At $1,953/mo, rent takes about 17% 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 $1,953 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 Vestavia Hills changed +8.1% over the year to September 2026. Across the 48 Alabama cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.3%.
Rent has risen 6 months in a row, and rose in 10 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($134,369) is $3,359 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($2,160).
Homewood, 3 miles away, rents for 29% less ($1,384/mo), about $6,800 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Vestavia Hills. 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
Vestavia Hills, AL is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 65.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Vestavia Hills, AL has changed in 5 years
Census figures show median household income at $134,369 today, compared with $118,539 five years earlier. About 22% of households rent today, against 24.2% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher slipped from 68.4% to 65.3%.
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Can you afford rent in Vestavia Hills on your salary?
At $1,953/mo, how Vestavia Hills rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Vestavia Hills rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Vestavia Hills. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Vestavia Hills
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Vestavia Hills is $1,953/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 17% of local median household income ($134,369/yr), Vestavia Hills ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 8.1% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Vestavia Hills?
Is rent going up or down in Vestavia Hills?
How does Vestavia Hills rent compare to other cities in Alabama?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Vestavia Hills?
At $1,953/mo, rent takes ~17% of Vestavia Hills's median household income ($134,369/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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