Cost of Living in Dale County, Alabama
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Dale County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Dale County ranks #1,077 of 3,142 counties for affordability (top 34%)
Sourced county brief
Dale County Median Gross Rent Reaches $889 Per Month
The median gross rent in Dale County was estimated at $889 per month, which is $69 above the Alabama unweighted county mean of $820. In contrast, the median home value was $143,500, falling $16,160 below the state unweighted county mean of $159,660. Median selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units were $633, which is $73 less than the unweighted county mean of $706 across Alabama. For renter-occupied households, the median income was $37,065. The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income, or GRAPI, was 25.9% according to ACS table B25071. This official GRAPI figure for Dale County is 2.7 percentage points lower than the state unweighted county mean of 28.6%. The canonical rentToIncomePct for the county is this same official GRAPI value. Data regarding these housing statistics are based on the American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Dale County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 25.9% of renter household income in Dale County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $889 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $633. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $35,560 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Alabama unweighted mean of county median rents is $820 per month. Dale County's $889 median is 8.4% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Dale County
Rent Burden
19.4%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,282
per month
Owner Cost Burden
13.8%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Dale County
Median home value is $143,500. Estimated monthly cost: $1,146 vs. your max of $1,282.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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