Cost of Living in DeKalb 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 DeKalb County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
DeKalb County ranks #268 of 3,142 counties for affordability (top 9%)
Sourced county brief
DeKalb County Median Gross Rent Reported at $693 Monthly
The median gross rent in DeKalb County is $693, which is $127 below the Alabama unweighted county mean of $820. The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was estimated at 27.8% based on ACS table B25071. This value is 0.8 percentage points below the state's unweighted county mean for GRAPI of 28.6%. For owner-occupied units, the median selected monthly owner cost is $587, compared to a state unweighted county mean of $706. The median home value in the county was estimated at $152,700, which is $6,960 below the state unweighted mean of $159,660. Median income for renter households is reported at $27,385. These figures provide a snapshot of housing costs across different tenure groups within the 2020-2024 ACS estimate period. 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: DeKalb County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 27.8% of renter household income in DeKalb 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 $693 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $587. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $27,720 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. DeKalb County's $693 median is 15.5% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in DeKalb County
Rent Burden
16.2%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,195
per month
Owner Cost Burden
13.8%
of gross income
The median home in DeKalb County may be a stretch
Median home value is $152,700. Estimated monthly cost: $1,219 vs. your max of $1,195.
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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