City Report · AL

Homewood

Pop. 27,829·40th most expensive in Alabama·Homewood rents are up 5.6% over the past year
Median rent (all units)
$1,384/mo
Year-over-Year
+5.6%
Month-over-Month
Stable
vs US Median
-$548
Reported rents
Stable (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Homewood · $1,384
More affordable than 83% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo
Affordability
18% of income
VERY AFFORDABLE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,384/mo, rent takes about 18% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$55,000/yr
Local median income
$94,485/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Homewood's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$1,210
1 BR
$1,380
2 BR
$1,530
3 BR
$1,910
4 BR+
$2,160
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$1,530/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,384 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 →

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Past year vs. the rest of Alabama

Rent in Homewood changed +5.6% over the year to September 2026. Across the 48 Alabama cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.3%.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($94,485) is $2,362 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($2,160).

Cheaper nearby

Fairfield, 6 miles away, rents for 15% less ($1,177/mo), about $2,500 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Homewood. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost
$16,608/yr
At $1,384/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Landlord's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are climbing (5.6% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.
Based on rent-price momentum (+5.6% YoY, +0.0% MoM), not inventory.
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Demographics

Who lives here

Homewood, AL is majority owner-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income above the national average, 70.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
27,829
Median income
$94,485
Median age
29
Renters
38.3%
Age distribution
25.3%
31.9%
24.7%
Under 1825.3%
18–3431.9%
35–5424.7%
55–647%
65+11%
Gender
44%
56%
Male44%
Female56%
Race & ethnicity
73.8%
16.5%
White73.8%
Black16.5%
Hispanic6%
Asian2.4%
Other1.3%
Education (25+)
15.8%
70.9%
No HS diploma3.9%
HS diploma9.4%
Some college15.8%
Bachelor's+70.9%
Housing tenure
61.7%
38.3%
Owner61.7%
Renter38.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Homewood, AL has changed in 5 years

Income
$89,433 → $94,485
up 5.6%
Population
26,206 → 27,829
up 6.2%
Renter share
35.4% → 38.3%
+2.9 pts
Bachelor's+
67.2% → 70.9%
+3.7 pts
Median age
30.7 → 29
-1.7 yrs

Census figures show median household income at $94,485 today, compared with $89,433 five years earlier. Headcount in the area went from 26,206 to 27,829 between 2021 and 2024, a 6.2% change. About 38.3% of households rent today, against 35.4% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 67.2% to 70.9%.

Community

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View Homewood rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Homewood on your salary?

At $1,384/mo, how Homewood rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Homewood rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Homewood. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Homewood

About renting in Homewood, AL

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Homewood is $1,384/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,210/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,530/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,380/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,910/mo.

At 18% of local median household income ($94,485/yr), Homewood ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 5.6% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Homewood?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $55,000/year (about $26/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,384/mo in Homewood. The local median household income is $94,485/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Homewood?

Rent in Homewood has risen 5.6% over the past year.

How does Homewood rent compare to other cities in Alabama?

Homewood is in the middle among Alabama cities for rent, ranking #40 of 66 tracked cities at $1,384/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in Homewood changed +5.6%, against a typical +3.3% across the 48 Alabama cities Zillow tracks.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Homewood?

Nearby cities with lower median rent than Homewood ($1,384/mo) include Midfield ($1,075/mo), Fairfield ($1,177/mo), and Birmingham ($1,305/mo).
Income Affordability
18%
VERY AFFORDABLE

At $1,384/mo, rent takes ~18% of Homewood's median household income ($94,485/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Homewood 18%Benchmark 30%
State income tax2–5%
Run the Homewood affordability calculator →
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Homewood, AL

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