The Alabama rental market
Alabama tracks median rent across 66 cities, ranging from Gadsden at $882/mo to Orange Beach at $2,849/mo. The state average of $1,511/mo runs about 22% below the national median of $1,932/mo.
Across Alabama cities, rents are rising, changing an average of +3.2% over the past year. 5 of 77 tracked cities are priced above the national median, while 72 fall below it. The largest rental markets are Huntsville, Mobile, Birmingham.
What the numbers show
Rent fell in 3 of 66 Alabama cities Zillow tracks over the year to September 2026, and rose in the rest.
17 cities are at the highest rent in at least three years of Zillow records. See the list.
Among cities with 15,000+ residents, Chelsea ($2,135/mo) costs 2.4 times as much as Gadsden ($882/mo).
Across 14 Alabama cities with five or more years of data, asking rents usually bottom out in January and peak in July, a typical swing of 1%.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Alabama cities, as of September 2026.
Alabama rent questions
What is the average rent in Alabama?
The average median rent across 66 tracked cities in Alabama is $1,511/mo, about 22% below the national median of $1,932/mo.
Which Alabama city has the highest rent?
Orange Beach has the highest median rent in Alabama at $2,849/mo.
Which Alabama city has the most affordable rent?
Gadsden is the most affordable tracked city in Alabama, with a median rent of $882/mo.
Are rents rising or falling in Alabama?
Across Alabama cities, median rents are rising, changing an average of +3.2% over the past year.
How does Alabama rent compare to the rest of the country?
5 of 77 tracked Alabama cities have a median rent above the national median of $1,932/mo, and 72 fall below it.
What are the largest rental markets in Alabama?
By population, the largest rental markets in Alabama are Huntsville, Mobile, Birmingham. Each has its own rent data, trends, and ZIP-level breakdowns on RentDataNow.