Department of Numbers

Shelby County Alabama Residential Rent and Rental Statistics

The median monthly gross residential rent in Shelby County AL was $1,073 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Shelby County was $1,010 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 Shelby County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.

Data is also available below for Shelby County rental vacancy rates, Shelby County rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Shelby County.

Show dollars as: Nominal Real

Real Gross Rent in Shelby 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%
Shelby County AL Median Gross Rent $1,073 +1.90% +2.29%

Shelby County AL Real Gross Rent Trends

At $1,073, real median gross rent in Shelby County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. Average gross rent for Shelby County peaked in real terms in 2016 at $1,057 and is now $47 (4.45%) lower.

Real Gross Rent: Shelby County AL Median, Shelby County AL Average, Alabama Median, US Median

Lower quartile, median and upper quartile real gross rent

Real Gross Rent History for Shelby County

Date US
Median
Alabama
Median
Shelby County AL
Median
Shelby County AL
Average
2019 $1,097 $807 $1,073 $1,010
2018 $1,077 $802 $1,053 $1,031
2017 $1,043 $773 $1,007 $985
2016 $1,027 $778 $1,049 $1,057
2015 $1,017 $773 $993 $943
2014 $986 $757 $988 $1,005
2013 $953 $731 $974 $1,046
2012 $940 $733 $965 $983
2011 $941 $742 $985 $966
2010 $955 $745 $1,000 $977
2009 $960 $749 $971 $905

more history ...

Shelby 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 Shelby County Alabama was 7.07% according to Census ACS data.

Rental Vacancy Rate in Shelby County Alabama

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 5.97% -0.18% +0.08%
Alabama 9.69% -0.37% -0.65%
Shelby County AL 7.07% -0.73% -0.97%

Trends in Shelby County AL Rental Vacancy Rate

The rental vacancy rate in Shelby County peaked in 2008 at 14.09%. Since then it has fallen by 7.02% to 7.07%. Data records for this series originated in 2005.

Rental Vacancy Rate: Shelby County AL, Alabama, US

Rental vacancy rate in Alabama

Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Shelby County

Date US Alabama Shelby County AL
2019 5.97% 9.69% 7.07%
2018 6.15% 10.06% 7.80%
2017 6.18% 10.99% 9.79%
2016 5.89% 10.34% 8.04%
2015 5.85% 9.72% 10.67%
2014 6.32% 10.37% 6.67%
2013 6.49% 9.17% 8.66%
2012 6.77% 7.79% 7.43%
2011 7.40% 8.30% 5.56%
2010 8.17% 9.64% 8.65%
2009 8.43% 10.33% 9.35%

more history ...

Rent as a Fraction of Income

Using median household income data for Shelby County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Shelby County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 17.03% in 2019 according to the ACS.

Shelby 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%
Shelby County AL 17.03% -0.39% +0.70%

Trends in Shelby County AL Rent as a Fraction of Income

The fraction of median Shelby County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2018 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 17.42%. Since then it has fallen by 0.39% to 17.03%.

Fraction of Income towards Rent: Shelby County AL, Alabama, US

Percent of median household income going towards median monthly gross rent in Shelby County Alabama

Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Shelby County Alabama

Date US Alabama Shelby County AL
2019 20.03% 18.72% 17.03%
2018 20.50% 18.96% 17.42%
2017 20.13% 18.70% 16.05%
2016 20.43% 19.27% 16.33%
2015 20.63% 19.54% 16.00%
2014 20.89% 20.09% 16.58%
2013 20.78% 19.44% 16.37%
2012 20.65% 19.89% 16.56%
2011 20.70% 19.91% 16.63%
2010 20.50% 19.78% 16.35%
2009 20.12% 19.47% 15.88%

more history ...

Renter Fraction in Shelby County Alabama

You can calculate the renter fraction in Shelby 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 Shelby County as a fraction of total Shelby County households. In 2019 18.43% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.

Shelby 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%
Shelby County AL 18.43% -0.59% -1.84%

Trends in the Shelby County AL Renter Fraction

The Shelby County household renter fraction peaked in in 2012 at 23.08% and is now 4.65% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.

Fraction of Renting Households: Shelby County AL, Alabama, US

Fraction of renters in Shelby County

History of Shelby County Renter Fraction

Date US Alabama Shelby County AL
2019 35.89% 31.22% 18.43%
2018 36.05% 31.96% 19.02%
2017 36.13% 31.95% 21.37%
2016 36.88% 31.55% 20.27%
2015 36.97% 32.11% 20.85%
2014 36.90% 32.32% 21.90%
2013 36.50% 31.96% 20.98%
2012 36.09% 31.25% 23.08%
2011 35.42% 30.11% 20.00%
2010 34.65% 29.88% 20.32%
2009 34.13% 30.42% 21.47%

more history ...

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.