 | $762 |
| 2007 | $927 | $706 | $734 | $710 |
| 2005 | $910 | $669 | $703 | $678 |
Huntsville 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 Huntsville Alabama was 4.49% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Huntsville Alabama
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Alabama | 9.69% | -0.37% | -0.65% |
| Huntsville, AL | 4.49% | +0.68% | -4.00% |
Trends in Huntsville, AL Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Huntsville peaked in 2007 at 13.09%. Since then it has fallen by 8.60% to 4.49%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2018 post peak low of 3.81%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 0.68%.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Huntsville AL, Alabama, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Huntsville
| Date | US | Alabama | Huntsville, AL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 9.69% | 4.49% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 10.06% | 3.81% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 10.99% | 6.56% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 10.34% | 8.49% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 9.72% | 9.44% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 10.37% | 6.31% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 9.17% | 6.04% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 7.79% | 9.67% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 8.30% | 10.66% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 9.64% | 11.90% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 10.33% | 11.71% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 9.25% | 13.09% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 9.21% | 6.83% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Huntsville, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Huntsville, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 15.33% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Huntsville 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% |
| Huntsville, AL | 15.33% | -0.36% | -0.84% |
Trends in Huntsville, AL Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Huntsville household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2016 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 16.18%. Since then it has fallen by 0.84% to 15.33%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Huntsville AL, Alabama, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Huntsville Alabama
| Date | US | Alabama | Huntsville, AL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 18.72% | 15.33% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 18.96% | 15.70% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 18.70% | 15.34% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 19.27% | 16.18% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 19.54% | 15.74% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 20.09% | 15.26% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 19.44% | 15.58% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 19.89% | 15.60% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 19.91% | 16.12% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 19.78% | 15.78% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 19.47% | 14.87% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 17.78% | 14.81% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 17.41% | 14.05% |
Renter Fraction in Huntsville Alabama
You can calculate the renter fraction in Huntsville 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 Huntsville as a fraction of total Huntsville households. In 2019 31.30% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Huntsville 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% |
| Huntsville, AL | 31.30% | -1.15% | +0.19% |
Trends in the Huntsville, AL Renter Fraction
The Huntsville household renter fraction peaked in in 2018 at 32.45% and is now 1.15% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Huntsville AL, Alabama, US
History of Huntsville Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Alabama | Huntsville, AL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 31.22% | 31.30% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 31.96% | 32.45% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 31.95% | 32.19% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 31.55% | 31.11% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 32.11% | 31.10% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 32.32% | 30.46% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 31.96% | 31.83% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 31.25% | 29.94% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 30.11% | 29.59% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 29.88% | 27.29% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 30.42% | 28.46% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 29.10% | 28.67% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 29.48% | 29.52% |
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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