Rents are 6% below what Fairhope'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 $1,771 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 Fairhope is 3.4% below its high of $1,834 in December 2025, at $1,771 as of September 2026.
Rent in Fairhope changed +2.1% over the year to September 2026. Across the 48 Alabama cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.3%.
Rent has fallen 3 months in a row, and rose in 6 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($94,274) is $2,357 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($2,320).
Mobile, 21 miles away, rents for 29% less ($1,258/mo), about $6,200 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Fairhope. 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
Fairhope, AL is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income above the national average, 53.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Fairhope, AL has changed in 5 years
The median rent in Fairhope, AL stood at $1,436 in 2022 and currently runs about $1,771, reflecting a 23.3% increase over the period. Household income in the area moved from $83,258 to $94,274 across the same window, up 13.2% versus 2021. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has grown by 10.8% since 2021, moving from about 21,825 residents to roughly 24,190. Renters now make up 19.6% of households, compared with 17% five years ago. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Fairhope, AL look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
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Can you afford rent in Fairhope on your salary?
At $1,771/mo, how Fairhope rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Fairhope rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Fairhope. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Fairhope
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Fairhope is $1,771/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,140/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,460/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,220/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,820/mo.
At 23% of local median household income ($94,274/yr), Fairhope ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.1% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Fairhope?
Is rent going up or down in Fairhope?
How does Fairhope rent compare to other cities in Alabama?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Fairhope?
At $1,771/mo, rent takes ~23% of Fairhope's median household income ($94,274/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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