Cost of Living in Jefferson 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 Jefferson County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Jefferson County ranks #2,531 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 19%)
Sourced county brief
Jefferson County Median Gross Rent Exceeds State Unweighted County Mean
Jefferson County recorded a median gross rent of $1,193 per month, which is $373 above the Alabama unweighted county mean of $820. The official ACS B25071 median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was estimated at 31.8%. This is 3.2 percentage points higher than the state unweighted county mean official GRAPI of 28.6%. For property owners, the median home value was $240,000, while the state unweighted county mean was $159,660. Median selected monthly owner costs for all units were $1,126, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $706. The median income for households in renter-occupied units was estimated at $41,092. These metrics provide a summary of the housing cost landscape based on the 2020-2024 ACS 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: Jefferson County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 31.8% of renter household income in Jefferson County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,193 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,126. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $47,720 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. Jefferson County's $1,193 median is 45.5% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Jefferson County
Rent Burden
21.6%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,549
per month
Owner Cost Burden
20.4%
of gross income
The median home in Jefferson County may be a stretch
Median home value is $240,000. Estimated monthly cost: $1,916 vs. your max of $1,549.
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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