At $1,612/mo, rent takes about 19% 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 $1,612 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 Spanish Fort is 0.2% below its high of $1,615 in May 2026, at $1,612 as of September 2026.
Rent in Spanish Fort changed +4.0% over the year to September 2026. Across the 48 Alabama cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.3%.
Rent rose in 8 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($99,346) is $2,484 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($2,380).
Mobile, 16 miles away, rents for 22% less ($1,258/mo), about $4,200 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Spanish Fort. 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
Spanish Fort, AL is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income above the national average, 49.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Spanish Fort, AL has changed in 5 years
Compared with 2023, rent in Spanish Fort, AL has climbed by $93 per month, settling near $1,612 after starting the period at $1,519. Census figures show median household income at $99,346 today, compared with $89,504 five years earlier. Income growth outran rent by about 4.9 percentage points, easing the affordability math somewhat compared with 2021. Headcount in the area went from 9,720 to 10,662 between 2021 and 2024, a 9.7% change. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 44.9% to 49.1%. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2023.
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Can you afford rent in Spanish Fort on your salary?
At $1,612/mo, how Spanish Fort rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Spanish Fort rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Spanish Fort. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Spanish Fort
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Spanish Fort is $1,612/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,170/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,500/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,260/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,870/mo.
At 19% of local median household income ($99,346/yr), Spanish Fort ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.0% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Spanish Fort?
Is rent going up or down in Spanish Fort?
How does Spanish Fort rent compare to other cities in Alabama?
At $1,612/mo, rent takes ~19% of Spanish Fort's median household income ($99,346/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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