ZIP Code · AL

ZIP 35404

Part of Tuscaloosa, AL

Pop. 22,445·Tuscaloosa County·68th most expensive ZIP in Alabama

Median rent (all units)

$1,323/mo

Year-over-Year

+5.3%

Month-over-Month

Stable

vs US Median

-$609

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 35404 · $1,323

More affordable than 85% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Compare your rent to the local median.

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$980

1 BR

$980

2 BR

$1,180

3 BR

$1,500

4 BR+

$1,560

Research median

$1,180/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Past year vs. the rest of Alabama

Rent in ZIP 35404 changed +5.3% over the year to September 2026. Across the 84 Alabama ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.1%.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($48,932) is $1,223 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,180); a 3-bedroom is $1,500.

Rank in Tuscaloosa

1st cheapest of 4 ZIP codes in Tuscaloosa.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 35476, 6 miles away, rents for 33% less ($886/mo), about $5,200 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 35404. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$15,876/yr

At $1,323/mo median

Location

CityTuscaloosa

StateAL

CountyTuscaloosa County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (5.3% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+5.3% YoY, +0.0% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 35404 (Tuscaloosa, AL) is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income below the national average, 30.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

22,445

Median income

$48,932

Median age

29.6

Renters

56.5%

Age distribution

21.7%

37.7%

21.1%

Under 1821.7%

18–3437.7%

35–5421.1%

55–647.8%

65+11.7%

Gender

49.9%

50.1%

Male49.9%

Female50.1%

Race & ethnicity

47.5%

42.3%

White47.5%

Black42.3%

Hispanic9.6%

Asian1.7%

Education (25+)

28.4%

31.1%

30.3%

No HS diploma10.1%

HS diploma28.4%

Some college31.1%

Bachelor's+30.3%

Housing tenure

43.5%

56.5%

Owner43.5%

Renter56.5%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 35404 in Tuscaloosa, AL has changed in 5 years

Income

$42,387 → $48,932

up 15.4%

Population

23,644 → 22,445

down 5.1%

Renter share

46.2% → 56.5%

+10.3 pts

Bachelor's+

21.3% → 30.3%

+9.0 pts

Census figures show median household income at $48,932 today, compared with $42,387 five years earlier. The population has contracted by 5.1% since 2021, moving from about 23,644 residents to roughly 22,445. Renters now make up 56.5% of households, compared with 46.2% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 30.3% of adults here, versus 21.3% in 2021.

Community

Discussions about ZIP 35404

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Local insights

Tips for renters in ZIP 35404

About renting in ZIP 35404

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 35404 covers Tuscaloosa, AL. The median rent here is $1,323/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $980/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,180/mo.

At 32% of local median household income ($48,932/yr), ZIP 35404 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 5.3% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 35404?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $53,000/year (about $25/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,323/mo in ZIP 35404. The local median household income is $48,932/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 35404?

Rent in ZIP 35404 has risen 5.3% over the past year.

How does ZIP 35404 compare to other ZIPs in Alabama?

ZIP 35404 is in the middle among Alabama ZIP codes for rent, ranking #68 of 116 at $1,323/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 35404 changed +5.3%, against a typical +3.1% across the 84 Alabama ZIP codes Zillow tracks.