City Report · AL

Montgomery

Pop. 197,494·48th most expensive in Alabama·One of the most affordable rental markets in the US
Median rent (all units)
$1,347/mo
Year-over-Year
+4.1%
Month-over-Month
+0.3%
vs US Median
-$615
Stable (Monthly)
Be the first to discuss Montgomery rents
Most AffordableMost Expensive
Montgomery · $1,347
More affordable than 85% of US cities · National median $1,962/mo
Rent Reality Score
42/100
Fairly priced
OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 4% above what Montgomery's 10-year trend predicts — running hotter than its own history.

Actual rent
$1,347/mo
Expected by trend
$1,296/mo
The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Montgomery's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$829
1 BR
$878
2 BR
$1,045
3 BR
$1,327
4 BR+
$1,659
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$1,045/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,347 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

Loading…

Last updated: August 17, 2026

Annual cost
$16,164/yr
At $1,347/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Landlord's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are climbing (4.1% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.
Based on rent-price momentum (+4.1% YoY, +0.3% MoM), not inventory.
Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Montgomery, AL is roughly split between renters and owners, has a median income below the national average, 33.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
197,494
Median income
$56,811
Median age
36.6
Renters
45.6%
Age distribution
24%
24.2%
24%
16%
Under 1824%
18–3424.2%
35–5424%
55–6411.8%
65+16%
Gender
46.5%
53.5%
Male46.5%
Female53.5%
Race & ethnicity
26.6%
63.1%
White26.6%
Black63.1%
Hispanic4.9%
Asian3.4%
Other2%
Education (25+)
26.6%
28.8%
33.8%
No HS diploma10.8%
HS diploma26.6%
Some college28.8%
Bachelor's+33.8%
Housing tenure
54.4%
45.6%
Owner54.4%
Renter45.6%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Montgomery, AL has changed in 5 years

Rent
$967 → $1,347
up 39.3%
Income
$49,989 → $56,811
up 13.6%
Population
201,022 → 197,494
down 1.8%
Renter share
46.5% → 45.6%
-0.9 pts
Bachelor's+
33% → 33.8%
+0.8 pts
Median age
36.1 → 36.6
+0.5 yrs

Compared with 2021, rent in Montgomery, AL has climbed by $380 per month, settling near $1,347 after starting the period at $967. Household income in the area moved from $49,989 to $56,811 across the same window, up 13.6% versus 2021. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 25.7 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 201,022 to 197,494 between 2021 and 2024, a 1.8% change. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Montgomery, AL look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.

Community

Discussions about Montgomery

No discussions yet. Start the conversation.

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

Can you afford rent in Montgomery on your salary?

At $1,347/mo, how Montgomery rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Montgomery rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Montgomery

About renting in Montgomery, AL

Last updated: August 17, 2026

The median rent in Montgomery is $1,347/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $829/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,045/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $878/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,327/mo.

At 28% of local median household income ($56,811/yr), Montgomery ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.1% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Montgomery an affordable city for renters?

Montgomery is considered affordable for renters. At $1,347/mo, rent takes approximately 28% of the local median household income ($56,811/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Montgomery falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Montgomery?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $54,000/year (~$26/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,347/mo in Montgomery. The local median household income is $56,811/yr, meaning the typical Montgomery household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Montgomery?

Rent in Montgomery has increased 4.1% over the past year as of August 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Which Montgomery neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Montgomery are 36108 ($900/mo), 36107 ($993/mo), and 36105 ($1,019/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Montgomery is $1,347/mo.

How does Montgomery rent compare to other cities in Alabama?

Montgomery is one of the more affordable cities in Alabama for rent, ranking #48 out of 70 tracked cities at $1,347/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Montgomery?

Troy is nearby and more affordable at $1,038/mo, which is $309 less than Montgomery.

What percentage of Montgomery residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 45.6% of Montgomery households are renters, while 54.4% are owner-occupied. Montgomery leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Montgomery rent compare to the national average?

Montgomery's median rent of $1,347/mo is $615 (31%) below the US national median of $1,962/mo. Within Alabama, it ranks #48 out of 70 tracked cities.
Income Affordability
28%
AFFORDABLE

At $1,347/mo, rent takes ~28% of Montgomery's median household income ($56,811/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Montgomery 28%Benchmark 30%
State income tax2–5%
Run the Montgomery affordability calculator →
Lowest-rent ZIP codes in Montgomery
Compare

How does this area stack up?

Pick another city or ZIP to compare.

Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Montgomery, AL

Recent submissions

Be the first to submit your rent for Montgomery.

Recent discussions

No discussions yet.

Add RentDataNow as a preferred source on Google