At $1,359/mo, rent takes about 21% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.
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 $1,359 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
30% of the median household income ($75,894) is $1,897 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($1,660).
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Muscle Shoals. 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
Muscle Shoals, AL is majority owner-occupied, 24% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Muscle Shoals, AL has changed in 5 years
Census figures show median household income at $75,894 today, compared with $61,772 five years earlier. The population has grown by 6.1% since 2021, moving from about 15,969 residents to roughly 16,951. Renters now make up 32.9% of households, compared with 23.3% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 24% of adults here, versus 19% in 2021.
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Can you afford rent in Muscle Shoals on your salary?
At $1,359/mo, how Muscle Shoals rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Muscle Shoals rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Muscle Shoals. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Muscle Shoals
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Muscle Shoals is $1,359/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $790/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,140/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $870/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,400/mo.
At 21% of local median household income ($75,894/yr), Muscle Shoals ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Muscle Shoals?
Is rent going up or down in Muscle Shoals?
How does Muscle Shoals rent compare to other cities in Alabama?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Muscle Shoals?
At $1,359/mo, rent takes ~21% of Muscle Shoals's median household income ($75,894/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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