ZIP Code · AL

ZIP 35405

Part of Tuscaloosa, AL

Pop. 49,420·Tuscaloosa County·55th most expensive ZIP in Alabama

Median rent (all units)

$1,402/mo

Year-over-Year

+3.5%

Month-over-Month

+0.6%

vs US Median

-$530

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 35405 · $1,402

More affordable than 80% 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

$1,070

1 BR

$1,080

2 BR

$1,300

3 BR

$1,660

4 BR+

$1,720

Research median

$1,300/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

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 35405 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2022.

Past year vs. the rest of Alabama

Rent in ZIP 35405 changed +3.5% over the year to September 2026. Across the 84 Alabama ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.1%.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 3 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($62,301) is $1,558 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,300); a 3-bedroom is $1,660.

Rank in Tuscaloosa

2nd cheapest of 4 ZIP codes in Tuscaloosa.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 35476, 8 miles away, rents for 37% less ($886/mo), about $6,200 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 35405. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$16,824/yr

At $1,402/mo median

Location

CityTuscaloosa

StateAL

CountyTuscaloosa County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (3.5% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+3.5% YoY, +0.6% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 35405 (Tuscaloosa, AL) is roughly split between renters and owners, has a median income below the national average, 30.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

49,420

Median income

$62,301

Median age

35.3

Renters

45.6%

Age distribution

22%

27.6%

24.6%

15.1%

Under 1822%

18–3427.6%

35–5424.6%

55–6410.8%

65+15.1%

Gender

46%

54%

Male46%

Female54%

Race & ethnicity

35.5%

55.2%

White35.5%

Black55.2%

Hispanic5.6%

Asian2.2%

Other1.5%

Education (25+)

30.3%

34.1%

30.3%

No HS diploma5.2%

HS diploma30.3%

Some college34.1%

Bachelor's+30.3%

Housing tenure

54.4%

45.6%

Owner54.4%

Renter45.6%

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

2022 vs 2026

How ZIP 35405 in Tuscaloosa, AL has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,142 → $1,402

up 22.8%

Income

$58,695 → $62,301

up 6.1%

Population

47,828 → 49,420

up 3.3%

Renter share

45.4% → 45.6%

+0.2 pts

Bachelor's+

33.1% → 30.3%

-2.8 pts

Median age

34.4 → 35.3

+0.9 yrs

Five years ago, renters in ZIP 35405 in Tuscaloosa, AL paid around $1,142 a month. That figure now sits near $1,402, up 22.8% from the 2022 baseline. Median household income climbed from $58,695 to $62,301 between 2021 and 2024, a 6.1% shift. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show ZIP 35405 in Tuscaloosa, AL adding about 1,592 residents over the five-year window, up 3.3% on net. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 33.1% to 30.3% across the same window. Taken together, the five-year picture in ZIP 35405 in Tuscaloosa, AL reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.

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About renting in ZIP 35405

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 35405 covers Tuscaloosa, AL. The median rent here is $1,402/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,080/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,300/mo.

At 27% of local median household income ($62,301/yr), ZIP 35405 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.5% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 35405?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $56,000/year (about $27/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,402/mo in ZIP 35405. The local median household income is $62,301/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 35405?

Rent in ZIP 35405 has risen 3.5% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2022.

How does ZIP 35405 compare to other ZIPs in Alabama?

ZIP 35405 is in the middle among Alabama ZIP codes for rent, ranking #55 of 116 at $1,402/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 35405 changed +3.5%, against a typical +3.1% across the 84 Alabama ZIP codes Zillow tracks.