ZIP Code · AL

ZIP 35661

Part of Muscle Shoals, AL

Pop. 19,169·Colbert County·80th most expensive ZIP in Alabama

Median rent (all units)

$1,263/mo

Year-over-Year

Stable

Month-over-Month

-2.9%

vs US Median

-$669

Reported rents

Falling (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 35661 · $1,263

More affordable than 88% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$820

1 BR

$910

2 BR

$1,170

3 BR

$1,450

4 BR+

$1,650

Research median

$1,170/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

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($74,310) is $1,858 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($1,650).

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 35661. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$15,156/yr

At $1,263/mo median

Location

CityMuscle Shoals

StateAL

CountyColbert County

Rent Market Meter

Renter's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are softening (down 0.0% YoY), so renters have negotiating leverage.

Based on rent-price momentum (+0.0% YoY, -2.9% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 35661 (Muscle Shoals, AL) is majority owner-occupied, 23.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

19,169

Median income

$74,310

Median age

41.2

Renters

29.7%

Age distribution

21%

20.5%

25.8%

12.9%

19.8%

Under 1821%

18–3420.5%

35–5425.8%

55–6412.9%

65+19.8%

Gender

45.5%

54.5%

Male45.5%

Female54.5%

Race & ethnicity

78.9%

15.2%

White78.9%

Black15.2%

Hispanic3.1%

Asian0.7%

Other2.1%

Education (25+)

28.3%

37.9%

23.8%

No HS diploma9.9%

HS diploma28.3%

Some college37.9%

Bachelor's+23.8%

Housing tenure

70.3%

29.7%

Owner70.3%

Renter29.7%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 35661 in Muscle Shoals, AL has changed in 5 years

Income

$63,319 → $74,310

up 17.4%

Population

18,799 → 19,169

up 2.0%

Renter share

18.9% → 29.7%

+10.8 pts

Bachelor's+

21.2% → 23.8%

+2.6 pts

Household income in the area moved from $63,319 to $74,310 across the same window, up 17.4% versus 2021. Census counts show ZIP 35661 in Muscle Shoals, AL adding about 370 residents over the five-year window, up 2.0% on net. The renter share has risen from 18.9% to 29.7%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 21.2% to 23.8% across the same window.

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Local insights

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About renting in ZIP 35661

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 35661 covers Muscle Shoals, AL. The median rent here is $1,263/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $910/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,170/mo.

At 20% of local median household income ($74,310/yr), ZIP 35661 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 35661?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $51,000/year (about $25/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,263/mo in ZIP 35661. The local median household income is $74,310/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.