Cost of Living in Lee 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 Lee County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Lee County ranks #2,349 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 25%)
Sourced county brief
Lee County Official GRAPI Estimated at 35.4 Percent
The official ACS B25071 GRAPI for Lee County is 35.4%, a value that is 6.8 percentage points higher than the Alabama unweighted county mean of 28.6%. The median gross rent was estimated at $1,058 per month, which is above the state unweighted county mean of $820. For households that rent, the median income is $30,478. In the owner-occupied sector, the median home value is $262,200, exceeding the state unweighted county mean of $159,660. Monthly housing costs for owners are a median of $1,074, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $706. These figures describe the housing cost landscape for the 2020-2024 period without addressing market drivers. 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: Lee County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 35.4% of renter household income in Lee 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 $1,058 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,074. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $42,320 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. Lee County's $1,058 median is 29.0% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Lee County
Rent Burden
19.3%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,536
per month
Owner Cost Burden
19.6%
of gross income
The median home in Lee County may be a stretch
Median home value is $262,200. Estimated monthly cost: $2,093 vs. your max of $1,536.
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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