County FMR · HUD FY2026

Tuscaloosa County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Tuscaloosa County, AL - 1% above the US average.

$972
1-bedroom FMR
$1,169
2-bedroom FMR
+5.4%
YoY change
+1%
vs US avg

The verdict

Tuscaloosa is the 10th most expensive of 67 counties in Alabama by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #1,069 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 5.4% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.

#1,069
most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#10
most expensive of 67 in Alabama (2BR)
+26%
vs the state average
$38,880
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (10.3%), while Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary spend the most (51.2%).

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Tuscaloosa County, AL. Verify with HUD →

The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama is $972 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $1,169/mo and a studio is $966/mo. This is 1% higher than the national average of $959 and 26% above the Alabama average of $772.

Rent increased5.4% from FY 2025 ($922), outpacing inflation. Under the 30% rule, affordability starts near $38,880/year for a 1-bedroom.

Observed renter burden: 48.2% of the 33,032 renter households counted by ACS paid at least 30% of income in gross rent. This ACS 2023 household measure is distinct from HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent benchmark above.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Alabama. Population: 231,558. Population grew 13.5% over the past five years (Census ACS) - among the faster-growing counties nationally, a trend that typically adds upward pressure on rents. That's faster than Alabama's statewide growth of +3.9% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area TUSCALOOSA·COUNTY·AL·AL

Tuscaloosa County, AL: $972/mo 1BR · #1069 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA AL
  • 1BR-FMR $972
  • 2BR-FMR $1,169
  • RANK-MID #1,069
  • YOY-SURGE +5.4%
  • VSUS-NEAR +1%
  • VS-ST-HIGH +26% AL
  • INC-ROOM 18%
  • POP-MID 232K
  • PHOTO-NEAR Jefferson County
  • VOUCH-90-110 $875–$1,069
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: Jefferson ($183 1BR gap)

Read with: How Fair Market Rent works

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $716 · US avg: $893
$966/mo
↑ 5.5% YoY +35% vs state +8% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $772 · US avg: $959
$972/mo
↑ 5.4% YoY +26% vs state +1% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $936 · US avg: $1,175
$1,169/mo
↑ 2.7% YoY +25% vs state -1% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,206 · US avg: $1,525
$1,490/mo
↑ 2.8% YoY +24% vs state -2% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $1,381 · US avg: $1,756
$1,548/mo
↑ 2.6% YoY +12% vs state -12% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $916
$966
+$50 (+5.5%)
1 Bedroom $922
$972
+$50 (+5.4%)
2 Bedroom $1,138
$1,169
+$31 (+2.7%)
3 Bedroom $1,450
$1,490
+$40 (+2.8%)
4 Bedroom $1,509
$1,548
+$39 (+2.6%)

Rent Burden Analysis

How much of household income goes to rent in Tuscaloosa County. The 30% threshold indicates cost burden.

Studio
18.1%
Affordable
Need $38,640/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
18.2%
Affordable
Need $38,880/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
21.9%
Affordable
Need $46,760/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
28%
Affordable
Need $59,600/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
29%
Affordable
Need $61,920/yr for 30% rule
How we calculate this

Rent burden = (FMR × 12) ÷ county median household income. Required income = (FMR × 12) ÷ 0.3, the federal 30%-of-gross-income rule HUD uses to define cost burden. Median household income is from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey; FMR is from HUD's FY2026 release. See methodology.

0%100%National avg22%21.9%
Tuscaloosa County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $63,947 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Alabama rent burden →

Where Tuscaloosa sits among every US county

2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties

$1,169 Top 34% higher than 66% of 3,145 counties

$600–$800: 23 counties (1%). Below this entry. $800–$1,000: 1,406 counties (45%). Below this entry. $1,000–$1,200: 723 counties (23%). This entry sits in this band. $1,200–$1,400: 417 counties (13%). Above this entry. $1,400–$1,600: 181 counties (6%). Above this entry. $1,600–$1,800: 172 counties (5%). Above this entry. $1,800–$2,000: 108 counties (3%). Above this entry. $2,000–$2,200: 29 counties (1%). Above this entry. $2,200–$2,400: 40 counties (1%). Above this entry. $2,400–$2,600: 13 counties (0%). Above this entry. $2,600–$2,800: 9 counties (0%). Above this entry. $2,800–$3,000: 15 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,000–$3,200: 3 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,200–$3,400: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,400–$3,600: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,600–$3,800: 3 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,800–$4,000: 0 counties (0%). Above this entry. $4,000–$4,200: 0 counties (0%). Above this entry. $4,200–$4,400: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. This county $600 $4,400 every US county, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $0.2K-wide band; taller bars hold more counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Fair Market Rents · FY2026

How Tuscaloosa compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Alabama counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Tuscaloosa is highlighted. Nearby Alabama counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Baldwin County ($1,200), Jefferson County ($1,155), Shelby County ($1,155), Madison County ($1,136), Tuscaloosa County (this county) ($972), Mobile County ($919), Montgomery County ($870).

Source U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) As of FY2026

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

How a 1-bedroom at $972/mo compares to Alabama salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).

