Rents are 5% below what Decatur'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 $1,042 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 Decatur is 0.2% below its high of $1,044 in April 2026, at $1,042 as of September 2026.
Rent in Decatur changed +2.0% over the year to September 2026. Across the 48 Alabama cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.3%.
Rent has risen 2 months in a row, and rose in 7 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($61,563) is $1,539 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($1,505).
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Decatur. 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
Decatur, AL is majority owner-occupied, has a median income below the national average, 22.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Decatur, AL has changed in 5 years
The median rent in Decatur, AL stood at $932 in 2023 and currently runs about $1,042, reflecting a 11.8% increase over the period. Median household income rose from $52,539 to $61,563 between 2021 and 2024, a 17.2% shift. On paper, paychecks moved up faster than rent, which softens the affordability squeeze versus the 2021 baseline. Taken together, the five-year picture in Decatur, AL reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.
Discussions about Decatur
No discussions yet. Start the conversation.
Can you afford rent in Decatur on your salary?
At $1,042/mo, how Decatur rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Decatur rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Decatur. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Decatur
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Decatur is $1,042/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $755/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $955/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $785/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,255/mo.
At 20% of local median household income ($61,563/yr), Decatur ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.0% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Decatur?
Is rent going up or down in Decatur?
Which Decatur neighborhoods have the lowest rent?
How does Decatur rent compare to other cities in Alabama?
At $1,042/mo, rent takes ~20% of Decatur's median household income ($61,563/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 Decatur.
No discussions yet.