Mobile Alabama Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Mobile, AL (the Mobile metro area) was $843 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Mobile was $723 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 Mobile median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Mobile rental vacancy rates, Mobile rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Mobile.
Real Gross Rent in Mobile 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% |
| Mobile, AL Median Gross Rent | $843 | +0.48% | -0.35% |
Mobile, AL Real Gross Rent Trends
Median gross rent for Mobile peaked in real terms in 2014 at $868 and is now $25 (2.88%) lower. Average gross rent for Mobile peaked in real terms in 2015 at $807 and is now $84 (10.41%) lower.
Real Gross Rent in Mobile: Mobile AL Median, Mobile AL Average, Alabama Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Mobile
| Date | US Median |
Alabama Median |
Mobile, AL Median |
Mobile, AL Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $807 | $843 | $723 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $802 | $839 | $786 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $773 | $835 | $767 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $778 | $846 | $805 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $773 | $845 | $807 |
| 2014 | $986 | $757 | $868 | $780 |
| 2013 | $953 | $731 | $801 | $769 |
| 2012 | $940 | $733 | $771 | $732 |
| 2011 | $941 | $742 | $799 | $774 |
| 2010 | $955 | $745 | $777 | $722 |
| 2009 | $960 | $749 | $816 | $769 |
| 2007 | $927 | $706 | $758 | $696 |
| 2005 | $910 | $669 | $700 | $668 |
Mobile 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 Mobile Alabama was 7.35% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Mobile Alabama
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Alabama | 9.69% | -0.37% | -0.65% |
| Mobile, AL | 7.35% | +2.63% | -1.08% |
Trends in Mobile, AL Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Mobile peaked in 2015 at 14.12%. Since then it has fallen by 6.77% to 7.35%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2018 post peak low of 4.72%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 2.63%.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Mobile AL, Alabama, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Mobile
| Date | US | Alabama | Mobile, AL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 9.69% | 7.35% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 10.06% | 4.72% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 10.99% | 9.45% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 10.34% | 8.43% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 9.72% | 14.12% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 10.37% | 12.48% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 9.17% | 13.23% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 7.79% | 10.08% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 8.30% | 9.54% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 9.64% | 12.34% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 10.33% | 9.78% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 9.25% | 10.24% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 9.21% | 9.29% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Mobile, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Mobile, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 20.41% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Mobile 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% |
| Mobile, AL | 20.41% | -2.55% | -0.79% |
Trends in Mobile, AL Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Mobile household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2018 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 22.96%. Since then it has fallen by 2.55% to 20.41%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Mobile AL, Alabama, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Mobile Alabama
| Date | US | Alabama | Mobile, AL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 18.72% | 20.41% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 18.96% | 22.96% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 18.70% | 21.12% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 19.27% | 21.20% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 19.54% | 22.40% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 20.09% | 22.60% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 19.44% | 21.26% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 19.89% | 21.92% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 19.91% | 20.96% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 19.78% | 20.85% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 19.47% | 21.45% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 17.78% | 20.70% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 17.41% | 18.46% |
Renter Fraction in Mobile Alabama
You can calculate the renter fraction in Mobile 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 Mobile as a fraction of total Mobile households. In 2019 35.89% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Mobile 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% |
| Mobile, AL | 35.89% | -4.10% | +1.45% |
Trends in the Mobile, AL Renter Fraction
The Mobile household renter fraction peaked in in 2018 at 39.99% and is now 4.10% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Mobile AL, Alabama, US
History of Mobile Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Alabama | Mobile, AL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 31.22% | 35.89% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 31.96% | 39.99% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 31.95% | 35.74% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 31.55% | 34.44% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 32.11% | 34.60% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 32.32% | 34.77% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 31.96% | 33.74% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 31.25% | 35.77% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 30.11% | 32.33% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 29.88% | 32.88% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 30.42% | 34.60% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 29.10% | 32.28% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 29.48% | 32.73% |
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. ↩
