Rents are right about where Alabaster's 10-year trend predicts.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,881 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
Rent in Alabaster is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in June 2022.
Rent in Alabaster changed +3.2% over the year to September 2026. Across the 48 Alabama cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.3%.
Rent has risen 3 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($91,357) is $2,284 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($2,010).
Calera, 9 miles away, rents for 13% less ($1,642/mo), about $2,900 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Alabaster. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
Is your rent fair?
Compare your rent to the local median.
Who lives here
Alabaster, AL is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 41.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Alabaster, AL has changed in 5 years
Since 2023, the typical rent in Alabaster, AL has increased from $1,645 to $1,881, a 14.3% change over five years. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $83,181 in 2021 to $91,357 more recently. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has grown by 2.4% since 2021, moving from about 33,133 residents to roughly 33,917. College-educated residents now make up 41.1% of adults here, versus 38.9% in 2021. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Alabaster, AL market of 2023.
Discussions about Alabaster
No discussions yet. Start the conversation.
Can you afford rent in Alabaster on your salary?
At $1,881/mo, how Alabaster rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Alabaster rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Alabaster. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Alabaster
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Alabaster is $1,881/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,120/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,420/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,280/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,770/mo.
At 25% of local median household income ($91,357/yr), Alabaster ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.2% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Alabaster?
Is rent going up or down in Alabaster?
How does Alabaster rent compare to other cities in Alabama?
At $1,881/mo, rent takes ~25% of Alabaster's median household income ($91,357/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
Pick another city or ZIP to compare.
Estimated from ZIP-level data
Be the first to submit your rent for Alabaster.
No discussions yet.