Occupation AL Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $113,020 10.3% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $106,330 11% Affordable
Registered Nurses $71,040 16.4% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $71,070 16.4% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $59,850 19.5% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $53,850 21.7% Affordable
Electricians $52,420 22.3% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $50,120 23.3% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $46,060 25.3% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $37,690 30.9% Stretched
Customer Service Representatives $37,730 30.9% Stretched
Retail Salespersons $29,430 39.6% Stretched
Janitors & Cleaners $29,120 40.1% Stretched
Fast Food & Counter Workers $23,490 49.7% Stretched
Teaching Assistants $22,790 51.2% Unaffordable
Salaries: BLS OES (Alabama) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

7-year Fair Market Rent history for Tuscaloosa County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Tuscaloosa (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 31.9% overall, from $737 to $972. The increases have been fairly steady year to year, with no single jump exceeding 10.6% (FY 2024).

$600$700$800$900$1,000 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $972
Tuscaloosa County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑5.4% $966 $972 $1,169
FY 2025 ↑1.4% $916 $922 $1,138
FY 2024 ↑10.6% $903 $909 $1,125
FY 2023 ↑7.9% $816 $822 $1,018
FY 2022 ↑9.6% $758 $762 $927
FY 2021 ↓5.7% $691 $695 $839
FY 2020 $719 $737 $885
Total change (6yr): +31.9%
Annualized: +4.7%/yr
1 BR: $737 → $972

Part of the Tuscaloosa, AL Metro Area

Tuscaloosa County is a central county of the Tuscaloosa, AL metropolitan statistical area, alongside 3 other metro-area counties.

Tuscaloosa County ranks #2 of 4 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Hale County ($972), Tuscaloosa County (this county) ($972), Greene County ($869), Pickens County ($591).

Hale County
1 BR: $972/mo
Tuscaloosa County (this county)
1 BR: $972/mo
Greene County
1 BR: $869/mo
Pickens County
1 BR: $591/mo

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Tuscaloosa County, both outside Alabama so the link neighborhoods are not the same-state geography lattice above. Axes stay disjoint: burden peers exclude the FMR peer set.

Similar 2-bedroom FMR

Nearest HUD 2BR Fair Market Rents outside AL (FY2026).

Whitman County
WA · 2 BR $1,169/mo
Seneca County
NY · 2 BR $1,169/mo
Genesee County
NY · 2 BR $1,168/mo
Montrose County
CO · 2 BR $1,168/mo

Similar rent burden

Nearest 2BR FMR as a share of median household income (outside AL).

Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region
CT · 21.9% of income · 2 BR $1,601/mo
Somerset County
NJ · 21.9% of income · 2 BR $2,486/mo
Geary County
KS · 21.9% of income · 2 BR $1,048/mo
St. Landry Parish
LA · 21.9% of income · 2 BR $834/mo

Nearby Counties in Alabama

Largest counties by population in Alabama

Showing the 8 largest of 66 other counties in Alabama.

Jefferson County
1 BR: $1,155/mo Pop: 672,265
Mobile County
1 BR: $919/mo Pop: 413,878
Madison County
1 BR: $1,136/mo Pop: 389,781
Baldwin County
1 BR: $1,200/mo Pop: 233,420
Montgomery County
1 BR: $870/mo Pop: 228,132
Shelby County
1 BR: $1,155/mo Pop: 223,916
Lee County
1 BR: $1,077/mo Pop: 175,126
Morgan County
1 BR: $776/mo Pop: 123,102
View all counties in Alabama →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Tuscaloosa County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Tuscaloosa County is $972 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,169 and a studio is $966.
How does Tuscaloosa County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Tuscaloosa County is 1% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $972 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Tuscaloosa County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Tuscaloosa County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,169 ranks #1,069 most expensive among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the middle half of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in Tuscaloosa County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $38,880 ($3,240/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Tuscaloosa County.
Is rent going up or down in Tuscaloosa County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Tuscaloosa County increased by 5.4% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $922 to $972.
Which jobs can afford rent in Tuscaloosa County? ▼
Based on Alabama BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $972/mo. 9 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Tuscaloosa County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Tuscaloosa County went from $737 in FY 2020 to $972 in FY 2026, a total change of +31.9% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Tuscaloosa County? ▼
In Tuscaloosa County, the FY 2026 FMR of $972/mo for a 1-bedroom sets the baseline that local housing authorities use for Section 8 payment standards.
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Tuscaloosa County? ▼
For Tuscaloosa County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($972/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and HUD Fair Market Rents. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.

All federal data sources used on this page
  • HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) - county-level fair-market rent estimates by bedroom count. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr
  • HUD Income Limits - area median income for affordability calculations. huduser.gov/datasets/il
  • HUD Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS) - rent burden and housing-cost distribution. huduser.gov/datasets/cp
  • U.S. Census Bureau ACS - county and metro housing characteristics + median rent. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
  • BLS Consumer Price Index, Rent of Primary Residence - rent inflation by metro. bls.gov/cpi
  • IRS Migration Data (SOI) - interstate migration aggregates affecting county demand. irs.gov/statistics/migration
  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics - state-level median wages by occupation, used for job affordability analysis. bls.gov/oes

Every figure on PlainRent is rendered directly from HUD's published Fair Market Rent records, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of FY 2026.