ZIP Code · AL

ZIP 35603

Part of Decatur, AL

Pop. 32,179·Morgan County·93rd most expensive ZIP in Alabama

Median rent (all units)

$1,155/mo

Year-over-Year

+4.2%

Month-over-Month

+1.1%

vs US Median

-$777

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 35603 · $1,155

More affordable than 93% 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

$790

1 BR

$810

2 BR

$1,000

3 BR

$1,310

4 BR+

$1,610

Research median

$1,000/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 35603 changed +4.1% 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 6 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($81,490) is $2,037 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($1,610).

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 35601, 6 miles away, rents for 11% less ($1,030/mo), about $1,500 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 35603. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$13,860/yr

At $1,155/mo median

Location

CityDecatur

StateAL

CountyMorgan County

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 4.2% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+4.2% YoY, +1.1% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 35603 (Decatur, AL) is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, 28.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

32,179

Median income

$81,490

Median age

Renters

26.1%

Age distribution

24%

16.3%

25.1%

14.1%

20.5%

Under 1824%

18–3416.3%

35–5425.1%

55–6414.1%

65+20.5%

Gender

50%

Male50%

Female50%

Race & ethnicity

74.4%

14.8%

White74.4%

Black14.8%

Hispanic7.6%

Asian1.1%

Other2%

Education (25+)

29.9%

32.6%

28.3%

No HS diploma9.2%

HS diploma29.9%

Some college32.6%

Bachelor's+28.3%

Housing tenure

73.9%

26.1%

Owner73.9%

Renter26.1%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 35603 in Decatur, AL has changed in 5 years

Income

$65,453 → $81,490

up 24.5%

Population

32,186 → 32,179

up 0.0%

Renter share

26.9% → 26.1%

-0.8 pts

Bachelor's+

28.2% → 28.3%

+0.1 pts

Median age

44.5 → 42

-2.5 yrs

On the earnings side, the typical household in ZIP 35603 in Decatur, AL now reports about $81,490, up from $65,453 in 2021.

Community

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Local insights

Tips for renters in ZIP 35603

About renting in ZIP 35603

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 35603 covers Decatur, AL. The median rent here is $1,155/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $810/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,000/mo.

At 17% of local median household income ($81,490/yr), ZIP 35603 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.2% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 35603?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $46,000/year (about $22/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,155/mo in ZIP 35603. The local median household income is $81,490/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 35603?

Rent in ZIP 35603 has risen 4.2% over the past year.

How does ZIP 35603 compare to other ZIPs in Alabama?

ZIP 35603 is one of the more affordable among Alabama ZIP codes for rent, ranking #93 of 116 at $1,155/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 35603 changed +4.1%, against a typical +3.1% across the 84 Alabama ZIP codes Zillow tracks.