Rents are 2% below what Calera's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
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 $1,642 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
February. Asking rents in Calera usually run 1.1% below trend in February and 1.4% above it in July, about $41 a month apart at today's median. Based on 5 years of data.
Rent in Calera is 0.6% below its high of $1,652 in June 2026, at $1,642 as of September 2026.
Rent in Calera changed +1.5% over the year to September 2026. Across the 48 Alabama cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.3%.
Rent rose in 6 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($87,194) is $2,180 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($2,050); a 4-bedroom is $2,310.
Hoover, 20 miles away, rents for 20% less ($1,319/mo), about $3,900 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Calera. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Calera, AL is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, 37.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Calera, AL has changed in 5 years
Across the past five years, the going rent in Calera, AL has shifted from $1,386 to $1,642, up 18.5% since 2022. Household income in the area moved from $70,504 to $87,194 across the same window, up 23.7% versus 2021. With wages climbing faster than rent over the same window, renters here have a bit more breathing room than they did five years back. Census counts show Calera, AL adding about 1,588 residents over the five-year window, up 9.8% on net. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Calera, AL look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
Discussions about Calera
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Can you afford rent in Calera on your salary?
At $1,642/mo, how Calera rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Calera rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Calera. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Calera
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Calera is $1,642/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,290/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,640/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,470/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,050/mo.
At 23% of local median household income ($87,194/yr), Calera ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.5% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Calera?
Is rent going up or down in Calera?
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How does Calera rent compare to other cities in Alabama?
At $1,642/mo, rent takes ~23% of Calera's median household income ($87,194/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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